I've been doing some reading up on other people that have trans probs, and hope to glean some advice from our resident experts. Please excuse my relative newbishness.

I just bought a 1998 3.0 CL w/ 150k miles from a friend who was first owner. He gave me an incredible price on it because the automatic transmission is about to go and the airbags are blown. The problem with the trans is that it simply shifts rough. It kind of jumps into or down to the gear it's engaging. It is worse in lower gears but still slightly noticable even up around 90mph at what i think is the highest shift. I mention that because it doesn't seem like its gear specific to the 2nd or 3rd or something. I'm mechanically inclined and I've worked on small engines (brigs n stratton lawnmower stuff) but I'm over my head here and want you guys advice on how to get from here to a reliable transmission. Should I have it repaired/rebuilt or try and have a new one installed?

On repairing:
I'm getting alot of conflicting advice on where to get the work done. My dad says aamco, but a co worker said they do bad work. Someone else told me to take it to a dealer because it will cost about the same and you can rely on their work more. Is this something that a backyard mechanic or an off duty dealership mechanic could do without a lift ect?

On replacement:
Should i get a new, rebuilt, or used transmission? Are there bolt ons from other years or honda/acuras that would be a better replacement? Are there any reasonable aftermarket trannys available? I looked at the Dr Evil group buy but I cannot see putting $3,500 into a car that i got for less than that.

Lastly how long will I be able to drive this girl before fixing it? The shifting isn't violent but it is a noticable jolt. Can driving until my auto trans breaks cause damage to the car?

Hope it doesn't make u too nauseous reading this as I'm sure there is some of this info in other palces, but I had a hart time finding it for 1st gen and understanding it. Thanks last of all for being a great community!

 

Your best bet is to get it rebuilt, if you have the $$ look into Dr. Evil

 

What was that friendly price he gave you?
I cant help you with your question but the (3.0) tranny club welcomes you with open arms.

 

i wish i can take my tranny out and sell it to you. i just got it fully rebuilt about a 1.5 year ago. still drive perfect.

check it out, time frame of it going out can be anytime. if ur car is shifting hard and u keep on driving with it like that, chances are you're gonna mess up ur tranny mount and crack the tranny casing.

when mine went out, i decided imma get it rebuilt but because its Acura CL, i didnt want any backyard monkeywranch chumb working on it. i took it to a respectable shop that could stand by their work to rebuilt it. cost? $1500....they replaced everything, including repaired the crack i got on the casing and tranny mount. everything except the gears which was still good.

 

$1,500

I feel like i got a really good deal. It has front bumper damage (on the bottom center ), needs trans replacement, and airbags. I'm trying to fix the trans, then the airbags and then worry about bumper. It is pristine inside and he's always been a fairly good driver and always used synthetic.

 

If you're going to get it rebuilt or replaced, either way look into a dr. evil. A new oem honda transmission will run you about the same money, and you get a lot better stuff from the Dr. Evil.

 

 

before shipping and installation, its $3500 for that transmission. I cant see spending that much on a car that i payed $1,500 for that has 150,000 miles on it. Am I missing somethin??

PS its not even an option! I'm a poo college student.

 

your best bet is to goto a dealer and see what they offer you.

unless, you can throw down for a dr.evil transmission.

 

From what I remember, a dealer rebuild/replacement is still somewhere in the 3,000 range.

Hell, when I had my 2nd transmission put in it was like $4,xxx for labor and parts. Covered under warranty of course.

 

Dr. Evil this Dr. Evil that.
hoooot magggmaaa
Does anyone have this tranny in their cl?

 

I don't believe so as of yet because it seems most CL owners tend to just jump ship and get new cars instead of shelling out for the tranny.

There are however a good handful of 6th gen accord owners that have had nothing but good things to say...

 

i had my 2.3 done at aamco when i bought it 8 months ago, they worked really well, kept me posted daily and then had me bring it in for a checkup a couple of weeks after they gave it back, just to make sure everything was still where it was supposed to be and all. i think i remember something about a year gaurantee on their work or something.

 

I am having the same problem with my Acura CL 1998 3.0

I am thinking about to change to manual

i live in Atlanta. I know there is a place to do it for $3000 (used parts and labor)

You can't pass emission afterward but you got V6 manual

 

12 month or 12 thousand miles, I am about to hit my 12K mile mark

 

dont even waste yer money

 

I just had my Tranny rebuilt at Aamco 2 weeks ago. It cost me about $2700 b/c I needed a new torque converter and 2nd gear with bearings. Dr. evil is $3500 and the dealer wants the same for an OEM tranny + installation = $4500. You might be able to have it done cheaper. I checked the B.B.B. website and took it to the one of the few tranny shops in town with no complaints in the last 3 years. I recomend you check the BBB site for your area. Although if it is just shifting hard it may hold on for a while. Once it starts to slip and pop out of gear.....GAME OVER......Good luck bro!

 

I had mine rebuilt in june/july i believe, and it was $2700 after a $100 off coupon I needed all new bearings and tc too

 

if you aint gonna soup up ur car to the extreme dont even worry about dr. evil. just go to a respectiable tranny shop and have it rebuilt.

 

 

mmm... soup

 

Guess I'll take it by Aamco and get a damage assessment

 

I just got back and they're going to call me with a more specific estimate but its looking like the $2,500 range. That seems totally outrageous! Whats a boy to do?

 

That's about what I paid, my grand total was $2800. Keep in mind, you have an import motor/tranny

 

how much?

PS they are saying i definitly need a new torque converter ($375) too since it has 150000 miles on it :-/

 

For Aamco, that is not bad. I had mine done at a Honda/Acura shop and they did it for $2,000 installed. (but that was a buddy deal) I've known these guys for years, so they hook me up when I'm in need.

Good luck.

 

why can't u pass emissions?

PS can u pass an inspection with busted airbags?

 

from a 4x veteran of the tranny club, BUY A NEW CAR BEFORE YOU GET TOO ATTACHED

 

That sounds about right. Be sure to check the BBB website for any complaints against that shop. If they have any..go somewhere else

 

Aamco is now officially quoting me $3000 + for rebuild or $2,500 to put in a used (90k i think) transmission. This is totally insane prices and I can't imagine paying that much to put in a used transmission known to fail well before 90k. Help! I'm praying she holds together untill I can find a more affordable option. I've seen used transmissions in good condition on ebay for about $500 shipped, should I take my chances with one of those??? I'm dying here because its seeming insanely expensive any way i go.

 

If you were gonna pay $3,000 to Aamco to put in a USED transmission, you should just go to the dealer and get a NEW transmission for the same price. The dealers around here wanted $3,100 for a crated transmission, installed. Thanks to my friends down south, I got to skip a big chunk of the labor. A crated transmission from Acura would probably run you around $2,000 plus what ever you can get the labor for.

Arstraub, you've had four transmissions.... Jeez, are you just a little hard on them or what? I hammer it now and then, but you must be WOT to idle, WOT to idle, all the time.

 

That's gotta be a record, how on earth do you eat up 4 tranny's???

 

I Have 97 Cl Had Tranny Replaced But Work At A Dealer So I Got A Good Deal, But What I Did Was Buy A Tranny From A Place That Only Sells Japanese Engines A Trannys Got A Rebuilt Tranny For $550 Shipped And Had It Put In At My Dealer My Only Complaint Is I Think I Need A Torque Converter Because From 0-35 It Drives Rough Then It Slips Into 3rd Gear With A Jerk. But 40-100 Is All Gravy So Anyway If You Want I Will Give You The Name And Number Of The Place I Got My Tranny ..

 

A guy just started a thread... Transmission $200. He said it slips, but has a good body for a rebuild.

 

I'm still on my orginal at 105k. According to dealer records nothing has been done to it. I think my transmission is weird.

 

You are one lucky CL'r.

 

my 1st tranny died at 178k (og)
2nd one died at 188k (used)

lets see how #3 is goin to be

 

Well, I almost have 200,000 miles on my car, so i'm averaging a new one every 50,000. It's not that I kill it, though I do like to race. Mine's an automatic, too, no idling for me, just smokin' other kids I don't race that much, I guess my car just hates me hahahaha

 

thats why I'm so averse to getting a used transmission!

 

Hey,

If it isn't too late, I discovered this site:

http://www.phoenixhardparts.com/inde...ROD&ProdID=243

Many people with domestic vehicles have had good luck with them.

They want $1510 shipped for a remanufactured transmission for your CL.

There is a $550 ? core charge that is refundable.

So add in 6 hrs labor...and you should be good for about $2000-$2100.

Hope this helps,
Mike