Hello All:

Just today I purchased a 97' 3.0 CL @ 100k miles for $4800. Original owner, clean title- with absolutely all the necessary proof. He also showed me the original receipts for all the maintenance check-ups and repairs, etc. I drove this thing for over half an hour and it drives completely smooth. The tranny has no issues or slips between gears at high or low speeds and again, I can't stress enough how smooth it is. I've been seeing a lot of posts on the forums about 3.0 trannies constantly failing. If the one I have rides perfectly well, should I be worried? Is this a problem affecting absolutely ALL the 97 3.0's? If I am saved from this terrible mess, what can I do to ensure that it'll continue running for miles to come? All the electronics and engine components are in top notch shape as well.

Please excuse my ignorance. Thank you in advance.

-PJM

 

No ignorance; you seem like you've done some searching/reading, that's great, keep that up, you'll only get smarter.
Some good preventative maintenance would be to get yourself a transmission cooler for like 40 bucks, and for the most part, to try not to drive it like you stole it
If there was no past abuse, no reason yours can't be one of the ones that keeps going and going.
Best luck.

 

All 2.x and 3.0 auto trannys can go at anytime. even if yours is smooth like you said. the only thing you can do is to put a Hayden tranny cooler ( about 50 bucks) and that would help prolong the life of your tranny

 

I'm a reasonable driver and don't usually accelerate unless I absolutely have to. Does my driving, getting new trans oil 3 times a year and that Hayden tranny cooler increase the longevity of the tranny? I feel doomed by all the pessimism. How much does it usually cost to install the tranny cooler?

 

Tranny cooler is real easy to install, you can do it yourself if you are at all mechanically inclined - it's just running some lines and bolting it up in front of the radiator. A shop should be able to do it in under an hour.

If you drive easy it will help obviously, but then again some people had trannys go at 20,000 miles so it's kind of a toss of the dice. Some are fine some just aren't. I have 106k on my original tranny and no signs of failure

Changing your trans oil is helpful, but be sure to do it right. Honda has some very specific instructions on how it is supposed to be done if you are "flushing" it. Someone posted the instructions, try searching for "transmission flush."

And last, but not least, welcome to the club! (pics of car?)

 

I'll get pictures posted tomorrow in the daylight! I think I'll go to AAMCO for the "Power Purge", no? Haha.

 

lol! I was just thinking that! (in bold) lol, apathy.
But yeah, I have 107k miles on my 3.0 and the tranny is alright I guess. I really gotta get that tranny cooler!

 

Tranny cooler install is very simple, we have a guide on here of how to do it.

 

dont live in the red zone or else your car and tranny will be in the shit's zone that's my advise. Unless absolutely necessary and it is a matter of life and death crank it to the red line.

I have read posts here where people are claiming/boasting of living in the red zone and then they complain about tranny issues. If you absue your tranny it will abuse your wallet. But if you are carefull with it it will serve you well.

I have a 2.3cl 98 auto and it has over 204000 miles and touch wood still going stroing on the original tranny. I never ever go to the red line and I drive hard but that does not mean absue the tranny for no reason.

Hope this helps.

JFK
PS: Get that tranny cooler installed, mine came inbuilt with the tranny cooler.

 

You can't redline an automatic, k bye

 

you sure can if u start from 1 on the shifter and shift it up when ur in the redline! haha

 

Yeah, i doubt all these 16-17 y/o's claiming they redline their 3.0's really do that though

 

I bought this car to get me to work close to an hour away. I found its ride to be unbelievably comfortable and the car's exterior styling to be modern, yet classy. I am going to treat it like my girlfriend's wish they could be. I don't plan on speeding with it or "red-lining", just smoothly from point A to point B and sometimes even C.

I figure getting the tranny oil changed 3 times a year + an AAMCO checkup (which I can get for free via a friend) will do it good.

 

BTW, you guys are awesome! Thank you so much for all of your input. If not for this forum I would definitely be panicky and in the dark about any and all elements of owning a CL.

 

That's what we're here for And 3 times a year might be a bit much for tranny fluid, but at least you're trying to be proactive with it

 

Not sure if the DIY for the tranny cooler has pics (didn't search for it) but when I swap the tranny in my 5th gen accord soon I will put a cooler on it. Can't believe I got an auto w/ torque converter for $140 yesterday.. complete auto with under 50k miles. But anyways, I will post pics / DIY for the tranny replacement and the cooler install.

 

Right on the first page of the diy guides, some of the pics are gone, I will make it a point to take new ones at some point. But I used this guide with half the pics and still had no problems and mine was more confusing cuz I ripped out my rad and all my tranny lines at the same time. This diy is old as hell like 5 years old and still works perfectly as a reference.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171841