Sorry for the cross-post, but I'm litterally about to buy this car and want to make sure the manual does not have the same problems as the auto.:

I'm about to buy a 2003 3.2CL Type S with the manual transmission - from what I can tell, the CL is a great car except for the auto transmission.

Is this true? Is there any reason I should stay away from a manual 2003 CL? I can get it for $17.5k in great condition with 42k miles.

Was planning to buy tomorrow, so any help would be appreciated.

-djm

 

Nope, no problems with the manual trannies, you should be allright there.

 

Hell i am a manual and is passing 67k still running strong

 

The manual is fine. However it's used so be aware of the chance of past owner abuse or lack of skills. You should be fine though.

 

passed 70k the other day... No problems! Clutch is soon to be replaced but still have some life in it yet.

Thats what you need to look out for in a MT, the clutch and see where, how and when it grabs.

 

Check for oil leaks between tranny and engine. If there is, possible rear main or input shaft seal leak. Also make sure that the engine is smooth at idle. Don't want any bent valves due to overrevved motor. Is it Acura Precertified? If not, see if your Acura dealer can tell you what work has been done on it.

Good luck with your new purchase.

 

50k on mine with zero issues. Did have the rear main seal replaced due to a tiny leak, but it was covered under warranty, as yours should be if its certified.

Really just make sure it shifts into gearr smoothly, and that the clutch is strong and tight.

 

there is an inspection plate below, between the motor and tranny, at the bottom of the flywheel/clutch/pressureplate housing. remove it and you can take a look inside for fluid leaks.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174293

 

None to this date and the car is SC with 27148 miles

 

when tranny fluid is cold some have experienced gear grinding. typical of a manual though

 

I'm at 144K+ on my 6psd.

 

I have this problem... 2nd gear only though. It's smooth after a few minutes of driving though.

 

Thats nothing guys.. Its just warming up for a streets

 

I've experienced a very serious problem with my six speed. I just can't seem to get the grin off my face!

 

Don't want to replicate the previous posts too much, but I have 45k miles of fairly spirited driving and the clutch is as good as new. Very tight shifts.

Sounds like you have a pretty good opportunity to pick up a low mileage, reliable car.

 

I had a same chance and i took it..

 

yeah, for a $33,000 car... the gear grinds shouldnt exist.. but they do.. and they grind alot from 1-2 and 2-3 sometimes.. its embarrassing when there are others around you..

 

Our 03's are set up with a self adjusting clutch, so as it wears the clutch pedal should stay the same as far as distance from floor and stiffness.

 

I dont think i have yet to grind my gears in the cl. In my s10 winterbeater... another story.

 

I've ground the gears a couple of times on my CL... when I wasn't paying attention to shifting

<=== 54K miles and all is well...

 

Not in my 2 6mt's I had

 

yeah, i've had a civic manual trans, no grinding... a subaru manual trans...no grinding, a toyota manual, no grinding, a ford manual trans, grinding...and have also driven countless other non $30,000+ cars with manuals... no grinding... Just syncro's i guess, hopefully if i need anything, i'll still have my warranty..

 

Did you buy this CLS 6spd used ??

I've had some notchiness on the tranny when mine was new, but never any grinding (unless I didn't have it all the way in gear and let the clutch out).

 

Yes, It was used. 41k miles on it then, now 50k. Its a temperature issue mostly, when its fairly to very cold outside or has been sitting for a week or few days...
No, its not a missed shift or anything like that.. i pull it into gear slowly and it still grinds...

 

oh yeah, and the fluid has been changed since i bought it...

 

just when its cold out i experience a little grab through shifting but 5 min later like stated before "i cant get the grin off my face"

i grided the gears once, wasnt payin attension, SHAME ON ME!

 

Ah... well you can probably thank the prior owner for that then. I think that if the prior owner ground the gears more often then not, that could be the problem

That being said, we have had ONE (i.e. 1) member (that I can think off) have an issue with the 6spd...

He had the issue years ago:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115569

and decided to get the issue address when it was in the shop for other clutch related issues:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184275

But since Jim is the original owner, we have a better idea of how his 6spd was treated since new.

 

Hi, I am Jim,
I have owned a manual ever since I got a license. I was the original owner of my car and I am convinced that there were a few sets of bad gears manufactured. After only 25000 miles on my CLS 6mt, of which 20000 were in 6th cruising at 80mph, I had grinding in second and third. Trust me, I know how to drive a stick. I have driven many exotics and have some private track instruction and experience just for a little credit. Acura replaced the 1-2-3-4 gears then and the night I picked up the car it was grinding again. I just dealt with it until the main input shaft seal randomly failed causing $$$ damage at 82000 of which was 70% highway in 6th gear. I now have another new set of 1-2-3-4 gears and I can tell you that the car should have driven this way the first time the gears were changed. Maybe they never changed the gears/syncros the first time when they said they did. I don’t know and don’t care to think about it. I will say this, when the tranny fluid is cold, i.e. first ten minutes of driving, it is imperative that you do not try ANY aggressive shifting. The last set of gears and syncros I went through still look perfect and after really thinking about it, they would only grind when the car was not at full operating temp or had been running for less than 20 min.. I still have the gear sets. They are very sharp. The bottom line, I think some of the gear sets are better than others. Baby your rig until it is nice and hot! Either way, I love this car! I would not have it any other way. I would do it over again. The car is just too much fun to drive. I think I will be going forced induction sooner that later. Tomorrow morning at 8:30am I am having the '05 TL wheels installed with Pirelli pnero zero m+s 235/45-17, Rotora BBK and springs and shocks installed if that says anything.
Jim

 

I never EVER get a grind even in the cold. The only time I have ever had any type of grind is when I was being lazy and didnt push it all the way into gear and let off the clutch before it was fully in gear.

I have noticed ever since I bought mine in 03 that the car in general doesnt like cold weather. The engine is rougher, it accelerates oddly, and the clutch is grabbier. You never want to rush shifts in any manual car in the cold, because even though the engine may be up to be temp the trans fluid will not be until you start driving.

I'm due for another fluid change in 10k miles, and I'm gonna try GM syncromesh. Some members have posted good experience with it. Plus my damn rear main seal has a little spot again, so I'm sure I can get the fluid change for free.

 

From what I understand, Acura reformulated their manual fluid. Supposed to be similar to Syncromesh.