Buying a CL-S 2003 tomorrow
11-08-2010, 10:38 PM
#1
5th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Buying a CL-S 2003 tomorrow
Hey guys, i just joined here and am looking foward to being a part of this great community. i have a few questions about the tranny. i know about it, recalls, defective and so on but i have a question concerning the one im buying. Its a 2003 CL-S with 72,000 miles. now, i checked the acura owner website and it says the recall has been fixed, so is that the end of it? will there be more problems. This car has been babied and garage kept, one owner it is imaculate ! ive read all these posts and stickys and seem to have a unclear head, so enlighten me on what i need to look out for and what to do to maintain it. Thank you
11-08-2010, 11:14 PM
#2
If auto,trans.
No that's not the end of it.
If you will be whiping the car be prepared to be holding atleast $1,000 in your pocket.
People here been threw multiple trans.
I've put 18k on mine since I got my car,it's still going but,I do feel it slip here and there.
But I kill it 1st to 2nd alot,and It had a couple of bottles of abuse.
No that's not the end of it.
If you will be whiping the car be prepared to be holding atleast $1,000 in your pocket.
People here been threw multiple trans.
I've put 18k on mine since I got my car,it's still going but,I do feel it slip here and there.
But I kill it 1st to 2nd alot,and It had a couple of bottles of abuse.
11-08-2010, 11:32 PM
#3
Three Wheelin'
The problem was never fixed. They just put a bandaid on it and crossed thier fingers that it would hold until the court ordered warranty of something like 7 years and a few months and 109K miles was up. Don't quote me on the warranty stats but I'm sure they are close. As more and more of these cars change hands and the older it gets Acura will be doing less and less for customers that may be just out of warranty aka goodwill gestures. If you are someone who can afford to drop $3,600. to $4,000 at a moments notice then you should be fine. When you get a new tranny from Acura they usually give a 3yr/36k warranty on the new one.
If you can not drop that kind of doe at any given time I would not buy the CLS auto. If you really want a CLS get the 6sp.
Good luck.
If you can not drop that kind of doe at any given time I would not buy the CLS auto. If you really want a CLS get the 6sp.
Good luck.
11-08-2010, 11:34 PM
#4
Regional Coordinator (Texas)
iTrader: (38)
dont let this problem keep you buying. the car itself is really fun to drive with plenty of power for the daily driving. If anything thing happens with the tranny, people here have figured out better ways around it, like installing the Odyssey or 07+TL transmission for fairly cheap prices and that it the correct way out of it.
11-09-2010, 01:21 AM
#5
^True. I bought my 03 CL-S over 2 years ago and the only issue I've had so far were 2 broken motor mounts. Trans shifts fine (for now) Very nice car for the money, IMO 
Trending Topics
11-09-2010, 12:41 PM
#13
Senior Moderator
Regional Coordinator
(Mid-Atlantic)
Regional Coordinator
(Mid-Atlantic)
iTrader: (6)
see if you can buy an extended warranty from the dealer 
11-09-2010, 02:02 PM
#14
Instructor
IMO, buy the car for a good/cheap price and be weary if your trans starts to fail. And if/when it does, pop in a trans from a newer TL or Odyssey...problem taken care of
11-09-2010, 02:06 PM
#15
Well if it was babied then the transmission fluid should be good. Also see if the owner got the 7 year service (ask to see the service record, too)
Also check to see if the transmission was ever replaced on the car. If the trans the car is running on is rebuilt, and you have enough money and the means to get an Odyssey or TL swap when the trans DOES crap out on you, then make the jump if you want.
Also check to see if the transmission was ever replaced on the car. If the trans the car is running on is rebuilt, and you have enough money and the means to get an Odyssey or TL swap when the trans DOES crap out on you, then make the jump if you want.
11-09-2010, 03:31 PM
#16
If you really like the car and you dont want a 6 speed then just get it. Its not gonna fail on you right away. Just be prepared for it.
I've been driving my car for almost 4 years without a tranny failure but I'm ready when it does go. I have a oddy trans in the garage and money for the labor costs.
Just make sure the trans shifts good before you buy it. Mine has a hard shift at 2-3 and slips sometimes at 3-4 but I still love my CL dearly.
I've been driving my car for almost 4 years without a tranny failure but I'm ready when it does go. I have a oddy trans in the garage and money for the labor costs.
Just make sure the trans shifts good before you buy it. Mine has a hard shift at 2-3 and slips sometimes at 3-4 but I still love my CL dearly.
11-09-2010, 03:44 PM
#17
Three Wheelin'
If you really like the car and you dont want a 6 speed then just get it. Its not gonna fail on you right away. Just be prepared for it.
I've been driving my car for almost 4 years without a tranny failure but I'm ready when it does go. I have a oddy trans in the garage and money for the labor costs.
Just make sure the trans shifts good before you buy it. Mine has a hard shift at 2-3 and slips sometimes at 3-4 but I still love my CL dearly.
I've been driving my car for almost 4 years without a tranny failure but I'm ready when it does go. I have a oddy trans in the garage and money for the labor costs.
Just make sure the trans shifts good before you buy it. Mine has a hard shift at 2-3 and slips sometimes at 3-4 but I still love my CL dearly.
Bottom line is if you don't mind replacing a tranny then go for it. If you don't want to mess with replacing a tranny then don't buy it.
11-09-2010, 03:53 PM
#18
Wait, you only put 8,000 miles on a rebuilt trans before having to take it back?
MUST BE YOUR J37 SWAP BROSEPH!
MUST BE YOUR J37 SWAP BROSEPH!
11-09-2010, 04:28 PM
#19
Three Wheelin'
I just figured since other people (wont say any names) put stuff in there thread that they don't have, i could too. But don't call him on it cause he will get a Mod to delete your post like he did with mine.
Pretty freeking lame on his part and the mod that deleated it.
11-09-2010, 04:35 PM
#21
Three Wheelin'
11-09-2010, 04:45 PM
#22
YEA MAN!!!!
shifts are FIRM now...
clutches are way more aggressive/better.
LOVE IT
next i'm taking the jet kit off the trans to save 3rd gear!!!... then this trans will last TIME!!!.
my mechanic brought up a very valid point. the jet kit robs fluid from other gears to drip oil on the 2nd gear (acura did this because they had reported a few cases of 2nd gear shattering from excessive heat.)
SO my cooler will do the same job... then i can redirect more fluid to my 3rd gear and then the trans will HOLD up, for time.
shifts are FIRM now...
clutches are way more aggressive/better.
LOVE IT
next i'm taking the jet kit off the trans to save 3rd gear!!!... then this trans will last TIME!!!.
my mechanic brought up a very valid point. the jet kit robs fluid from other gears to drip oil on the 2nd gear (acura did this because they had reported a few cases of 2nd gear shattering from excessive heat.)
SO my cooler will do the same job... then i can redirect more fluid to my 3rd gear and then the trans will HOLD up, for time.
11-09-2010, 04:51 PM
#23
I think the excessive heat was there because there wasnt enough fluid getting to the 2nd gear.
Im not saying they are reliable but Im not saying that its gonna fail the minute you drive it away either, its just in between. I've put over 40K since I bought my car and the transmission has been shifting almost the same since I bought it. Could it go out tomorrow? Yes. Will it? I can confidently say no.
There are members that have gone over 100k on their original transmissions.
There are members that have gone over 100k on their original transmissions.
Last edited by aznboi2424; 11-09-2010 at 04:54 PM.
11-09-2010, 04:54 PM
#24
Three Wheelin'
Im not saying they are reliable but Im not saying that its gonna fail the minute you drive it away either, its just in between. I've put over 40K since I bought my car and the transmission has been shifting almost the same since I bought it. Could it go out tomorrow? Yes. Will it? I can confidently say no.
There are members that have gone over 100k on their original transmissions.
There are members that have gone over 100k on their original transmissions.
11-09-2010, 04:59 PM
#26
Banned
Why arent they replacing these trannies with the more reliable units being put in the 3rd gen TL'S when they 1st realized these trannies were holding their own?
11-12-2010, 09:20 AM
#28
5th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well it's from a certified Acura dealer and he said the car is on the front line of the dealership. He also saidthat only the best makes it out to the front line I asked him about warranty and he said I could get one. I am in love with this car guys, I have a friend who has one and he is pretty fast driver and has a heavy foot and he has been fine. I'm going to get this car I believe and have some money staked away. I searched the VIN on the Acura site and it's been replaced. All the maintenance has been kept up, tranny fluid and all that. Someone tell me something I wanna hear ahaha
11-12-2010, 12:34 PM
#29
Instructor
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree that the tranny is a ticking time bomb. I am on my third one, but I am now up to 200k miles. My first one went after 62K miles and the second after an additional 130,000 miles. I think someone here has over 200k on the original tranny- I have no clue how he is so lucky.
Overall this is a great car. I have owned it since new and still love it to this day. In some ways I am more loyal to it than my corvette!! The only issues I have had in all this time is the tranny and that damn leaky rearview mirror. All in all it is a rock solid vehicle outside of the tranny.
If you really love the car, and can get the 6-speed I would recommend it. I would have bought the 6-speed but it was not availble for the 2001 model year.
Overall this is a great car. I have owned it since new and still love it to this day. In some ways I am more loyal to it than my corvette!! The only issues I have had in all this time is the tranny and that damn leaky rearview mirror. All in all it is a rock solid vehicle outside of the tranny.
If you really love the car, and can get the 6-speed I would recommend it. I would have bought the 6-speed but it was not availble for the 2001 model year.
11-12-2010, 01:06 PM
#30
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
OP - If you really want the car, save up a couple grand and prepare for a tranny replacement. Go with the Odyssey tranny. Its newer and so far people are having great success with it. On average its cheaper then a rebuild. Most rebuilds are more then $2k. You can find an Odyssey tranny for about $1000-1200, and install shouldn't cost any more then ~$800. You use the same CL tranny ecu so you still have tip-tronic.
Last edited by civicdrivr; 11-12-2010 at 01:08 PM.
11-12-2010, 02:07 PM
#31
Acura dealer and he said the car is on the front line of the dealership. He also saidthat only the best makes it out to the front line I asked him about warranty and he said
11-12-2010, 02:44 PM
#32
So wait, you still haven't already bought it? thread title says "buying tomorrow" 
11-12-2010, 03:46 PM
#33
2nd GEAR was shattering due to heat... the clutches to get into second have enough fluid it was the physical gear itself that was shearing. so they added the jet kit which takes from third gear clutches and that is why my 3rd gear/clutches went on me.
i'm cutting off that god damn T tonight, amen!!!! this is gonna fix my woes.
cooler will do the jet kits job for the 2nd gear and deleting the jet kit will ensure 3rd gear is good to go!!
so... my trans will have more mods than you can shake a stick at. more than the entire car has lol..
I hope some of you consider what I am saying about the jet kit.
OP check for the jet kit and remove it... and then get a cooler... this should prolong 3rd gear which always fails on our cars.... that's your best shot buddy.
GOOD LUCK
Oh and for the record without a cooler these trannies can get upwards of 250 DEGREES. that's what my fluid gauge got to when ripping it without a cooler on...
I debockled a trans in 30000kms and have learnt a lot from it. I can only hope what I say is taken into serious consideration
i'm cutting off that god damn T tonight, amen!!!! this is gonna fix my woes.
cooler will do the jet kits job for the 2nd gear and deleting the jet kit will ensure 3rd gear is good to go!!
so... my trans will have more mods than you can shake a stick at. more than the entire car has lol..
I hope some of you consider what I am saying about the jet kit.
OP check for the jet kit and remove it... and then get a cooler... this should prolong 3rd gear which always fails on our cars.... that's your best shot buddy.
GOOD LUCK
Oh and for the record without a cooler these trannies can get upwards of 250 DEGREES. that's what my fluid gauge got to when ripping it without a cooler on...
I debockled a trans in 30000kms and have learnt a lot from it. I can only hope what I say is taken into serious consideration
Last edited by CL-S progression 01; 11-12-2010 at 03:51 PM.
11-12-2010, 04:10 PM
#35
I thought it was determined that the design flaw was the problem of our trans and the accelerated wear not heat.
Granted heat is what destroys the physical 2nd gear but if there is still a limited amount of fluid reaching your 2nd gear then it doesnt matter how cool your fluid is.
I havent heard anyone say that the jet kit takes fluid away from the 3rd gear clutch pack and thats why theres acceletrated wear there, but I'm not saying that its not true either. But personally, I think I can starve the 3rg gear clutch pack a little then rather rick having a metal gear shatter and lock up the transmission.
Keep in mind that the redesigned trans all have internal jet kits.
Granted heat is what destroys the physical 2nd gear but if there is still a limited amount of fluid reaching your 2nd gear then it doesnt matter how cool your fluid is.
I havent heard anyone say that the jet kit takes fluid away from the 3rd gear clutch pack and thats why theres acceletrated wear there, but I'm not saying that its not true either. But personally, I think I can starve the 3rg gear clutch pack a little then rather rick having a metal gear shatter and lock up the transmission.
Keep in mind that the redesigned trans all have internal jet kits.
11-12-2010, 07:28 PM
#36
Three Wheelin'
2nd GEAR was shattering due to heat... the clutches to get into second have enough fluid it was the physical gear itself that was shearing. so they added the jet kit which takes from third gear clutches and that is why my 3rd gear/clutches went on me.
i'm cutting off that god damn T tonight, amen!!!! this is gonna fix my woes.
cooler will do the jet kits job for the 2nd gear and deleting the jet kit will ensure 3rd gear is good to go!!
so... my trans will have more mods than you can shake a stick at. more than the entire car has lol..
I hope some of you consider what I am saying about the jet kit.
OP check for the jet kit and remove it... and then get a cooler... this should prolong 3rd gear which always fails on our cars.... that's your best shot buddy.
GOOD LUCK
Oh and for the record without a cooler these trannies can get upwards of 250 DEGREES. that's what my fluid gauge got to when ripping it without a cooler on...
I debockled a trans in 30000kms and have learnt a lot from it. I can only hope what I say is taken into serious consideration
i'm cutting off that god damn T tonight, amen!!!! this is gonna fix my woes.
cooler will do the jet kits job for the 2nd gear and deleting the jet kit will ensure 3rd gear is good to go!!
so... my trans will have more mods than you can shake a stick at. more than the entire car has lol..
I hope some of you consider what I am saying about the jet kit.
OP check for the jet kit and remove it... and then get a cooler... this should prolong 3rd gear which always fails on our cars.... that's your best shot buddy.
GOOD LUCK
Oh and for the record without a cooler these trannies can get upwards of 250 DEGREES. that's what my fluid gauge got to when ripping it without a cooler on...
I debockled a trans in 30000kms and have learnt a lot from it. I can only hope what I say is taken into serious consideration
11-12-2010, 09:52 PM
#37
my mechanic ....who has been with acura since only honda existed.
He mentioned how the TL/CL transmissions he fixed without the jet kit were lasting 200-300K. which got me thinking a lot.
he showed me with the transmission apart how the jet kit literally just drips the oil down the physical gear/shaft itself since without a cooler it gets WELLLL over 200degrees.. so the jet kit was installed to prevent sudden CATASTROPHIC failure of second gear. which is how people were locking up their trannies on the highway.. it would literally shear apart and jam everything up.
that was more important for acura to address than longevity of the entire transmission. so they installed that jet kit thus taking away flow from the rest of the transmission and what do you know... everyone has 3rd gear issues now..
WHATA coincidence.. so
with a cooler...that'll solve the 2nd gear blowing up issue, and with more flow going to 3rd gear and cooler oil by 100degress...
I see no reason why this trans won't last a while!
call me optimistic... but I got over 100 different parts in this transmission compared to last, along with jet kit delete and cooler from day one. I got a good feeling bout this.
He mentioned how the TL/CL transmissions he fixed without the jet kit were lasting 200-300K. which got me thinking a lot.
he showed me with the transmission apart how the jet kit literally just drips the oil down the physical gear/shaft itself since without a cooler it gets WELLLL over 200degrees.. so the jet kit was installed to prevent sudden CATASTROPHIC failure of second gear. which is how people were locking up their trannies on the highway.. it would literally shear apart and jam everything up.
that was more important for acura to address than longevity of the entire transmission. so they installed that jet kit thus taking away flow from the rest of the transmission and what do you know... everyone has 3rd gear issues now..
WHATA coincidence.. so
with a cooler...that'll solve the 2nd gear blowing up issue, and with more flow going to 3rd gear and cooler oil by 100degress...
I see no reason why this trans won't last a while!
call me optimistic... but I got over 100 different parts in this transmission compared to last, along with jet kit delete and cooler from day one. I got a good feeling bout this.
Last edited by CL-S progression 01; 11-12-2010 at 09:55 PM.
11-12-2010, 10:01 PM
#38
Deleted jet kit just by plugging off the T and got the ATF fill plug from acura.. $12 mod Lovin it
keep in mind i got a trans temp gauge and I can tell you.. for every 5 minutes you sit you just gained a minimum of 10 probably closer to 20degrees inside your trans that is with the cooler on. IMAGINE how hot it is if you are driving it without a cooler.. it's SCARY temps can ONLY KEEP RISING. these transmissions have problems yes but that's under 200+ degrees in the tranny. so SCREW 2nd gear breaking cause that'll only happen under EXTREME heat... and my 140-160 degree fluid will rob all that heat from it.
I'm worried about my 3rd gear... the infamous CL problem
keep in mind i got a trans temp gauge and I can tell you.. for every 5 minutes you sit you just gained a minimum of 10 probably closer to 20degrees inside your trans that is with the cooler on. IMAGINE how hot it is if you are driving it without a cooler.. it's SCARY temps can ONLY KEEP RISING. these transmissions have problems yes but that's under 200+ degrees in the tranny. so SCREW 2nd gear breaking cause that'll only happen under EXTREME heat... and my 140-160 degree fluid will rob all that heat from it.
I'm worried about my 3rd gear... the infamous CL problem
Last edited by CL-S progression 01; 11-12-2010 at 10:05 PM.
11-13-2010, 06:47 AM
#39
Intermediate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Age: 54
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Im a noob... so pls excuse my ignorance....
But what exactly is done @ the 105K service? and whats the average cost? And only dealers can perform it? Im @ 111K and skipped thru mine (didn't even know it had to be done)