Mr3.2S

I have an 03CLS with ONLY 83,000 miles on it, and my transmission went out, didn't think it would happen to me, I know right. I know the 01-02 had way more issues. I called Acura dealership and I was quoted $4100, and thought wow, my car is a baby, mileage wise. This shouldn't happen! I was beyond mad. Couldn't believe this sh*t! I remember reading some stories on here and how a few people actually got some help from Acura corporate to pay SOME of the final bill. Nothing ventured, nothing gained right.

I contacted Acura client relations, gave the info about my car, and other stuff, told them I was just outside of there extended warranty the 7 year, 100K mile, talk about BARELY out of it. Between my immediate family, we have owned 9 Acura/Honda. A good loyal customer. I sent them all the info, vin #, price, everything detail for detail on all the cars. I kept my fingers crossed. They called and said they would cover 40%, about $2K! So, I'm into this just over $2K with a 3 year 36K warranty! As much as it sucks having to pay $2K, I am very pleased with how Acura handled this. It pays to spend some time and give your story! Bottom line, I asked for help, and I got it!

I just wanted to share my story with all of you, and for anyone who has this happen, call Acura corporate and open a case.

Anyone else on here, feel free to share your stories.....

btw, I've been on this board since 2001, but had a few diff names.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

dont go beating it up now that u got a new one. it's still made outta glass.

my 2nd tranny went in 18000miles

on #3 now we'll see how she goes

StreetKA

iTrader: (8)

The other member on here got 60% off lately i just trying to figure it out how do they calculate that...

Mr3.2S

I'm always been easy on my car, I treat my cars very well! I don't drive them hard ever. Sure I step on it sometimes, but not a lot. Yeah I knew about the 60% one, I'd hoped for that, but 40% is decent. I'm not sure what truly determines what they offer.

brian6speed

iTrader: (5)

I would never put that same tranny back in the car. Especially when you can just install the 3rd gen tl auto or 6 speed and not have to go thru this over and over.

Good luck tho hope it lasts you more than 1-2 years.

azeezp13

iTrader: (4)

Yeah word you would've been better off with a V6 Accord, Oddysey or 3rd Gen TL tranny and get it installed by a good private mechanic and it still probably would've been cheaper than your discounted rate. I don't see too many CL's around, but I'm always scratching my head with all the 2nd gen TL's still on the road. How do people keep running a car with all those tranny problems. I feel bad for people who buy these cars today without any idea of the transmission problems they pose. I'm so glad I found this forum when I still had my 1st gen CL, I read all about the tranny issues on this board before I eventually bought a 6-speed. God bless acurazine.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

My advise, Dump the car. Sell it, get what you can for it, & put that 2K into something newer that is not going to break again. The car has crap resale. You'll never get that $2K back. And your due for the 105K service. It's at the year interval. That's easily another $800.

brian6speed

iTrader: (5)

This is true. This would be the time to ditch it. Would be silly to do all the work fixing then try and sell in a year or 2. The tranny job quote from acura alone is worth more than the car is almost.

Problem with this tho is who would buy a car with a blown tranny. Now you are almost forced to fix it so you can sell(which you wont make any money on). The best option would be disassembling the car and selling it for spare parts online.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

I feel saddened that this is posted on an Acura forum from a moderator. Not saying fuzzy is wrong or it's not true but it just sucks that we're telling members to dump their own cars on an Acura enthusists forum where nearly everyone loves or loved their Acura at one point.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

6 speed are great!

But you have to induce reality when it comes to certain cars. It's 8 year old car after all.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

it's funny i get more compliments on my car than ever before.. hell my bosses 90year old dad was going on and on about my cl..

ppl love these cars, yes they have a bad trans, but fix it properly by upgrading the clutches or having a new trans installed all together is the solution. and i love having something that is rare.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

I got complimented last weekend by a 3G TL owner. I washed my car today and I just love going over the lines. I still glance back at the side profile of my car after I park. I will have owned my CL for 5 years at the end of December.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

True, this is the first car that Ive owned that actually warrants the "look back" while Im walking away from it. Its not winning any beauty contests any time soon (shitty paint ) but it's still my car and Ive put a lot of work into it.

OP - If you plan on keeping this car for many years to come (with 83k miles on it and Im assuming no car note I dont blame you), then Id purchase a new transmission. A lot of people have been having good luck with the Odyssey/TL transmission, so that may be a good avenue for you. It will cost about the same as what Acuras deal is right now. The only downside is you wont get the 3 year warranty along with it.

Mr3.2S

My car will be ready tomorrow. I went ahead with it. I love this car, could buy something new, but I will keep the CL. It's unique and original. It's been a GREAT car so far.t Having this happen was pretty unexpected. I was very aware of the 01-02 TL-S and CL-s having Tranny issues, but the 03's had the least probs, so I took the chance and got one. Good thing I got money put away. But again didn't want to spend it on this. I could get $8-$10K private sale easy. Dealership on trade-in would try to offer $7K or so. I got a 3 year warranty now. Hopefully its good for a while. They gave me a new TSX loaner, not a bad car, thought about buying one haha, and keeping the CL. I just never imagined I'd have to spend this on the CL for engine issues. Thanks for all the input, and yes I would NEVER dump this car, unless it was worth less then what I'm paying for the tranny. Either way, I'd have to fix it, to sell it.

acura_dipset_tl

iTrader: (40)

100% agree, and its probably cheaper too. Either way glad your getting your car back soon.

p.diddy

iTrader: (3)

+2

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Try 5K. That's what they tried to give me.

Mr3.2S

$5K yeah typical, that doesn't surprise me. They always try to screw ya.

Hey fuzzy, you like ur SRT8? My dads got the Jeep one, his 2nd. I drive it from time to tiem, and a year ago, went to the SRT track experience, and got to drive all of the SRT vehicles including the Viper on the track at high speeds, was pretty cool. LOVE the SRT's!

Seymore Cake

Damn 2-3 years on average for these Trannies, I just think i'm going to sell mine and purchase that 2006 Infiniti G35X AWD

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

So far. Only had it a month & a half. Need to learn to drive again. RWD, 400+HP, doesn't do well trying to drive it like I drove the CLS.

typeR

ill add this... i too am a long time honda loyalist ... i called honda about my 98 accord v6 needing a tranny after having one in my '01cls ... my accord at the time was like 8-10 yrs old and only 67k original miles im the original owner ... they covered it 100%

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

That was then. They cared. They don't any more.

clpassenubye

iTrader: (20)

Honda cares more than many manufactures there are several manufactures that had known tranny issues that never extended their transmission warranty.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

IIRC the government stepped in on the transmission issue and forced the recall. The extended warranty was just to save face.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

For what it's worth, I'm running on a used tranny and I bought my car almost 5 years ago.

Seymore Cake

But it seems like you're one of the lucky ones....Just the thought of paying $3,500+ to swap it out with the possibility of it happening less than 2 years later seems like a waste to me on a car worth $5000-$6000


And I may have to do my struts in the summer, and with my tranny acting weird now that's already over the value of my car which is $5,200

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

I think this is my car's 3rd tranny. I do baby it a lot, keeping the shifts around 2k as much as I can and doing a 3x3 every 30k.

Seymore Cake

Well I should hopefully get my car back from the shop sometime this week, then have the tranny checked

Rapture

I feel like I've asked this before but never received a response: What exactly are people saying to corporate to get them to cover it? Are you just coming right out and asking them if they'll pitch in?

Somehow I get the feeling if/when this happens to me I'll end up talking to some clueless 20-something year old woman who's gonna say "well if you pay the $4000 you'll get a 3 year warranty on that..."

I did my 3x3 a few months ago and my trans has been pretty good... *knock on wood*

Mr3.2S

I called Acura corporate, and asked for what they call "good will assistance" and provided very detailed info from all the cars my immediately family had bought from Honda/Acura, which was about 10. I'm not sure if that helped, but the 40% was nice, but should have been more, the fact I had to pay over 3G's for a tranny on a car with 80K miles, is BS!!

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

mine went at 96000 kms so, ur not that hard done by.. if u can believe it

Mr3.2S

damn, how did you go about getting another one?

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

i met the main tech at my home DLR and he was a really good dude, gave me the number to his mentor (master tech who has been working for acura since they became Acura), rebuilt the sucker for 1900 then i took it directly to the drag strip on a 32degree celcius day and just ruined the trans all over again.. i raced the fuck outta it thinking a new trans would be indestructable but i had no clue how weak these trans really are cause my 2nd to 3rd went in under 30000kms the second time...

SO after i destroyed my first rebuild my mechanic said he'd never seen anyone beat their car up like i did and that i needed better clutches. he even showed me the clutches too and they were toasted from the heat and ripping it. so i call LevelTen up and ordered their "bullitproof rebuild kit" for 400$ and my buddy rebuilt it again..this time for only 1K labor cause he really felt bad for me LOL. and i tossed on a trans cooler and a gauge so i know how hot it is in there. in the summer it'll still reach 200 degrees with a cooler on in some circumstances... without the cooler it was going to 240-250 if u were ripping it... stop and go etc. no wonder the trans melts, it's like an oven with no way to cool itself off.

anyways so i've currently been on this trans for 40000kms and it's showing zero signs of fatigue.. i can still chirp going from 1st to second and 2nd to third is firm as could be..

everyone told me to screw Levelten cuase it would not help and no one had even tried it.. I am the guinne pig and i'm very glad I went against popular concensus. \

even just looking at the kit you could tell it's miles and miles ahead of the POS parts acura puts in their transmissions.