Hey Guys:

Just got this from Honda:

Improved Powertrain Control Module

Dear 3.2 CL/TL Owner:

Recently, your Acura dealer replaced the transmission in your vehicle. While we are confident the replacement transmission will provide years of trouble-free service, we have also developed an enhanced powertrain control module (PCM) for your vehicle. This new PCM improves the performance and durablility of your transmission. We are offering you this new PCM free of charge. This offer is available only within one year of receiving this letter.

How to get your Free PCM

Write down your vehicle's year, model, mileage, and 17 digit VIN. Then call an Acura dealer (preferably the one that replaced the transmission) to set up an appointment. The dealer will ask a few questions, and then schedule an appointment for you within 5 working days. (Up to five working days are needed for the dealer to order and receive the exact parts for your vehicle.) Please plan to leave your vehicle at the dealer about half a day to allow them some flexibility in scheduling.

If you have any questions about this letter, or comments on the service you receive from your Acura dealer, please call Acura Client Services at (800)382-2238, and select Option 2.

Thank you for your continued patronage as one of our valued customers.

Sincerely,

AHMC
Acura Automobile Division

....glad I'm trading the car in in 3 weeks.

 

Hmmm....

 

Sounds like yet another power reduction for our glass tranny's

 

Mods...you may want to sticky this as there are many on the board who have had tranny replacements.

 

thats all PR bullshit. they will never issue the facts of what went wrong, their big coverup, and exactly how badly they are de-tuning the cars.

 

actually, someone was saying they programmed the shifts to happen faster, less slipping of the clutches.

hopefully they didn't retard the timing at the shift points.

 

The next letter will say...
"If you do not choose to 'upgrade' to our new PCM, Honda will no longer honor the 100,000 mile extended warranty"

I can't believe these clowns...soooooooo glad I leased, can't wait to give this car back!

P.S. Save the tranny, I love my car, but I am absolutley disgusted at how Honda has handled this!

 

offer good for 1 year ?? WTF kind of shit is that?

 

what are you talking about? the ECU replacement is only for people who have had their tranny replaced.

 

when i just picked my car up from the dealer today they claimed the transmission problems were "due to the computer"

 

I think that's my favorite line.

 

Just another sign of Honda dancing around a crap transmission design .. next will be to bring in the car to disable 2 cylinders ..

 

My dealer said it was the "second gear clutch pack. It just explodes in to a hundred pieces"

 

my dealer said the clutch packs were gone but they never told me the explodes into hundreds of pieces part

 

I just got this letter too.

Note: this thread is 3 months old. Y did'nt they just install it when they replaced my tranny 3 weeks ago

 

My CEL came on, they did the scan & stated I needed it done. They swapped it out 2 weeks ago...and I'm on my 1st tranny.

It does shift differently...I don't get the 2 gear chirp in regular auto anymore(I never use SS).

 

who said this???? HOW do they know this??? they're not supposed to take apart the tranny at the dealership...they can only replace the solenoids and fluid

 

I'm not convinced of anyting...................

CHipsy Smitsy :/

 

So everyone's assumption is that the new PCM module detuned the car's power band?? Maybe it adjust the shift points??

How about someone doing a Dyno before, and then a Dyno after the PCM is replaced to put this one to rest??

I don't doubt that Honda NA would do something like this, but needless to say it might be interesting to find out what the bottom line is really..

Just waiting for the letter..

 

Does Jens know???

 

I forgot to call my dealer about this.

I dunno, though...#3 is beginning to show signs, so I may wait.

EDIT: I just called the dealer where #2 was replaced. I received a new tranny and ECU at that time, so I should be aaallllllll set.

 

stevens creek acura replaced mine this past week.

 

Mine is really smooth. I got the new PCM a few months ago with the new tranny. And yes, it is chirping second gear, just seems quicker and smoother than before...

 

my car is extremely slower since the PCU upgrade.

it sucks

 

Wow...Mine felt so smooth I thought it was indeed slower. The old tranny would chirp really hard going into second and I think that was the biggest misnomer for me. I took the car out with my friends and their cars and we ran as we normally do, and it was actually a hair quicker. It was just so smooth it was kinda weird.

 

Just got my letter today. My question is: if you had a tranny replaced and *don't* go back for the PCM update (after being told to do so by the letter), could they try and deny a future claim for a failed tranny?

I've got mine scheduled to go in for the work on 10/08.

 

I got mine today but no way in hell am I gonna let them do the work until we find out more information on how it effects overall performance. I spent too much money on mods to give up some power I gained.

 

Rumors thus far heard by this technician:
1,Second gear clutch packs are failing in service unknown cause .
2,Second gear clutch packs are failing as it is the same component used by Chrysler however they store their parts longer so the parts are coated to prevent corrosion ,Honda failed to notice the corrosion inhibitor and assembled the gearboxes with unclean parts
3,Trans fluid is to blame .
4,Trans is running too hot .
5,faulty side bearings in differential are failing and contaminating the trans .
6,ECU has wrong shift code in it.
7,ECU allows too much power .
8,Trans filter not sufficient in size .
9,Shift solenoids faulty .
10,Lubrication problems caused by small size of internal lubrication plumbing being clogged by normal cluch wear debris .
11,Clutch steel plates have incorrect roughness causing premature clutch failure and or clogging too small lubrication tubing.
I could probably go on but the point is that Honda will likely never really tell what went wrong with this particular trans .I can only imagine that their point of view is that as long as they solve the problem fix the cars they do not need to tell anybody anything.
After all the minute anything that even remotely resembles fact appears the first thing that happens is that people will say "yup there it is that's the problem I knew it all along" .Of course next week the same guy will say the same thing about whatever it is that he heard after that .Next he will take some half baked facts raise a ruckus start a lawsuit there will be all sorts of publicity and who knows what else .In the end the guy will probably win anyway get a settlement ten years later and blow it some shitbox that has defective exhaust tips which will start the whole process over again.
I really wish I knew what was wrong and perhaps someday Honda will come clean and spill the beans on what happened .Untill then stay tuned don't get crazy if I do hear anything that is really substantial and based on some real facts I will report what I know .

Jens

 

yeah my car feels weak now. wtf. goin to the track on the 5th so see how it turns out.

 

Has anyone successfully or tried to tap into our PCM? Just curious.

 

okay so. they replaced the pcm on my car, but it still has the slight revvingg problem from 3>4 shift. you think i can get a new tranny off that? or just wait til the check engine light comes on again

 

Just got the notice today...I am going to wait until the next oil change to have it done.

One other point: I have absolutely no doubt that Honda/Acura knows exactly what is wrong with the transmissions. You can bet that when there was a pattern of failures for these transmissions, several were carefully dis-assembled and examined to determine the problem(s).

I suspect there is more than one weak link in these transmissions...and I am sure it is a basic design problem (weakness/under-design in certain specific components).

 

I got my notice today and I'm a little about this PCM upgrade. The last thing I want is to get it done and my car is slower. Damn You HONDA!!!:angry:

 

Jens-Do you know if it is fact or rumor that the new PCM drops power levels by retarding timing or cutting throttle or some other way during shifts? I can't imagine power would be dropped at any time other than during shifting.

 

you left out the most ominous part of the letter:
"and a new fuel pressure regulator if needed"

 

That does have some logic to it . . quicker shifts . . . less time for heat build up and or fluild starvation. :thinking: yep, that would mean better performance.

If that ends up being the facts, then I want my tranny to blow soon so I can get that improved PCM . . .

Just think, a factory shift kit mod . . . for free, but a little pain in dealing with the unexpected failure . . :P

Too bad they won't do the PCM upgrade to original tranny . . there by potentially averting the failure. But just maybe.

Ruf

 

The PCM's having coding in them that reduces engine output is to the best of my knowledge a complete rumor .We have noticed that upon replacing the PCM along with the trans the cars shifted noticeably differently and my guess is that some people interpret a change in performance as a loss of performance .I have not seen any information that would lead me to conclude that the engineers at Acura/Honda chose this route (reduced power) to correct the transmission failure problem.

Jens

 

That is encouraging. You mentioned the trans shifted noticeably different. In what way?

 

I never understand why people don't pay $60 and do dyno baseline. It is the right time for those who got the letter to do a before and after dyno runs for the new PCM!!!

Speculation will end.

 

Your right but if power drops-its too late they won't put your old PCM back. Also i doubt the dyno would measure this as power should only drop for a second or so during a shift