I took my car in a few months ago to have the transmission replaced, and since then it's been acting funny. By funny, I mean that whenever the engine is idling, the car kinda hiccups. It happens rthymically, every other second, but only after the car has been driven for awile. It's very slight, but I notice it, and it wasn't there b4. Before the transmission replacement, you could sit in the whip at idle and damn near forget the engine was even on. I want my whip back to how it was damnit! I made an appointment for today to drop it off and pick up a loaner. I also mentioned to them some other issues to look at while they had my car (side airbag light having a mind of it's own, rear defogger messing w/ radio reception).

My question is, should I have to pay anything just for them to look at/diagnose the problem? The service advisor said i'd have to pay for 1 hour of labor. But the way I see it, I had to have them replace their own faulty transmission and subsequently had to find time to take it back because my car doesn't feel right after they worked on it. Why should I have to foot the bill for 2 things that aren't my fault?

 

When the stealership hooks your car up to the OBDII it wil register any magnificant fault codes lingering. Just for the hook up here it's 85 bux. Almost a BILL is pretty much standard for that if it's not under factory warranty. The tranny has the extended warranty as you know, but they will still make you bend over for the computer hook up. Just remember to stand up to them because every Acura dealership I've been to when it comes to minor stuff are jerks and they will take you for a ride.

Don't forget to look around for smaller family owned Honda/Acura shops that will charge way less than the dealership would.

 

Do you ever have anything on your passenger side seat? Cause I found out that the sensor for the passenger side airbag is really sensitive to any type of object thats placed on top of the seat. For instance put like a bookbag and you'll the light comes on or tell one of your friends to sit on the seat and lean to the side.

 

Nah that's not it. The light comes on even when there's no one in the seat and just me driving. It goes and comes. The dealer said he noticed it came on when he started it but then went off, and he's trying to tell me that's how it's supposed to be. What an idiot, I said if that's the case, how come that doesn't happen in all the other TL's and CL's I've been in, and why did it just start happening a few months ago...I swear these geniuses at the dealership are taught to assume us consumers have no common sense.

As for the diagnostic, the dealer said he'd have to charge me a 1 hour labor fee of 90-something dollars, but you're saying he should instead just charge me the fee to hook it up to the OBDII, which I suspect may be cheaper?

 

Well, maybe the problem never occured when he test drove it. That's very common, if it's true, we will never know.

If your CEL is on, use the OBDII reader. The diagnostic machine is much more thorough.

 

I have had the same problem. The car was smooth no problems while idling. When the trans was replaced the car does exactly as you describe. I took it in to the dealership and they re-learned the computer and idle. Still happening. They didn't charge me for the re-learn but they didn't fix anything either. Let me know what you find out. I thought it might be the motor mounts but my local mechanic said they looked great. I only really notice it though when the car is in park.

 

What dealer is this?

 

I know y'all are gonna hit me w/ a big, fat, I TOLD YOU SO, but it's Rick Case Acura over on sunrise and 441 in ft lauderdale. I only took it there cuz when my transmission was dying, they were the closet place by far. I had read to avoid them, but Derrick (apparently the only good mechanic left there) assured me that any of their mechs should be able to handle a transmission replacement. I'm going over there in 5 minutes to have a spirited discussion with the service manager on how my front and side engine mounts are messed up but I have to pay for it, although mysteriously this problem didn't exist BEFORE they replaced the tranny.

 

The mounts I think are supposed to be replaced when the tranny is.