CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

So for the past year or two I have been transitioning into doing a lot of carpentry, more fine woodworking but either way.. I need to transport lumber and it is not fitting in my car. I have finished projects that all cannot be moved without the use of a pickup so I either buy a pickup and lose the CL or just buy a trailer and go do for it.

I already got the trans cooler, stiffer suspension, trailer hitch and light harness. So I have put the order in for a trailer.

Was wondering if anyone had any experience with towing in the CL.. .?

I am not looking to haul anything more than 500 lbs I cannot imagine.

wackjum

I don't have any experience towing with the CL, but I do a lot of towing in general.

Are you looking to add a rear cargo carrier or an actual trailer with wheels and the like?

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Lol yes I just got the trailer today. Took 6 hours to put together.

http://www.scottcityfun.com/product-p/trailer.htm

This is the trailer I got today and assembled today. Alone in the garage cause it was raining on and off today.

There was of ton of assembling to do omg, most ppl would not be cut out for It. But I need something desperately for both of my jobs. It's a lot cheaper than buying a truck lol.

I will be putting it to use a lot this summer.

I got this one in particular cause the trailer itself is quite light at 212lbs I believe. It folds in half and I can park my car and have it along the side of my single car garage. I just cleaned up a spot for it and tucked the car away. I am extremely impressed so far.

fsttyms1

500 or so lbs, you wont even know its behind the car. I mostly use the trailer hitch to pull 2 snowmobiles, or my 4 wheeler. Typically its about 1500-1800 lbs with trailer. Car has never blinked. And i have pulled this a hand full of times as well. Its closer to 4k lbs and while i know its back there it never had a issue.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

I am surprised at the stuff you have towed my friend! apparently i have nothing to worry about lol

have u gone through a tranny or two yet?

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

I think 5 then a 6speed swap.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Really?

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Lol shaaattt aaaapppp :-)

wackjum

How does the hitch mount to the car? Just curious.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Two bolts into the subframe and one where the tow hook is from the factory that compresses a plate around it. The hitch is very outta the way and u barely notice it when u got no attachments in it.

03-6/6

lol these cars can barely handle moving the factory weight around. unless it was manual swapped, count me out towing with one of those autos.

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

has over 600k on his body!

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Oh boy lol so it did hurt ur tranny. Well I am going down with the ship then captain. I'm gonna giver all she's got.

fsttyms1

I had 3 failures without ever having a trailer hitch on the vehicle, so towing things wasnt the cause.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Did 120 km today in 19 degree c weather, half city half highway. Trans was under 180 deg f. I don't think the car knew it was back there lol

YeuEmMaiMai

Personally I would not tow with the 5AT, the unit has issues with heat (even the new redesigned ones). Car is nearly 2 tons with driver and related stuff. asking that transmission to move over 2 tons = die soon...

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

I have high heat clutches, and a trans cooler and temp gauge, and I change the trans fluid every oil change. Plus I never even got past 3000 rpm when towing and am not giving it gas when it changes gears to prevent tq converter wear.

My car did not even get to 180 degrees f. The CL trans gets in the 200-220 range when it is 18-20 degrees out and ur driving a lot. That is without a cooler.

Most people don't know there trans gets to 240-260degrees on a good summer day if u drive hard at all.

I know this cause I took my cooler off to see what the difference was. And oh my god. The cooler is definitely a necessity. Mine is in the front of my grill so it gets the air forced through it first. My car never gets past 220 f no matter what. Before it would go to 270-280! At that temp your internals are just melting practically. And the oem clutches are pieces of shit. Hold them in ur hand they look like dollar store parts compared to the ones I put in.

It really is that easy to fix this trans, put in clutches that can take the heat and ur fixed. 500$. But still no one is listening. Oh well

Acidicheartburn

Did it really cost you $500 to put in better clutches? Did you do the work yourself or have someone else do it?

fsttyms1

Kinda like i said

Tosh

I'll bet your insurance company would blink, Mr. Fast Times?

fsttyms1

Why would they blink?

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Anyways the trailer has been a huge. Success. Saved a lot of money already, and also made money with it. Now I can do my home Renos without using my company vehicle which is constantly being used.

Best 600 bucks I have spent in a while... It's only 400 in the USA ! You lucky ppl you.

It cost 48$ to digester the trailer which came with a plate. Did not have to do anything regarding insurance. Thank the lord

kfinn

I have an 03 CL-S with 338,000 miles on it. Two Honda rebuilt transmissions and I finally had a local shop rebuild it the third time. No engine work other than timing belts/water pumps every 100,000 miles or so. I tow my 16' MC sailboat all of the time but this is under 600 lbs. max. with no problem. However, I tried towing a U-Haul rental trailer and I soon started to smell something. The trans was also shifting from 4 to 5 and back continually. I brought the trailer back and rented a truck to do the job. I took my car into the trans shop and everything was fine because I stopped hauling that trailer right away. I did have the trans fluid changed at that time. I suggest you stop if you smell the trans fluid burning, you'll know it when you smell it, and look at the trans fluid occasionally. If it starts changing color buy a pickup.

fsttyms1

Im so glad we dont have to register/plate small trailers here.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Acid. I had my acura mechanic do it. The guy has a supercharged nsx that's track driven monthly. And a Porsche carerra with a 911 motor. He told me to I had too much power and I needed better clutches, and a cooler would probably help. So I went a little further by added the trans gauge and volt meter so I can monitor my alt and my transmission temp.

All is well, very well

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Oops I meant to say Porsche Boxer with a 911 motor lol...

abbkobi

iTrader: (1)

Hi, I'm currently debating on whether to sell my AT cls or not, but this caught my eye. What exact clutch kit and cooler do you have?

fsttyms1

Just pick yourself up a 06-07 Accord V6 trans if yours fails. They are very reliable and pretty cheap to come across used. Nothing special or custom needs to be done other than swap over your CL solenoids sensors.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/faq-06-07-av6-transmission-swap-905115/

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Or he could do what I did and u don't have to swap out anything u just put in the clutches, seals, and rings it comes with, Buy a new tq converter which is only like 300 cause they give u money back for the old one.

Every single seal in my transmission was replaced when I got the kit from levelten.com

Not a drop of oil has ever come out of my car, I find it baffling how resistant this whole forum is with this solution to the transmission failures. Yes I am the only one. That is your stand, but if you guys were actually on board to some extent I think we would have had 5 or so other fellows who would be on my side advocating it as well..

I am going to make a 0-120 kms video so you can see how hardcore the shifts are. It's a beautiful thing, the CL never shifted like this when I got it rebuilt the first time.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

abbkobi

iTrader: (1)

Didn't know about this particular swap. Thanks for the link

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Not sure how to post a video but this will bring u to photbucket link with the short 10 sec video showing u what I meant by towing... Lol

Acidicheartburn

Please make a video! I am seriously considering a set of these clutches and an ATF cooler, if I can get the funds. Why is a new torque converter necessary? Also, are the shifts simply faster and harder when you're accelerating hard? Are they smooth when you're driving normally?

acura00man

Off topic-ish- I towed a '78 glastron 16' speedboat for about two years with my 5sp scion TC. Boat loaded down was nearly another 2000lbs. That freakin car drove over a 10,000 ft pass out of denver colorado screaming 4500 in third until almost the top, and then finally had to drop it in second for the last mile or two. Pulled out of boat launch like cake, never smelled anything funky, and the tranny/clutch never told me no. Actually started towing at 150,000 miles. Acura should tow 600 without a wince. Thats basically driving two XXL ppl in the car. 300lbs x2. lol

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Ok this is 0-120 kms

Traction control on. Very minor brake stand, not in tiptronic, one month old tires.

It goes man, and shift solid.

Sometimes I can actually get a chirp from 1st to 2nd gear depending on the tires and road conditions cause it shift so damn hard and fast. I love it