Hey guys,

As some of you may know, I just finished servicing a 01 CL-S yesterday that has some transmission problems. I don't have access to a CL-S with a "known good" transmission, so I'm unsure of what's considered "normal behavior." This is where you can come in: tell me how your CL-S' transmission shifts.

For instance, before the fluid change, the car was experiencing these problems:

2-3 shift: Neck snapping jerk, very firm engagement
3-4 shift: Occasional slip

Now, after the fluid change:

1-2: Near imperceptible
2-3: Smooth, yet firm (very noticeable) bite/engagement. However, there was no jerk unlike before.
3-4: Near imperceptible
4-5: OK.

(I did a three cycle, drain and refill with Dexron-III(H) and added six ounces of Lubegard HFM Supplement at the final fill)

So if you could describe the shift behavior/quality of your transmission by describing how each shift feels (hard, unnoticeable, etc), that'd be great.

Thanks!

 

1-2 90% perfect
2-3 90% JERK when auto engages third, when i use SS and rev higher, i get better shifts.
3-4 almost as bad as 2-3
4-5 95% perfect

funny isnt it....were screwed....

my dealer said the shifting was caused by a motor mount....and yesterday he told me my VSA light was on because maybe I had ice on the wheels ...

 

what exactly is the "slip" that people refer to? a lot of ppl seem to use that terminology..

 

I too am wondering if it could be caused by a mount, though the shifting did improve significantly after the fluid change. Know of any way of testing the mounts?

From what I understand, transmission slip is when the transmission tries to engage, but unsuccessfully, and the rpms just shoot up. Not sure how to describe it, but when you exhibit it, you won't mistake it for anything else.

 

Not WOT:

1-2 shifts fine
2-3 can barely feel the shift
3-4 same
4-5 same

Under WOT:

1-2 can't make up its mind. If my foot is all the way down it shifts at 7grand (I have a premium model) if my foot is 3/4 the way down it shifts at almost 6250. Either way it shifts hard
2-3 shifts fine
3-4 shifts fine
4-5 shifts fine

One instance the other day, the RPMs shot up to 7200 RPMs and the fuel cutoff engaged, shifted from first to second, but the car didn't move, let off the gas and the car started moving again. I keep thinking there isn't enough backpressure on my custom catback. (All the while this was in SS mode, I watched the tranny shift from first to second)

I have never felt slip at all.

 

well I bought my cl type s about a week ago (used 50K miles)
and as far as I can see and feel it shifts smooth at all gear changes
and does not lag, skip, hesatate or anything that might seem abnormal!
hope that can help you........

does your cl make very low humming sound ? Im trying to see if its just the
way it runs or if i need to get it checked out! hope its not something wrong

 

Here's the thing.... I bought my CLS at 120,000kms and since about 130,000kms it started doing the jerking thing from 2nd to 3rd. I always thought it was the tranny slipping and about to go, so I was just driving around thinking it will fail soon because some people described the same exact symptoms prior to their tranny failing. Dealeship didn't do anything about it either and said all was ok. Couple months ago I changed the front and right side motor mounts and guess what.... the jerking is gone for good. So basically the dealer is right that the motor mounts (especially the front one) can definitely cause hard shifting. When I took out the old motor mount and was inspecting it, the mount started leaking oil right my hands and I could easily move the top bolt/pin from side to side. In other words my motor mount was fucked. I have not changed the tranny fluid yet but wanna do it very soon and I hope it will be even better.

That dexron-III(H) fluid... is that Honda original or what?

 

I probably need to change my motor mounts soon...what else can you tell if they are bad besides hard shifting?

 

well if your engine has excessive movement that's not good for anything, including the autotragic slushbox. you loose traction because of this as well. when you step on it the engine lifts the drive train a bit off the line.... never a good thing for sure. Oh and while you're under there change your front and rear sway bar bushings. They're very easy to replace and for me it fixed all the weird suspension noises that I had since I had the car. Drives so smooth and quiet now and feels tighter because the sway bars are not loose anymore. I am really enjoying it this way.

 

my car is at 117000km
How come 5th is almost flawless while 3rd is more jerky? wouldnt all shifts cause the same sensation?
dont the mounts go because of the auto trans or are the mounts that crap?
i think im hearing that whiny sound in 3rd now...sounds like the whine escalates when I accelerate...
SODALUVR were you servicing your own CL?....because I bet there are NO GOOD autos.
BELCOM which dearlership did you get that done at or did you DIY.

 

normal driving

1-2: shifts fine
2-3: if i don't go fast enough the cars shakes like a 4cyl manual. but, its been good lately
3-4: shifts fine
4-5:fine

severe driving
3-1:almost got whiplash
1-2: massive torque steer, sometimes a nice chirp
2-3:damn!
3-4:damn!,damn!
4-5:damn!, slow down before i get a ticket

 

I did it with a mechanic. He's a friend of a friend. Gives me a very fair price for the amount of time spent. My buddy changed it on his CL just recently and told me how to do it. Then I told the mechanic how it has to go. But I was watching the process from every possible angle all the time and pretty much feel like I did it myself

And my tranny is still the original one 167000kms, counting and hoping it won't fail out of the blue. there are no signs yet.

So I guess you're in canada too since counting in kilometers? Toronto maybe? if so I can send you to this guy for the mount or whatever else you need.

exact same thing that the front mount fixed for me

 

Hmm, so far I've also been pointed to check/replace the linear solenoid for the 2-3 shift.

However, there's also the occasional 3-4 slip, so perhaps my problem is a bit more complicated than yours.

 

car is at 168k
1-2 fine
2-3 ok shift but sometimes rpm jumps about 200 more before shift
3-4 fine
4-5 fine

yesterday 2-3 wouldnt shift it just keep revving so i pulled to a stop and started over and it was fine

 

Yeah my TL tranny doesnt shift that good either. Im not sure which gear does which but some do jerk and others are smooth. As far as how long my tranny will last is another question.

 

Nope, just regular over-the-counter Dexron-III(H) that I got from Walmart. SuperTech brand this time, just over $7.00/gallon. Added 1 oz/qt Lubegard HFM Supplement to make it Honda compatible. Shifts seem to be smooth, but a bit firmer and crisper compared to genuine Honda ATF-Z1.

 

Well i wont be able to tell him anything (how to change the mount) but if your confidant that he can do it, I'll have him go at it... west end or east?

 

problem I have is the "lunge" when you are coming to a stop and then start to pull away without stoping completely causes the car to catch gear and jerk. When cold delay between 2 and 3.

I changed the fluid at 41K and car has 49K on it. My 98 accord did this right before the trans shat upon it's self.

 

As of today, the transmission is still alive. 2-3 shift is still firm, but smooth, and no longer gives a neck-snapping jerk. The 3-4 is no worse than before.

 

when its cold i gate shift 1-2-D3 to keep the revs high but those first shifts shake my soul...