If it ain't one thing, it's another. My 2001 CL has been in the shop twice this year already, needed new tires, and just last weekend, on a day trip, my check engine light and TRC light comes on.

When I get back to LA, I see my mechanic (not at the dealership) who does a computer diagnostic, which says something about the torque convertor. He doesn't do transmissions, but resets the light and I see his friend, the tranny guy, the next day. We drive it around for a bit with the computer plugged in -- nothing unusual in the drive. He says don't worry unless the light comes on again.

Today the car started kicking every block or so, like the gear was slipping. I panicked. I was 30 miles from home in a not-so-great part of town after business hours on a Saturday. Found a Pep Boys open and their mechanic confirmed my worst fear -- the transmission is gone. Said something about 3rd gear. They don't fix transmissions so I drove it home, terrified it might go out on me on the freeway.

Now I'm checking this trusty forum -- I LOVE Acurazine! -- and I see a thousand threads about Acura transmission issues and class action suits. I'm pouring thru them now but can anyone give me the Cliff note version? Is this a known issue, and something I can get Acura to fix? Or am I going to have to shell out 3 grand myself?

It's got 130k miles; I'm the third owner. I fell in love with this car like no other, but I never had all these issues with my modest little Camry. I'm ready to junk this thing!

Help.

 

No replies yet. Love for Acurazine slowly deflating.

OK, I discovered that the previous owner had the transmission replaced at 54,870 miles. Would any kind of new warranty have come with that, and if so, would it have possibly extended to my 130,000 miles? Esp. since the problem is the same -- the third gear clutch pack?

I've read thru most of the info here & got the general gist that there was a class action lawsuit which resulted in an extended warranty to 109k miles. Wouldn't help me unless the replacement at 54+k in July of 2003 (after only 2 years! wow!) came with additional 100k warranty.

Do I have any chance of getting a concession from Acura? Best way to go about it?

Thanks.

 

Also -- and I'm sorry, I know nothing about cars (FEMALE persuasion!) -- recently I had the motor mounts replaced, and when I got it back it was making weird grinding sounds, which my mechanic repaired for free. (something about the fuel pump?)

But every now and then, the ignition won't catch. Maybe once every 4 or 5 months. It churns but doesn't catch. Battery's new. I usually wait an hour and it's fine again.

So I'm just wondering if any of these issues might be related. Is it possible this won't require a whole new transmission? Is there a less expensive measure they could try first?

Should I just dump the car now?

Anybody out there?

 

Last question to the void: is it possible this is just a leakage problem?

 

Moved to Problems & Fixes to see if this user can get some assistance; not really a "recall" question anyhow.

I'm sure some of you more knowledgable about the CL and/or 2G TL can help.


(if the local mods feel I've moved the thread incorretly, please feel free to correct my mistake)

 

Thanks for the move.

So I think I was told about 6 months back that the transmission was leaking, but when I took it to my guy he said it wasn't. and indeed I couldn't find any leakage on my garage floor. but i did just check the fluid and it's kind of low. any chance this is only a matter of replacing or replenishing fluid? (My mechanic's tranny guy told me the fluid wasn't low, so now I have a bit of a trust issue.)

 

Any chance you have the code that your guy pulled from the car? Unfortunately though, it does sound like your transmission is going. I'm on my 3rd transmission so I know how much it sucks.

 

I didn't get a number but he said it was something to do with the torque converter. Both check engine light and TCS? light were on. And Saturday the D5 was blinking.

I checked the fluid just now and despite what my mechanic said, it's just below the bottom notch. Wondering if it could simply be fluid problem?

Will take it in today, just not sure which is better -- dealer, AAmco or the guy my mechanic recommended.

Yes, it sucks! Seems to me this is something that should last the life of the car. Two transmissions in 130 miles? I bought a Honda cause I thought they had a great record for low repairs.

 

Sounds like your transmission is toast,...Mine went aot about a week ago.i pulled a code p 0740..all solenoids checked out ok.torque conv failure...so i went to lkq the local junk yard and bought a 2006 acura tl transmission.i am currently swapping over minor poarts from my old trans to the tl.will be putting it in this saturday..

 

this a good read for you... you'll find here everything you need to know

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-problems-fixes-70/another-solution-my-auto-cl-guys-758220/

 

Is there an Acura dealer you've taken the car to for service over the years? If so, have them take a look at it and see if they can do anything in terms of goodwill if the transmission needs to be replaced. But otherwise I'd much rather just buy a transmission somewhere for a few hundred bucks and get it installed rather than taking the car to Aamco.

 

TCS code is common in hondas/acuras ,especialy in older cars where some circuits get higher resistance and get read by ECM as malfunction. I had TCS codes thrown in on a daily basis and replaced wires for TCS circuit . Code never showed up since than. ... so I would not worry about TCS . Looks like your 3rd gear is going out and there is really nothing you can do about it. There are some band-aid temporary solutions - like changing oil and cleaning pressure valves - but these will only help to sell your car or run it longer for a day or month or 2. Do not go to AAMCO or any other rip off places just get yourself a nice used transmission from 04-06 acura TL or HONDA Odyssey. This is so far best solution for our troble prone tranny. I am myself on 05 TL transmission , running silk smooth + I didnt brake a bank to do it - just $700. There is bunch of posts describing the whole deal, just look 4 them

 

Went to Aamco yesterday and I believe the codes they pulled were P1 1750 and 0700, though I can't find the card where I wrote it down now.

After driving they said it was either a solenoid problem -- in which case the cost would only be about $300 -- or the whole transmission needed replacement, in which case it'd be about $2000. They wanted $95 just to put it up on their lift and give me a better diagnosis.

So I took it to Acura and they went thru same routine, but they want $135 for diagnosis.

They had me call Acura in Torrance, CA (was I talking to national corporate or regional?). They told me that the car did fall under the recall and that the transmission had been replaced in 2004 per the recall ... which is odd b/c I don't have any record of an '04 replacement. I do have record of an '03 replacement.

The mechanic told me they never just do a flush or repair solenoids in cases like this. They only replace or rebuild the whole tranny.

He said if they find that the problem is related to the recall, then they will pick up the cost of the diagnostic and repair. If not ... I guess I'm on my own (and I have to pay for the diagnosis I just got). They said the transmission did indeed need to be replaced but by that time Torrance was closed so I have to call back today for their determination.

I am hoping for the best but my experience with corporate America doesn't leave me a little anxious. Anything I can do/say to help my chances? Another level to appeal to if I get a no?

Like too many people, I'm unemployed right now and just can't afford a major expense like this.

(How did Honda get a reputation for being so reliable when they are known to have big issues with such a big ticket item?)

 

Thanks. I checked the site they recommend on that thread but there's next to no choices near me. I'm guessing the cost of shipping a transmission across country are going to mitigate any savings. And someone there says you should opt for 07-08 TL. Cost of those run $1000-2000 depending on mileage.

I do have a guy who can install but he was asking for $2500. I think he was talking about a rebuild -- which is what Acura is talking about too. I'm guessing from all I've read that a rebuild of a CL tranny is a short term solution.

 

Yeah..My 01 Cl is starting to shudder after shifting into D3.Had my tranny replaced by Acura at 80K miles,I now have 138,000. I'm still driving it and not sure what my next move will be.I believe they only cover these junk trannys so long..

 

Sounds like the tranny is gone. I doubt corporate Acura will do anything with those miles. Its either get the oddy/TL trans or shell out for a rebuild. Sorry man.

 

Check the auto parts section of Craigslist for your area and see if anyone is selling a transmission. I see them for sale every once in a while in our area so it's worth a shot.

 

True but for anything other than odyssey or newer tl tranny i wouldn't pay a dime.

 

Thanks, I'll check craigslist but I'm still hoping Acura will come thru with something for me.

Had two conversations with them today -- one kind of snippy, the other surprisingly pleasant. Of course the nice person wasn't the decision maker. Will hear back on their decision tomorrow.

He told me that the class action extended the warranty to about 114,000? My light went on at about 126,000-ish so it's not that far off. It just seems crazy to me that a solid, luxury car should require 3 transmissions in that time. That's about one every 40-42,000 miles. Is this an issue with all Hondas or just the CLs and TLs?

If I just get a rebuild vs. a new tranny, I'm thinking I'll sell the car by the end of the year.. I'm thinking Mini, Smartcar or a hybrid ... but I'd be nervous about going with Honda/Acura again.

Shame. I had a really emotional relationship with this car.

 

This problem extended into the 98-02 Accords as well..

I would really recommend you to find an 05-06 TL transmission at a junk yard. 04 TLs still had problems! Half of the 07, and all 08+ models use a different ECU. There are some model years you can use the Odyssey trans as well.


If you go through the dealer (i.e. rebuilt transmission) it will end up costing you more and you still end up with a vulnerable trans.

It's more work to go and search the junkyards, as well as find someone to install it for you that you can trust, but in the end you will have a bulletproof car.





By the way- stay away from the Mini! It will nickel and dime you to death

 

Car-Part.com

Find an 02-04 Odyssey tranny and have that installed.

 

I agree that a replacement is better than a rebuild, but my concern with this is, how do you know that you're getting a good transmission? If it comes from a junk or salvage yard, how can they test it to make sure it's in good shape and will last you? I'm assuming there's no warranties with these parts...

 

Lingering question in my mind is, could this be just an oil/flush problem? I'm not sure when the car last had a flush. The oil was just touching the bottom marker.

And if it was that simple, does the honest mechanic exist who would actually tell me?

 

Oh, and -- I'm assuming that the used parts (TLs, Odysseys) will all be rebuilds, too, right?

 

OKAY! New info!

I just spoke to Acura and it turns out it's a solenoid mechanical failure. That's a lot less expensive a problem than a rebuild or replace, right? (Aamco told me it'd be about $300-350 but so many people have warned me away from them, I'm reticent to take it to them.)

The problem is, Acura won't just repair the solenoid problem. They will only replace the transmission and they will only replace with another 2001 CL transmission. For which they want about $4500. Which is kind of whacked.

What do you say? Yank it out of there and take it to another shop?

And if so, how far can I safely travel with this problem?

 

sooner or later it will fail i would say that cure it if u can and save up for a TL/ODY tranny... keep searching and you will find one for you. Where do you live ?

 

Which solenoid are they talking about?

 

I'm in Los Angeles area.

So are you saying that just replacing the solenoids won't solve the problem?


Wondering what folks here think about transmission flushes?

 

Sorry, don't know. I know it makes a difference in the cost. Does it make a difference in any other way?

 

Depending on which solenoid it is, you could replace it yourself.

 

For a transmission flush you will want to use the 3x3 method as listed here.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-2001-2003-50/acura-clarifies-definition-transmission-flush-492262/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YceQYq0j8aM

 

Oh, you mistake me for someone who knows something about cars.
It took me 20 minutes just to find the transmission dipstick.

I know how to comparison shop; that's the extent of my gifts.

 

Thanks Pittsburgh.

This sounds like a drain and fill, rather than a flush. I've read that flushes can ruin some transmissions.


Q: Is there any scenario in which a mechanical solenoid failure would require a whole rebuild or replacement, or is it almost always a fast, relatively inexpensive fix?

 

Let us know how that goes. Wondering how you know the part you're getting is is good ... assuming there are no returns and no warranties at scrap yards.

 

IIRC there are guys on the 3G TL side that swap out the solenoids themselves - but I could be mistaken as I dont know a whole lot about the automatic transmissions.

And the 3x3 method is a bit of both. Basically its three drain and fills, but it picks up and cleans out most of the crap slowly instead of forcing it out with a flush.

 

Geez, the story keeps changing!

Called the dealership to find out which solenoid was the problem and they tell me, no, it's not the solenoid after all -- it's an electrical issue -- the shift selector switch and clutch pressure failure.

Can someone more motor-savvy than I please translate?

Is this something that can be successfully repaired without replacing the whole transmission?

They said they're willing to give me a 25% discount off a price that is twice as high as what anyone else is quoting. It does come with a 3 year warranty but then again, hopefully any new tranny is going to last at least 3 years ....

Advice?

 

If its electrical, why are they trying to charge $4k+ to fix something that is mechanical?

Go to another dealer and ask them to take a look at it. Tell them you think it may be a sensor or solenoid. Dont play dumb but dont pretend to know everything about it.

You can even take it to a Honda dealer. Same technicians, different emblem on the shirt.

It sounds to me as though they are trying to get the most they can out of you. From what I can tell, those parts can be replaced without replacing the entire transmission - but I could be wrong.

 

Unfortunately, the next closest dealership is about 30-40 miles away and I don't think I can make it. The Honda here shares the shop with Acura.

I'm shocked at the price they're quoting me -- they'll give me a 25% "discount" off of a $4800 price tag. Does that sound right to you?

Every other shop I talk to has quoted me $2000-2500 to replace the transmission. Can dealers just not be trusted or what? Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but I really thought they'd stand behind their product more.

I'm just nervous about getting to another shop safely. I know CLs work as both manual and automatic, but I've never used it manually. Don't even know how. Would it be easier or safer to use manual if I need to move the car?


PS: Civicdrivr, love your avatar! ;-)

 

The other thing about taking it to dealerships is that they charge you $135 just to diagnose the problem. Aamco was $95 and some places don't charge anything at all. So I'm inclined to avoid dealerships from now on.

FYI, it seems the Accords, Odysseys and Pilots all have transmission problems too. Hondas, in fact, placed 3rd & 4th, only behind two Ford models in most repairs this year.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011...em-to-persist/

I nearly had an accident on the 101 freeway trying to get this car to a shop last weekend.

I will be registering complaints with all the appropriate agencies.

Leasing is looking better than ever.

 

So use a TL trans