REDmanCL-S

Hello my CL family!
Please read all of this, for what I’m about to tell you is so true, nightmarish, and so very serious that I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I just went through!! Please!!
I have a 2003 Cl-S. (Automatic with over 100k). One day while driving to work, my car started to sputter (As if I got a hold of some bad gas or it was slipping out of gear). I stopped the car, moved the stick up and down through the gears, and proceeded to drive, however 1 minute into my drive it started to sputter again, then the RPM’s ran to 7k and I wasn’t going anywhere. I knew just then my tranny just took a sh*t!! (So far, I’m sure this story sounds familiar to who ever has replaced /repaired their tranny). So I parked the car, and started looking around for a tranny expert. I called everyone from the mom and pop places to the big brothers of the business, which in this case was AAMCO Transmission. (Have you heard of them? They’ve only been around since the 60’s).
Now I called about 5 to 6 mom & pop stores which all gave me a price for a rebuild tranny from $1300 to $1500.00 from what I told them was wrong with the car, I then called AAMCO. (BIG MISTAKE)!!!


Please stay with me!!!
Let’s call this guy Raul the Center Manager in Miami. He told me that he would come and pick up the car via Tow Truck and drive it down to Miami. (I live a little less than 100 miles from the shop), but he said he would do it for free, and do the diagnoses for free. If I didn’t go with his shop for the repair / replace, he would only charge me for the towing which would be less than $100 bucks. I said cool, that sounded fair. So he got it towed to the shop. His Tec ran the car around the block. (It left him stranded twice like I told him would happen), and his Tec stated to me that all my clutches were bad, my tranny was shot and the filters were clogged. He advised me he needed to rebuild the tranny. I went inside, talked with Raul and asked him what the damage would be. He the processed to tell me he couldn’t give me that price. He said it would cost $690.00 + tax to drop the tranny, look inside and then they could tell me what’s really wrong with it. Once they find out, he then can tell me what the price would be to rebuild it, however if I didn’t do the job with him, then all I had to pay was the $690.00 for the opening of the tranny and put it back together so I could take it to another shop. I told him that was ridiculous. What if he opens it and tells me it’s over $2300.00. Then I’m stuck. He laughed and said “that would never happen”. So I said, ok, then tell me what I’m looking at ball park/worst case scenario. He then again said he couldn’t do that because he didn’t know. I said well your Tec just told me I needed all new clutches (22 of them), new steels (what ever the f*ck that is), new filters, and oil. So with that being said, give me a price for that much and the labor. He said “I can do that”. Punched some sh*t into his computer and said to me, your looking at $1350.00. (Now, in my mind that sounded good, because I remember, I just called about 5-6 small mom & pop garages and they quoted me the same sh*t). So I called my dad (who’s been a mechanic for like the past 25yrs), and two of my boys (who are into cars like we all are) just to get some input about this matter. We all came to the conclusion to leave the car and let them do their thing. I signed the invoice for $690.00 and left. (This is were you can grab some toilet paper because your about to take a sh*t). PLEASE READ! STAY WITH ME! PLEASE!!
I called Raul the next day (Friday) to see what’s up with my car. He said he wasn’t able to tell me yet. His Tec just dropped the tranny, but hasn’t really cracked it open yet. He claimed he would have an answer for me on Monday. So I waited out the weekend driving around my Dads Ford (old azz) Explorer.
Monday came and I called Raul in the morning. He requested that I follow up with him that afternoon were he should have an answer. So I waited till 12am. Called him back and he put me on hold to grab my paper work. When he got back on the phone he told me I needed new clutches, the steels, (which are like washers), new filters, new banner kit, new linear solenoid, new torque convertor, new pressure switch black, and new pressure switch brown. (What ever the fu*k that is). Grand total for rebuild: $2900.00!!!! $2900.00 dollars! $2900.00 FU*KING DOLLARS PEOPLE!!! I told him WTF Raul. I thought you told me it wasn’t going to cost more that $1350.00. WTF! He said this, that, and the other were I told him I wasn’t going to do the repair with him. He said well then, I needed to still pay him $900.00, because they opened the tranny and the labor that was involved and they have to put the old one back together. I told him I could get a brand new tranny from Acura for $2100.00 and would buy that and have his guy just drop it back in my car. He said I still needed to pay the $900.00, because they still have to put the old tranny back together again. I told him no he didn’t, and wasn’t born yesterday. I would pick up the old tranny and put it into my Explorer. He said I still had to pay $900.00 because its policy they have to put the old tranny back together again, plus another $350.00 to install the new tranny. I told him I would call him back and hung up the phone. I left work taking 4 hours out of my PTO to go and talk to this fool. I went to Acura with $2100.00 cash. Paid the cashier. Parts guy told me to drive to the back and pick up the tranny, but when I did that, they told me, Oops! We don’t have it, but it will be here tomorrow. (Apparently someone didn’t log in their inventory correctly..Classic). So what ever, I have to wait a day. So raced down to Miami, (Which has insane traffic BTW), and talked with Raul. I got my cousin there so I could have some back and we began to try and negotiate his cost down or at the very least his cost to install my new tranny from Acura, however this motha fu*ker wouldn’t budge for nothing. Why would I pay $2900.00 for a rebuild tranny with aftermarket cheap parts were I could get one from Acura with a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty were he was only offering 1 year 12,000 mile warranty. He then said he would match me with the warranty, but I still needed to pay $2900.00. Just as I was about to crack, my cousin told me to step outside and take a walk. He would talk with Raul to see what he can do. So I left. After 10 minutes, my cousin came back with an invoice. He was able to lower it down to $2600.00 with a 3yr-36,000 mile warranty. My cousin told me to take the deal and get it repaired there. If not, I was going to be forced to pay the $900.00 + $300.00 for the install of the new Acura tranny. After much b*tching and complaining into the air, I went inside, made him circle the $2600.00 new price and agreement and we both signed it and I left. I requested that he let me hold my old torque convertor and linear solenoid. (I just didn’t trust him and felt he would just flush these out and reuse them with out me knowing). I called him the next day, were he told me it was done and I could come and pick it up. I again, took ½ day from work and raced down to Miami. I went into Raul’s office were he printed out the invoice, and can you believe this guy gave me an invoice for $2850.00. I said, Raul. We signed, agreed, and shook on it that it would only be $2600.00. WTF is this bro?!?!? He said the price we agreed upon was a sub total and didn’t include tax. I told him “well were about to have a misunderstanding bro”. We argued and went back and forth for about 20 freaking minutes. “I told him look Raul. We circled $2600.00. I brought it in cash and this was all I had. So now what Raul? You need to keep my car till I come up with the rest? Charge me a holding fee? Call the cops? What”? We literally stared at each other for 2 minutes. The longest 2 minutes ever in my whole life. He finally cracked and told me fine. I gave him the money and requested an invoice and receipt of payment. He told me his printer was down and couldn’t do that, however when the car was ready he would have it in the car along with the warranty. I said wait! The cars not even ready Raul. He said no, but would later this evening it should be. I just laughed and walked out. As I left I did something that I regret. I gave him back the old torque convertor and linear solenoid. I went to work, called him later that evening were he said the car would be ready tomorrow morning. I called him the next day and he told me it was ready. I left work again early again, picked up my wife so she could drive the SUV back home as I followed her with my car. When I got there, he gave me the invoice and on it read (Reconditioned-Torque Convertor $397.00) I asked him if he reused the old convertor but he assured me he didn’t. I asked to see the old one, and what do you know, it was no were to be found. He also was nice enough to add I have (all of a sudden) a broken motor mount which he could replace for $300.00.
I have my car now. It doesn’t feel the same. I’m very sadden about the whole thing. I have this every now and then loud clicking sound coming from my driver side wheel well which I assume is the broken motor mount. I’m almost certain he reused my Torque Convertor, and used garbage parts. I gave him Acura Transmission oil, but he said I was about 3 quarts short so he topped it off. (He probably didn’t even use my oil). I don’t know what to say. I got Fu*ked for $2600.00 and cant do anything about it, which is the purpose of this letter. Please don’t let this happen to you. If you’re going to pay anymore than $1600.00 my suggestion is to go to Acura, buy a new tranny from them. Don’t repair it. It’s just not worth it and its peace of mind that truly is priceless. I really love this car and to think, it will never be the same. It just hurts. Thank you for who ever read this in full.

russianDude

Acura could quote you anywhere between 4000-5000 for a new transmission. But people usually get some of it covered by acura. Was your car included in extended warranty?

REDmanCL-S

I called Acura this morning after reading some other nightmareish tranny threads. I gave them my vin# and was told I was not eligiable for any warranty or good will. He quoted me $3500.00, installed. If I would have knew what I know now, I would have just bought the new tranny from Acura and had ether I install it, or a shop. For a new automatic type-s tranny is $2100.00 here in South Florida tax and all.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

english was not my best subject in school, but anyways:
those places count on their advertising and lowballing the price to get you in the door, then once they get you in the door and have your car, they jack up the price (but they do did need to get paid for pulling the tranny [idk know shop rates down there] cause they do need to make a living just like you [would you want to work for free])

geneally the national chains are the worst about doing that
that is why you should find an independent shop that you can trust and go there (first couple times only need to be oil changes as they gain your trust and before you have major problems) most shops will proably find a couple of things wrong with car the first oil change or so (very few cars don't need work done), so don't be surprised, also then the independent shop can trust you to come to them when you do have a problem

also you do get what you pay for in the quality of parts and LABOUR also most people don't relize how expensive the equipment we have is (like a $10,000 scantool by the time you add the add-ons and updates to it; or at least $20,000-$30,000 worth of tools per tech (some have well over $100K)

also why did they not call they call you when they had the tranny out and tell you that you had a broken motor mount so they could replace it easier cause you would have super easy acces to it (like 10-15 minutes to replace)??? (you don't have to answear it)

BTW: i am an auto tech at an independent shop in colorado (also it is almost impossible to diagnose a car without actually seeing it)

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

also i would call up your local tow companys (especially multi-truck fleets for the volume) cause they will know who they tow alot of breakdowns and repeat cars to.
and tool truck dealers (like snap-on, matco, mac, cornwell, etc.) cause they are in and out of each shop geneally at least once week or so and they get to know the employees

REDmanCL-S

Good tip. Thank you!

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

NP

docrubin

Tranny just went out! Going 60mph and went into 2nd gear! Wife about went through the windshield! Dealer wants $4500 to fix it and it only has 104,000 miles! It's a 2001 cls. I bought it for her in 2000. I called Acura and they cut the price to $2800.00 but if I buy a new car they will fix it for free? They offered me $4500 for my car as a trade in.
NOw it's back up to $3,350.00 needs new motor mounts!
I think I better start looking at Lexus

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

i got my rebuild done for 1900 cash and my tranny had melted 1/2 the metal off the gears.

rebuild that sucker and u'll be fine.

FYI since ur car locked up on the highway... if you threaten a law suit they will do it for free since that tranny lock up could have been life threatening if it were on the highway and say you had a HUGE semi behind you???

I've head stories of that happening to people at my DLR i go to and they have RAPE prices! and they gave them NEW TIRES and new tranny all free...

you just gotta walk back in there GUNS BLAZING pissed ff at the world cause YOUR LIFE and YOUR WIFE'S life just got put in jeprody over a stupid tranny!!!

DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL you get what you DESERVE, if you make a big enough scene they will do what you want so EVERY OTHER CUSTOMER doesn't think they are a BS company.

IT WORKS EVERY TIME

ALL so it wouldn't make it into the newspaper and have a lawsuit.

i'd threaten them with a law suit1st, injuries to ur wife...2nd and 3rd

mention how a good buddy of yours is a writer at a decent sized newpaper in ur area... and they WILL BOW DOWN TO YOU

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

JUST REMEMBER

YOU ARE THE VICTIM,

YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED

YOU DESERVE to get you shit for free..

P.S is there flat-spotting on ur tires from the incident?

AcuraKidd

iTrader: (1)

I'm in the same situation right now, I have an 02 TL-S with 83k and my tranny is completely done, car doesn't even move anymore. All the lights on the dash came on already, worst of all the tranny died while I was on my way to work, on the highway, the car just all of a sudden started jerking and then I hard some loud clunking sounds from under the car, and the the rpm's started jumping around, and then BAM it just downshifts like crazy.

I was lucky there was no accident, cause i almost lost control of the car. I already tried everything to get Acura to change the tranny for free, but all they're offering at this point is 25% off

I would love to sue them but a few members on here said it's not a good idea if you're trying to get good will assistance from them, since technically speaking im out of the warranty period already....

any advice?

REDmanCL-S

My advice, get the tranny from Acura. You'll pay more, but it will be worth it! And the fact that their even offering to help pay 25% is nice bro. As old as our cars our, they don’t have to offer sh*t. The case of the tranny is the only thing that’s used. All the internals are new, off the shelf Honda genuine parts. No refurbished, generic sh*t. Good luck.

Eoanou

Sorry to hear about your story, however why didn't you call the AAMCO corporate office? Get the regional director of AAMCO and let them know how angry you are. I'm sure if you told them about your experience with Raul they could have negotiated a price.

Also $2600 for a tranny rebuild isn't too bad, it included towing, diagnostic charges and tax. Tax alone is nearly $140, then the tow would have been around $200 (for 100mi maybe more).

REDmanCL-S

i called every AAMCO number found on line and got no were. also, for $2600 i could have had a brand new tranny. Acura had one for $2300. i got a rebuilt one with generic parts. all under the bridge now though. check out my pics, the red CL died on I95 and broward here in south florida. i ran into a wall head on going 70. tranny still had a 3yr warranty..gone.

cheapo23

i just bought a 03 acura cl type s with 50000 miles on it still under warrenty bought it to the dealer today for the recall and the timing belt recall they called me back said the tranny was shot and not under warrenty and 46oo for a new so i said ok just do the timing belt recall and i called acura corporate and said they would file a case i gotcall back from the dealer later on in the day saying they took pics of the demaged gear and sent it in to acura and its in their hands now so im wating to hear back from them seeing what there gona do

YeuEmMaiMai

if the gear 2nd gear shaft is discolored or damaged, then they will replace the transmission per their recall instructions. But the bad news is that the new transmissions are not that much better....