Elcoqui128

Hey guys. I been reading alot about the problems with the 03 TL transmission. What can i do to prevent those problems. I check the fluids everyday and it looks pretty good and it still runs pretty good. I was thinking about the 6 speed swap but i really dont feel like having to shift here in NC. Especially because im always taking trips to VA. Traffics a bitch out there.

fsttyms1

First stop checking every day. You are going to drive yourself crazy worrying. Simply put there isnt any thing you can do to prevent it. Just change the fluid regularly and drive the car.

gold2003tl (90)

dont use SS, and avoid hard downshifts. personally i would stay out of v-tec in 2nd and 3rd gear, which means drive normally.

01tl4tl

do a 3 qt honda atf change and drive it
dont abuse 2nd and 3rd as said above- the heat gets to the clutch packs and causes wearout

Elcoqui128

I just dont have the money to get a new transmission right now. thats why i worry. Thanks for the heads up on those gears. I saw the sticky for the 6 speed swap. That looks like its really costy.

01tl4tl

here is the secret- Do NOT come here saying you have xx miles are its all wonderful - that incurs the azine curse- failure within 7 days

You came and asked how to take care of it- we told you- drive nice and do a 3qt fluid change- not the 3x3 you may read about
thats for guys with new trans to get on a program

sit back and drive- keep your engine oil changed 7500 miles, and once a year change 3 qts of trans fluid

verify you have the external oil jet kit, done under recall
If not, there may be a good surprise waiting for you!!
register with acura 1-800-382-2238x5 as new owner -need cars VIN
ask if recalls are all taken care of- there is a new one for some on airbag inflator and an old one for some 03s for free timing belt job- thats a score!

just remember to say no more of your trans and how its working good

dudeinaTL

iTrader: (1)

I don't know if getting the external oil jet kit installed yields a good surprise...that is, unless his second gear set is discolored.

Click here to check recall status. Keep in mind that an 'open' warranty extension (if applicable) doesn't mean you're covered right then & now. For example, I'm about 6 months past the 93 month extended warranty on the tranny, but the site & even the dealer still sees it as 'open'. But an open recall means you should head to the dealer asap.

01tl4tl

exactly what I meant dude-
heat damage to the right parts found upon boroscope inspection- done as part of the recall install kit-= free trans!
A TL without the kit has by now done some damage~

01tl4tl

6 months- thats goodwill period if you have a problem suddenly now

computers are updated by humans
wanna bet they have reduced staff at acura in records dept?

notbrant

iTrader: (2)

Forgive my ignorance, but what does 3x3 mean?

Also, I checked the recall status and it says my status is "Fixed" So I have the oil jet installed?

dudeinaTL

iTrader: (1)

You would think that, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't have damage; a lot of times recalls just result from a small number of cases but when the consequences are high. And if the tranny itself was bad, if the 2nd gear set wasn't the culprit & he's not covered by the ext. warranty, he's gonna have a $3-5k bill, worst case scenario.

Tell that to ACS and the 2 dealerships I went to. End-result, I had to get a rebuild, 100% out of pocket. Would be nice if people could document their cases of how they got good will in this thread.


3x3 means you drain & fill the tranny 3 quarts of fluid, 3 times. Only about 3 quarts come out the pan when draining, the rest is left in the TC, so you're slowly increasing the concentration of clean fluid with one drain/fill. Then you drive the car or put it on the lift & cycle through gears cause you want that old fluid in the TC to mix with the new fluid. The more drain/fills, the higher the concentration of brand new fluid.

01tl4tl

fixed means they installed the jet kit

register with the 800 number- they send out future recall notes like the aairbag inflator thats starting to come out now

new fluid pushes old fluid out of areas and to the drain

see last several pages of the main`Tranny Failure` thread for details on goodwill and how to get it-

03tlCHARCOL

iTrader: (3)

Can't believe you haven't mentioned seafoam yet

Sorry to hijack your thread OP, but Tom knows his stuff he has helped me countless times and have answered all my PM.

I just did the 3qt fluid change this weekend because I had no prior knowledge on the maintence. The fluid that came out was black and dirty, and the new stuff going in was red. The shifts feel alot smoother, I'll definitely be following his advice and change the fluid once a year.

I have some left over transmission fluid, like .5 qt (I bought 4) will it still be good next year?

01tl4tl

keep it capped with some plastic wrap (saran wrap) under the cap, then screw cap on

double ck the fluid level per book- it should take 3.2 or so on the drain and you dont want it over full at all
BETWEEN the dots on the stick-the fluid level anywhere betwen low and full is good
15 minute freeway cruise, stop safely off freeway and turn engine off- ck fluid level twice

01tl4tl

we dont seafoam the trans~

dudeinaTL

iTrader: (1)

Well they do make it:


...but I know to put that stuff in our transmissions is probably a death wish.

01tl4tl

thats my thought- I know they make it,,
but with the potential sludge holding the clutch material together...that would be like a 3x3 fluid change on a car with 100 on the trans...
is my guess with no scientific checking or call to the expert Jim D.

or it could be the solution to rough shifting by deglazing without the bad things we imagine!
think I will place a call

dudeinaTL

iTrader: (1)

I don't know who Jim D is but even with positive info from him, it's gonna take someone with $$$ or a spare transmission to be a guinea pig...