Hi all

Didn't find a thread exclusively dedicated to the long term reliability and problems with this swap. The FAQ covers mostly install but I wanted to make a more precise thread.

Im potentially interested in buying from someone who has done the swap. They are charging a bit of a premium for their TL. VS there’s another I could personally buy for much less bc it has a fading transmission already.

1. How many miles have folks put on these?
2. What problems have you had? I’ve seen
   • TC Lockup
     • (what does lockup mean? It’s stuck in a gear? What does it feel like? Just a rough up or down shift?)
   • Whine Sound
     • Does that ever go away and is there a fix for it?
3. Any other issues to know long term as a buyer?

 

1. 26K miles/3 years later for me.
2. no problems ever with my trans.
   1. TC lockup: They are probably referring to when you step on the gas in D5 and once it hits 5th gear it starts off with increased engine RPM's (similar to how it will lockup when you step on the gas to accelerate to support the additional clutch pressure)...then eventually settles down. Felt weird at first; but it's just different.
   2. no whine sound for me
3. just make sure it has OEM switches/solenoids. mine came with aftermarket pressure switches; which made for some rough up/downshifts in 3,4 &5. Once I put in oem all gone.

Follow the dedicated thread's advice; buy a trans with as little mileage as your wallet can afford; always prefer one that has not been rebuilt (factory assembled quality is very difficult to match) and keep your eye out for those tall tale signs that someone is covering up something with bright red, brand new fluid.

 

Since I'm headed for the swap, I'll just the along.

You might investigate the cost of having a shop do the swap. You can either have them get the trans or source a trans yourself. Unless you can swap the trans on your own. That will give you a comparison of the cost difference between the 2 TLs, assuming everything else is comparable.

 

1. 600 miles since AV6 swap 2 month ago
2. TC lockup ? I experienced 2 or 3 times the exact symptoms that whitetiger5 described (D5 high RPM when pushing gas). I used the TC came with AV6 (06, 130k miles). If you call that TC lockup, I am a little relieved, i.e. transmission ok, just TC trouble ?
3. Overall, TL03 drives like new.