About Transmission Problems...
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Banned
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,427
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From: Orange County, CA
About Transmission Problems...
Got this over from ClubRSX:
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?threadid=6159
Ok,
So the other day the business I work for decided that it was closing it's doors and I was going to be loosing my job on the 28th of September... we all decided to have a loser's party at a local bar... I get the only seat at the bar and there is this guy sitting next to me with an Acura shirt on! I ask me what he does, and he informs me that he is a mechanic for Acura, and used to work at a Honda dealer in my home town!
We hit it off and start talking about all the different things you can do to a Prelude, and many Honda's in general... then the INFAMOUS 4 speed Honda SS trans comes up. (I had to ask!!) He informs me of the following:
1) The 4 speed SS Auto was originally installed in the latest model TL the first year. They started blowing up right and left, and the Acura's have a 5 year / 50,000 mile warranty, so it was hurting them! They immediately came out with a fix for the Acura: the 5 Speed SS Auto Trans! He says that the 6 cylinder engine produced too much torque, and would destroy those 4 speed SS'es really fast. He's personally replaced many of them with low mileage under warranty!
2) If the SS Auto is shifting like crap, he indicated that there is a screen (filter) behind one of the solenoids on the top-side of the transmission. This screen frequently get's clogged, and simply changing the fluid and cleaning (blowing) out the screen will fix a lot of problems!! Use only Honda Genuine Premium ATF!!!!!!!
3) He also indicated that the SS Auto in general end up with VERY dirty transmission fluid and that they should always have the fuild changed every 15,000 miles. NO EXCEPTIONS!! Expecially, since only half the fuild is replaced each change.
4) If you are going to buy the new Acura RSX, they have a problem with the computer. He indicated that the RSX has been improperly programmed and they ALL run like crap. The cars are NOT to be driven under any circumstances, and they must be immediately reprogrammed (which appears to be a real pain in the butt... they don't have standard flash ROMs...)
Well, I finally got my somewhat official proof that the SS Auto is known by Honda to be a failure. Jerks...
I think I'll cash out some of my retirement fund, take a month off, and get my SS Auto rebuilt by Level Ten.
-Gerhard
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?threadid=6159
Ok,
So the other day the business I work for decided that it was closing it's doors and I was going to be loosing my job on the 28th of September... we all decided to have a loser's party at a local bar... I get the only seat at the bar and there is this guy sitting next to me with an Acura shirt on! I ask me what he does, and he informs me that he is a mechanic for Acura, and used to work at a Honda dealer in my home town!
We hit it off and start talking about all the different things you can do to a Prelude, and many Honda's in general... then the INFAMOUS 4 speed Honda SS trans comes up. (I had to ask!!) He informs me of the following:
1) The 4 speed SS Auto was originally installed in the latest model TL the first year. They started blowing up right and left, and the Acura's have a 5 year / 50,000 mile warranty, so it was hurting them! They immediately came out with a fix for the Acura: the 5 Speed SS Auto Trans! He says that the 6 cylinder engine produced too much torque, and would destroy those 4 speed SS'es really fast. He's personally replaced many of them with low mileage under warranty!
2) If the SS Auto is shifting like crap, he indicated that there is a screen (filter) behind one of the solenoids on the top-side of the transmission. This screen frequently get's clogged, and simply changing the fluid and cleaning (blowing) out the screen will fix a lot of problems!! Use only Honda Genuine Premium ATF!!!!!!!
3) He also indicated that the SS Auto in general end up with VERY dirty transmission fluid and that they should always have the fuild changed every 15,000 miles. NO EXCEPTIONS!! Expecially, since only half the fuild is replaced each change.
4) If you are going to buy the new Acura RSX, they have a problem with the computer. He indicated that the RSX has been improperly programmed and they ALL run like crap. The cars are NOT to be driven under any circumstances, and they must be immediately reprogrammed (which appears to be a real pain in the butt... they don't have standard flash ROMs...)
Well, I finally got my somewhat official proof that the SS Auto is known by Honda to be a failure. Jerks...
I think I'll cash out some of my retirement fund, take a month off, and get my SS Auto rebuilt by Level Ten.
-Gerhard
Senior Moderator
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,461
Likes: 616
From: Long Island, NY
No offense to Jens, Wayne or anyone from Acura here, but I equate the opinions of their mechanics and salesman just about with the opinion of any lay person out there. If anything the things they tell you are worse since they probaly hear all the rumors which we dont. The guys at my dealership told me that an AWD V8 NSX was going to be available as a 2003 model in 2002, and that the Rl would have a V8 as well. Well from I have been hearing thats not close to true.
One major problem I have with his story is his claim that Acura designed the 5 speed to counteract the 4 speeds problems with the torque that the V6 put out. Just adding that extra gear up high wont do anything for helping the tranny deal handle torque unless the torque converter was also changed. Also the gear ratios for the lower speeds werent changed all that much to make them less aggressive and therefore less stressful on the trranny. When the Type-S came out Acura beefed up the torque converter to handle the extra torque and power the Type-S engine had. The 5th gear is really just an extra overdrive gear for more comfort and fuel savings which is the reason I think Acura put that tranny in just like many luxury cars out there like the ES300 are doing.
As far as changing tranny fluid goes. I change my tranny fluid every year. Its not expensive. you can do a regular drain and refill yourself for less than the cost of an oil change, and think about it for all the talk about synthetic motor oil protection which I also use, how often do you actually hear of a NA motor going belly up?? Automatic trannies on the other hand die all the time. I feel its the weakest component in any auto tranny car regardless of make. And the once every 30k or 2 year changes recommended by most manufacturers is way too long for me.
One major problem I have with his story is his claim that Acura designed the 5 speed to counteract the 4 speeds problems with the torque that the V6 put out. Just adding that extra gear up high wont do anything for helping the tranny deal handle torque unless the torque converter was also changed. Also the gear ratios for the lower speeds werent changed all that much to make them less aggressive and therefore less stressful on the trranny. When the Type-S came out Acura beefed up the torque converter to handle the extra torque and power the Type-S engine had. The 5th gear is really just an extra overdrive gear for more comfort and fuel savings which is the reason I think Acura put that tranny in just like many luxury cars out there like the ES300 are doing.
As far as changing tranny fluid goes. I change my tranny fluid every year. Its not expensive. you can do a regular drain and refill yourself for less than the cost of an oil change, and think about it for all the talk about synthetic motor oil protection which I also use, how often do you actually hear of a NA motor going belly up?? Automatic trannies on the other hand die all the time. I feel its the weakest component in any auto tranny car regardless of make. And the once every 30k or 2 year changes recommended by most manufacturers is way too long for me.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
My only hope is for those of us who will have tranny problems, that it happens BEFORE the warranty. That would royally SUCK if the tranny goes out shortly after the warranty. Although its a pain in the @ss for those w/ replacement tranny work....at least it's under warranty and hopefully isn't being replaced with yet another faulty tranny.
Originally posted by TL4Mo
My only hope is for those of us who will have tranny problems, that it happens BEFORE the warranty. That would royally SUCK if the tranny goes out shortly after the warranty. Although its a pain in the @ss for those w/ replacement tranny work....at least it's under warranty and hopefully isn't being replaced with yet another faulty tranny.
My only hope is for those of us who will have tranny problems, that it happens BEFORE the warranty. That would royally SUCK if the tranny goes out shortly after the warranty. Although its a pain in the @ss for those w/ replacement tranny work....at least it's under warranty and hopefully isn't being replaced with yet another faulty tranny.
Or, you can just buy the extended warranty for piece of mind......
Pro
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
I guess that's the new plan with this car! I am of the mind that if you buy a high quality vehicle.....you can keep it until you just are sick of looking at it
My '90 Toyo pick up has over 150k and still kicking hard. My '90 Nissan Maxima is not too far behind. I plan on keeping my '01 4Runner for a looooong time too. Not used to the idea of having to get another car right before the warranty is up...but oh well, "change is a good thing". ha ha.
Cuuuumown V8 RL!
My '90 Toyo pick up has over 150k and still kicking hard. My '90 Nissan Maxima is not too far behind. I plan on keeping my '01 4Runner for a looooong time too. Not used to the idea of having to get another car right before the warranty is up...but oh well, "change is a good thing". ha ha.Cuuuumown V8 RL!
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Originally posted by oblio98
There are an awful lot of transmission problems showing up on TL-S's, which have only been around for a short time. There must be SOME validity to some of this talk.
:-jon
There are an awful lot of transmission problems showing up on TL-S's, which have only been around for a short time. There must be SOME validity to some of this talk.
:-jon
No offense, but there are no more tranny problems cropping up for the TL-S than for any other luxury car model -- can anyone give me any statistical proof that there is a larger % of Acura's returning to the bay for tranny repairs than say .. any of the lexus lineup?
Hmm.. this is an Acura TL-S forum... people come here for advice and to vent frustrations about their vehicle .. I betcha you'd be more inclined to believe that tranny problems were a nagging problem in the TL-S here in this forum, than say... anywhere else in the world.
WayTooManyAcuras
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 512
From: Connecticut
Originally posted by PeterUbers
Um,
No offense, but there are no more tranny problems cropping up for the TL-S than for any other luxury car model -- can anyone give me any statistical proof that there is a larger % of Acura's returning to the bay for tranny repairs than say .. any of the lexus lineup?
Hmm.. this is an Acura TL-S forum... people come here for advice and to vent frustrations about their vehicle .. I betcha you'd be more inclined to believe that tranny problems were a nagging problem in the TL-S here in this forum, than say... anywhere else in the world.
Um,
No offense, but there are no more tranny problems cropping up for the TL-S than for any other luxury car model -- can anyone give me any statistical proof that there is a larger % of Acura's returning to the bay for tranny repairs than say .. any of the lexus lineup?
Hmm.. this is an Acura TL-S forum... people come here for advice and to vent frustrations about their vehicle .. I betcha you'd be more inclined to believe that tranny problems were a nagging problem in the TL-S here in this forum, than say... anywhere else in the world.
THAT seems to be odd, we are not talking about a cup holder here.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Originally posted by Mr Hyde
I feel its the weakest component in any auto tranny car regardless of make. And the once every 30k or 2 year changes recommended by most manufacturers is way too long for me.
I feel its the weakest component in any auto tranny car regardless of make. And the once every 30k or 2 year changes recommended by most manufacturers is way too long for me.
does anyone else have a differnet recolection??
Once a year sounds like alot. I guess if it means saving the tranny, it is not alot to spend.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 12,038
Likes: 0
From: Everywhere
Hey PeterUbers....
http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=36115&dm=yes
No new tranny problems here
http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=36115&dm=yes
No new tranny problems here
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