2G-TL-Type-S-03

So I bought my TL-S a few months back with a rebuilt tranny, which now seems to be on it's last leg, and will be failing soon. What I want to know is what will be a good replacement transmission? I don't want to get another 99-03 Automatic and have it fail on me again, are there any other trannies that bolt up to the J32a2 without too much custom fabrication? If I could, I would take a Manual over an Automatic, but beggers can't be choosers, thanks.

01acls

Your first choice should be to rebuild your trans with a heavily modded Sonnax valve body and a new torque coverter.

Replace any defective solenoids with new OEM ones.



Second choice would be to put a rebuilt AV6 in.

Third choice would be to put a used AV6. No guarantee here, just luck of the draw and if you can fine a shop willing to do it or DIY.

Prices will vary from shop to shop (indy) $2000-$4000. Dealer $5000+.

Use AV6 $500 and up + labor.

.02

Prufessor_Oak

Or do a CL manual swap.

01acls

^ $?
Manuals do not last forever either. There's periodic clutch replacement.

Chojun

It turns out that some 3rd gen TL MT are also compatible with our 2nd gen motors. Might be able to find one easier than a CL MT since they made very few of them.

01acls

^ $?

2G-TL-Type-S-03

I do think the 6 speed from CL-S would be a good choice, but are there any better 6 speeds that won't be too hard of a swap? also how hard of a swap is it? I'm guessing harder then the 5AT

Prufessor_Oak

I would guess that an accord v6 manual transmission would be direct bolt on, with a few minor part swaps. Loo through these forums, someone may have already done it.

Aman

Don't quote me, but I think a 6MT swap involves a harness swap.

Out of the available manual transmissions, a CL 6MT would be easiest. You can also use the 6MT from later year TLs and TL-Ss, as well as the aformentioned Accord 6MT. That's the only one that doesn't come with an LSD, though.

daneli

Hey 01acls. I'm new here and would like to better understand the order of precedence in your recommendations. (You say rebuilt TL > rebuilt AV6 > used AV6.) If the AV6 is more reliable to start with, wouldn't a rebuilt AV6 be the most reliable of all? I'm basing the idea that the AV6 is more reliable on the data summarized on sites like CarComplaints.com, where the 2001-2004 Accord and TL have an extremely high number of transmission failures compared to the 2006-2007 model years (Accord). I've read other posts here where this is discussed, and I understand that transmission rebuilders have gone a long way to understanding and curing the problems causing the 2001-2004 transmission failures. However, do you know of any data that compares the failure rates of rebuilt 2002-2004 transmissions vs original vs rebuilt 2006-2007 AV6s?

Also, do you know of any source that explains in detail why the 2006-2007 transmissions fail at such a lower rate compared to 2001-2004? What is it that Honda did that was responsible for the improvement?

By way of explanation, I should say that I recently installed a used AV6 in a 2002 CL S. So far the car is shifting well, but if the AV6 fails I will have to decide whether it is better to rebuild my original CL transmission (now sitting in my garage) or the AV6 now in the car.

Thanks!