guod

I am looking to get a nice used TL and wanted to know what I should look for other than the tranny failing. Should I be concerned with anything other than the tranny going bad? Since Acura extended the warranty on it till 100k, wouldnt you think most people selling their used car already had it replaced? Is this car going to cost a lot to maintain?


Thanks

Type-Superman

well about the tranny the time it goes out varies a great deal. I know some guys who had their tranny fail at 30k, and another guy had his original until 150k. its your job to test-drive the car and see if you can feel the tranny being harsh or slipping. also look at the title and sevrice records. the problems have only been with the 2gs and the early 2004s anyways, you could get an '05 manual to be safe

AcuraBuddy

Other then the Tranny, your pretty much set to go. I only had some brake issues even though now my car seems to be vibrating quite a bit at 80mph. I guess I'll have to do some research on that.

guod

Can i call my acura dealer, give them the VIN # and ask if the car is still covered under the tranny replacement plan? Also, once they are replaced, do they last?

ChampionFiyah

its a great car man, treat it as you would want to be treated, try to find a 99tl with navi, and then just swap out the hdd based unit thats in the trunk with a dvd based one, very simple, its a plug n' play process, i've have my tl for over a year now, and it runs great, remember 99, not 00, 01, 02, 03, or early 04's, if u dont wanna deal with the tranny issue. my next ride will be an 05 tl in a few years good luck

bkzjimmy

im lost u gotta pick a car and show us whats up.

Bob_F

Yes, you can call your local dealer or Acura's national customer care group with the VIN and see if it's still covered under the 109,000 mile/7 year + 9 month extended warranty.

Ask for the car's original in-service date and determine when the car will hit the 7 year + 9 month limit. Every 1999 TL has probably hit the time limit and some 2000 TLs are reaching that now.

The warranty is a "whichever occurs first" type so even a car with well under 109,000 miles can fall out of warranty coverage.

guod

why didnt the 99s have the tranny issue?

ace2525

idk but i have a '99tl with 72k and no tranny issues yet

guod

if i can get like an 02 or something that is still under warranty is that a bad thing? Also, were there any big changes from 99 to 02 casue i know in 03 they added on star..also do you guys miss the TYPE S? I mean that is a lot of HP that is lost without the type s

like what about this one.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ce=&cardist=25

Bob_F

The 1999 TL uses a 4-speed transmission that's more reliable that the 5-speed transmission used in the 2000-2003 TL. But it still has reliability issues. Consumer Reports givers the 1999 TL transmission a "worse than average" reliability rating. The 2000-2003 Tl transmission gets a "much worse than average" rating. That's the lowest rating they give out.

FWIW, the original transmission on my 1999 TL made it to 173,000 miles.

red_tl

damn, if my 03 new trannie can make it to 150K i will be very happy. If i keep the car that long.

guod

ohh..Yea i saw that in my consumer report buyers guide for 07..I mean other than the tranny it shows that it is a very good car..sadly the tranny is something that is a major part of the car. I mean I want one but I am not sure if it is worth giving up for my 2000 Maxima SE. I mean I think both cars offer just as much luxury and great performance. My maxima being stick is faster than the auto TL but the TL type S gives my car a run for its money. I have almost no problems with my max and am a little weary to get a car that has a major problem.

with that being said, what did you guys think of the car i posted above in my previous post

Bob_F

If your new transmission has the updates Acura made in 2005, it may last a very long time.

guod

wait I thought they didnt have any more revisions to the tranny. So if i get one under the warranty, it will be replaced with an updated tranny?

guod

I hate this 5 min editing thing...I wanted to know if there is a big differance in handleing between the type S and regular 3.2. I found a good deal on an 02 TL but it does not have nav and it is not a TYPE S. The good thing is it has less than 60k..

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ce=&cardist=25

mickey3c

I would stay away from the TL second and early third generation.

I had a 99 tl and that had rear deck rattle and paint problems. It ran very well and I traded it at 40K for an 01 types S coupe. That was the first year for the 5 Sp auto. The car ran well until about 35k where the tranny died.

The new tranny had the new ECU which changed the shift points. Acura increased the warranty to 100K on the tranny, but the tranny would shift roughly now and then and some of the performance was lost. There was a slight rattle in the rear deck as well. The brakes were solid until I traded it for a G35.

The 3G still had the tranny issue since there was recall that impacted 2g and early 3g models. I have an 05 TL which has low miles but seems to be ok, but then it is my wife's car and I never really drive it.

Sure the TL has a lot of features, nice looking, and performs well. Yet, if you are looking to buy used (50K) and keep it for 100K or more, be ready to deal with the issues. The car was the best bang for the buck and may still be. My VP owns one and I asked him why this car and he said he is cheap and this was the cheapest in the class.

It's a great car if you are going to trade it in every 3 years. I would not say anyone of my 2gs would have been keepers for the long term. As for performance in the snow, you will need some good snow tires if you expect to get around with ease.

My other car is a 3.2 6AT A6 quattro and that gets around just fine. yeah a tad pricey but is very solid, much more so than the TL. It costs more and I imagine it will cost more to repair when the time comes. It handles well has great pickup and a nice growl to it. At about 2 tons it is not going to break any 0-60 records.

The choices out there are few, but consider the other cars, BMW, A4, G35, and lexus IS models. The TL usually cost less, might look a bit better, and be as fast or faster. But that comes at a price down the road.

And if you buy anything with 18 inch tires on it ... be ready for a 300/tire price tag!

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

I have my 02 TL-S for 2.5 years now (bought it in May of 2005), when I bought it, it had 87000km on it, and now it has 135000km. So far so good, no tranny problem (touch wood) as well. Typical Honda reliability, which is very very solid. Just did a Type 2 service 2 days ago and the car feels noticeably stronger again.

If you live in Canada then I'd suggest buying the 03 TL-S A-spec as that car is pretty rare and looks very decent. The spoiler alone would cost $800-$1000 as it's the JDM Inspire spoiler. If you live in the States, then get a 02 or 03 TL-S with navi. Honda/Acura has some of the best navi systems and the extra power in the Type S is useful. Also make sure that you check whether the tranny has been replaced or if it's being covered under warranty.

guod

so if i get the 2005 rev tranny I am ok? or is there a way to prove that has been done?

SRAcuraTL

Hey just wondering does CLs have the same tranny issues we do? Manual trans anymore reliable?

Indjun

thats a great deal on a TL. i would make sure to double check that it has not been in an accident.

Rsoetidjo

call this # and found out if the recall has been done or not. (they will ask you the vin#)
Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238
And TL-S has stiffer suspension.
But alos I heard if the type-S have more tranny problem.
But overall It's a very nice car.
My wife just bought hers a month ago.
And we love it, except i wish is the type S

CCETTI

i have a 99TL and my tranny whent out arround 60k, and my friend also has a 2000 TL and his tranny whent out to arround 60k just before mine did, iono thats wired but really check the trans on these cars.

derrick

I'm at 132,500km (82,800 miles) on original transmission with no apparent signs of slipping. Bought my car May 2001 ... love it to death. Feel reluctant to trade it in for a new car. (Ideally want a 2002+ NSX and keep the TL-S as my winter beater).

However, I can see since the OP is younger ... you may want to consider another car if you worry about this transmission. How much is your budget? You do realize the TL recommends premium unleaded and with oil prices the way they are ... it's gonna be pricey just to drive it around. Maybe go with a less 'upscale' car like a 4-cyl Accord, Madza3, or something like that ...

Just a thought.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Same here

Costco

You will regret it, especially at your age. Acura has handled the failed transmissions poorly, some people get it replaced 2, 3+ times before it holds up. We haven't really heard of a TL that has 200,000+ miles (well, I haven't) with the original tranny yet, and I doubt we ever will. Given the about of auto tranny failures so far, I'm sure most of these trannies will fail sooner or later.

I would stay away from newer Hondas/Acuras with a 5-speed auto transmission also, especially if they finally come out with a 6 or 7-speed. The 3G TLs have had a few reports of slipping trannies so you really don't know. Wait it out to see if there are any issues, if not, THEN buy a good condition used one.

They haven't handled this issue properly at all. 7 years/100,000 miles? Please... what happens if it fails at 8.5 years and 120,000 miles? That's what, $1,000-2000+ in parts and labor. I don't care what you do for a living thats no joke

JetBlackAC

I guess the first thing you have to answer is what your budget is for a new car. I love my TL to death, but knowing what I know I wouldve waited to get the 3G TL to have more reliable trans.

guod

well something a little less than 10k. I know about the premium as my maxima runs on prem.

thats why i was wondering about that TL i found for 8900 OBO with 56k