ed'sTL

well looks like im gonna be joining the club. my 2-3 shifts were horrible tonight. i knew it was coming because i could tell that something was wrong when it would shift weird from 2nd to 3rd gear for the past two days. and tonight when it was shifting the car would red line but wouldn't speed up. it's an 03 tlp with almost 82k. on it. I checked acura owner link and my car is covered but it also says "status: fixed" so im assuming it had the oil jet kit installed. but yeah... gotta take it to the dealer.

01tl4tl

on the owner link there should be one for the RECALL oil jet kit install and that says FIXED

then another box that says trans extended warranty-1999-2003, OPEN
If it doesnt say that, you are not in the automatically covered VIN range.
Read the recall section on acura.com, it list the VIN range, check your car against that

Make sure to speak with the service MANAGER and express your love of acura yadayada and they can call acura corp and get approval for `goodwill` replacement

ed'sTL

Sh!t... im not covered... I called acura claim services and they opened up a case and said that i need to go to a dealership and get my car diagnosed. man... all this time i was worry free and thought my car is covered. now i just hope that they'll help me out... there go my stashed up money for modding... (which is 0 by they way) ahhh...

TL_Captain

Looking at so many posts on Acura tranny failure, I'd still say Honda/Acura are quite reliable. Looks like most of the failure occurs at 100k+ miles. My shitty 2004 Volvo had to get a tranny replacement at 33000 miles.

01tl4tl

anything over 50k is right on schedule for failure according to my tech at acura

They have a generous "Goodwill" replacement policy - all you have to do is be nice and polite. They know the problem wasnt fixed- it was a court case settlement they picked a VIN, so late 03s are usually a sitiation where they ask you to wait- the tech takes a drive, talks to the manager who makes a phone call- and minutes later they appear with the loaner car.

Speaking DIRECT AND IN PERSON WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER is the only way to get help.

01tl4tl

Doh! you are 20, no loaner cars - sorry, insurance rules
and no you cant take dad with you and do it in his name, that would leave you driving without valid insurance and on the hook for a new car if crashed.

ed'sTL

I love my acura... this is the only problem i've had with in the almost two years that i've had it. Do you think it matters if i got my car from an independed dealership? i never had to go to my acura dealer since my car has been worry free, except the oil changes which i do on my own. I'll make sure to talk to the service manager and be polite. any other advice?

oh and yeah im 20, no loaner for me. i guess im gonna be driving my 94 merc villager van if they help me out.

Gfaze

It doesn't matter where you got it as long as it's not a salvage title. You could be the 5th owner, it's not important. Mine was replaced in January and I had gotten it from a used car lot. Just be polite, but insistent. Good luck!!

ed'sTL

Gfaze - thanks for the good luck wishes. were you out of warantee?
I'm gonna go tomorrow in the morning and try to politely persuade them to "goodwill" it.

01tl4tl

Have peaceful positive thoughts tonight and it will be a no hassle experience for you.

Gfaze

I was out of warranty based on time by a few months but I was way under on mileage. I had 75000 miles when I took it in. I'm currently headed towards 81000 and so far, so good.

ed'sTL

well im at the dealers right now and i talked to the service manager. he seems like a very nice guy so my car is being tested right now. my check engine light came on yesterday night. they said they'll try to read the codes. did any of you have to pay for the diagnosis?

01tl4tl

if its diagnosed as a warranty problem, they pay for the diagnosis and replace the trans.
If its only a few minutes and they cant find anything, they may not charge anything.
If its getting the codes read and you have a light on- the tech probably already ran it around the block to test it and decided it needed more inspection.
They like warranty work- it beats no work at all!

The reason they need an invoice with diagnose fee is to protect them- cops want a work order for every car in the shop- or those cars are stolen and being stripped for parts!!

ed'sTL

oh ok. im still here. no word from them yet... its a good thing they have computers here with internet or i'd be bored out of my mind. Acura of Lynnwood FTW!!!

fsttyms1

If they dont good will it you need to change their home page to acurazine

ed'sTL

lol. i think i might do that either way. I'm set on getting it good willed because if they dont... oohhh... im gonna start looking for a different car. as much as i dont want to

ed'sTL

the service manager just came back and informed me that my transmission failed. the check engine code was for a torque converter failure, also my front and side mounts are cracked. He just got my claim number and is about to call the claim services. wish me luck

01tl4tl

thats great news!
the front and side mounts is a very common wear out failure and not to be worried about
The good news is its only 3/10 ths of an hour to do the front while the trans is out, and the side is about .5 regardless- I think on the time
the front is a lot longer labor time when trans in place.
The part alone for front is $120 and side $30~
Get them done and enjoy your 1/2 new car! for 300 bucks

ed'sTL

It's awesome on how positive you are. here i am barely sitting down because im so worried and you just keep posting your positive advice. thank you. If it all turns out as you stated i will be the happiest customer they ever had.

01tl4tl

They do it all the time
You have to be a major ^)&*&%# for them not to do everything they can to get 100 percent covered- or some low percent you pay.

If you come across as decent person, maybe student on a budget who loves their acura, it doesnt hurt them to take care of you-
especially knowing you are sitting on their puter on azine lol

ed'sTL

Exactly. lol

Im getting it covered 100%. woot woot. i'll get my car back on tuesday. im soooo happy. they gave me a ride home. thanks for your constant hopefull words. lol

01tl4tl

glad it worked out- after all that time of being certain you were covered~

ed'sTL

thanks. i actually misundestood them and my car will be done tomorrow, even better.

01tl4tl

wow you must be next door to the warehouse! its only 4 hours labor to do the whole job- plus motor mounts - so your car is probably sitting on the rack with no trans right now-
just waiting for the truck in the morning- install- test drive- call you- send the shuttle driver to pick you up.
Drive it gentle nice- like breaking in a new engine for 500 miles- no racing yet
then 500 more of normal to brisk- then ready to go have fun.
If its a good trans it will be good- if its a bad one for any reason- it shows up pretty soon and they just replace it again

Write a thank you letter to the General Mananger and Service Manager of the dealer expressing the same things you did here- your concerns and what great service yada going beyond to help you...
also send a copy to acura corp- they read all of them and good work is rewarded

ed'sTL

yes im very happy with my experience. there isn't one thing to complain about. they were very nice at acura corp and at the dealership. its experiences like this that make me want to stay in the acura family forever. they're all getting thank you letters. and of course 01tl4tl thanks again for all the advice and words of encouragement.