Hi friends
I'm going to look at a 2002 TL next week and I'd like to know what I can do myself to check out the transmission? Check the oil, but what else? I asked the guy about the VIN number but havent heard from him yet. I will run that when I get it.

All the best.

 

Driving it will tell you most of what's up. But be wary, I bought my TL with 221K miles on it and was scared to death because it was slipping like crazy and had hard shifts. I fully expected to drop major money very quickly on a transmission. I did a tranny flush and kept doing that every 10K miles and it lasted me another 50K miles. So be advised there's not much you can do to figure out what's going on. By the way, that was the original tranny in my car that blew out at 270K miles. Just keep an emergency fund for if you ever have tranny problems. But even with the problem the car has been worth every penny. The transmission problem was the only problem I've ever had with this car. I highly recommend the TL.

 

Thanks for the good info. It seems like it is a hit or miss with the transmission. I'm looking at an 02 with 230k km for $1600 because it has a big dent in the side. Cosmetic only. If the transmission goes there should be money for a replacement. Thanks again.

 

Drive it at highway speeds for a a few minutes then at low speeds and check how it shifts,
Try all positions on the shift gate and look for how it takes the gear, if any harsh engagement try to avoid it unless you have plans for an AV6 transplant if the price is right.

 

Check the fluid level after driving it. With the car parked on a level area, shut off the motor and pull the tranny dipstick. The fluid level should read between the two holes and be red in color.

Drive the car at various speeds, starting and stopping, full throttle, etc. The tranny should'nt hesitate, flare up in rpms or clunk when shifting during the test drive. Inspect the undercarriage for evidence of leaks.