Carson-TL

So I'm just looking at all my options here, and you guys always have good and interesting input.

My TL is suffering from some horrible disease. One night she wouldn't start so I had her towed to a local shop. There they diagnosed it that the ECU was fried. I bought a new ECU and had them put it in. After that they said I needed to tow the car to the dealer ship to have them program my keys to it. After leaving the car at the dealership for two days they gave me a call asking why I needed my keys programmed, they got the keys to work but the car still wouldn't start. They they said there definitely wasn't anything wrong with the ecu, its the injectors, coil packs, and possibly the valves that are making it not run. Now they are dissecting the whole engine trying to find whats wrong, and basically it sounds like what they are going to find is going to require a lot of cash.

I'm just a kid with a small wallet.

so what it sounds like is that this whole diagnose and repair is going to be over $1000-$1500. Now I was looking online and saw that a j32a1 cost from $300-$600 and a j32a2 costs from $500-$1k

If the stealership is going need to do some serious work, would it just be better to buy a new engine? How hard is it to directly swap out the motor? I have no experience with motors although I have done a lot to my TL. Is there any good samaritan acuraziners out there in the portland Oregon area that would want to help with the swap?

I've been away from my TL for 3 weeks now and I'm so fucking pissed, I can't wait any longer! I'm ready to drive her again!

What do you guys think? I probably won't hear what the dealership found until monday or tuesday.

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

Definitely get a new engine. They are cheap, and you can get a lower mileage engine for much cheaper than that repair bill.

Don't go back to that local mechanic, he gave you a bad diagnosis and you got screwed for that money.

Swap in a J32A1 to keep the same power, or swap in a J32A2 to get some extra horsepower. Without getting a Type-S ECU and wiring, you won't get ALL the power from the J32A2.

I would just get a J32A2 and swap it in, while leaving the stock ECU and wiring. You'll get some extra horsepower, and it will be easy to upgrade to full Type S if u want later.

ErickUa5

Its not hard it is time consuming, you will have to take off both axles unbolt all 5 mounts, unplug all electrical connections and hoses from the engine, remove the strut bar radiator battery and battery tray.

assclown

iTrader: (1)

FWIW, I didn't have to remove the radiator.

ErickUa5

I removed it for space and it was my first time doing a swap I didn't know if the engine would move and crack the plastic radiator, just wanted to be on the safe side.

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

I didn't remove the radiator, but I wish I had. One piece of advice, just unplug the three wire looms going to the ECU instead of disconnecting everything from the engine. Then pull the engine with the wiring harness attached to it.

Hardest part was cracking the lower ball joints from the LCA. Jeezus that thing didn't come off with my hardest swing from a 5lb sledge.

Just get a service manual and follow the step by step directions. It outlines EVERYTHING.

Carson-TL

Thanks guys! I will keep this in mind if there's no hope left in my engine. Sounds like it's pretty easy. Stupid question but is there any special tools I need, or is it all just nuts and bolts and unplugging required? And when disconnecting a hose do you just crimp it off or something? Ahhh never mind, I'll just ask all my questions when and if I have to drop a new engine in. Thanks again!

fsttyms1

Its not hard nor time consuming. (also you can simply unplug the wire harness from the ECU and feed it thru the firewall and remove the engine with it on, it makes life much easier) I could have the engine out in a 1 hour, 2 with breaks for beer.

fsttyms1

Also, if you go the new engine route, get a J35A3. You will have a 3.5 right out of the box. Get a set of A2 (types) cams and you basically have a J35 type-s motor. (as the J32A2 and J35A3 are the same block and heads)

slvrblttypes

How does the j35 run with the s cams??

ErickUa5

I forgot to mention that one about the wiring, it was time consuming for me as it was my first swap.

Carson-TL

So I heard from the dealershit today and they said that the injectors had basically disintegrated. They're going to throw in new injectors and let me know how that works tomorrow. If there is more problems beyond that, I'll just go with throwing in a j32a3. I'll let you guys know what happens.

ErickUa5

J32A3 is Drive By Wire from the 3rd gen TL and some other stuff dont go for that one.

Carson-TL

oh oops I meant j35a3

epiles

Just in case you don't have a service manual yet check my sig (just lost a hard drive so hopefully others are seeding). Best of luck with the swap