Bones45

2003 TL, 57000 miles.. i got the car about 3 years ago with 29k and have only done oil changes and brakes since I got her. no issues in 3 years. I check the vin and i did have the transmission fix.

recently.. Im observing this

I have only noticed this happening in second gear while accelerating substantially. When I accelerate slowly, all is fine. only when the car is in D5

Im in 2nd and rev up to 3k or higher, just as the car is shifting into third, the rpms jump up a little and a slight loss of power. The best way to describe it is if Im driving a stick and the clutch slips. You get that small loss and the rpms jump up slightly until the slipping stops.

Doesnt happen all the time, and I only noticed this in 2nd. and it doesnt show itself under all driving conditions.

The car is 7 years old and I havent really done anything to the tranny. Shit.. I havent even check the tranny fluid yet.. Just wanted to hear what peoples thoughts are--knowning that the tranny is not a solid part of this gen TL.

You know.. post to the board first, check the easy stuff second..

Thanks guys...

russianDude

when was the last time fluid was changed? its recommended that the fluid is changed at least every 30K, some even do it every 15K. You can try changing fluid, but not sure if at this point it will help. now is the good time to make arrangements on how to fix it or get rid of it. If you try to fix it, either find reputable tranny shop or work out a deal with Acura. Search is your best friend, there is tons of information on transmissions, they are junk and fail.

01tl4tl

see if you are part of the covered VINs to 7 years plus 9 months/109
you may be able to get a freebie from acura on this one--even if not covered vin and such low miles--goodwill should be granted~

01tl4tl

your car has trans failure symptoms--it will slip like a manual trans clutch and may get a flashing D5 light on dash when hard on throttle and stressing trans
2nd and 3rd gear are the weak parts!

01tl4tl

the alleged fix you refer to was the `oil jet kit` install under recall- correct??

thats not a trans fix,,only helps second gear shaft from snapping in half at freeway speed

finalcross

iTrader: (3)

GO TO THE DEALER ASAP!!! It sounds like your tranny is going soon. The first trannys on our cars go around that mileage. I have a late VIN 03' and my tranny went at 100k but was replaced by the dealer. Hopefully you are still in the range 01tl4tl mentioned above and you can get a free trans. Especially with that low mileage you really want it.

piggylover1985

With such low mileage, Acura should at least give you a huge discount.

russianDude

worth the try, but if he is not an original owner and/or did not do anything at the dealership, he will get nothing. they are being more tight nowaday, probably still worth $100 diagnostic.

01tl4tl

if its `covered vin`- the number of owners or dealer useage for service has NO relationship to getting warranty coverage--its a court ordered warranty extension and is no hassle at all- no charge at all to customer

the limit is 7 years PLUS 9 months from first date in service OR 109kmiles, or 114.5 kmiles if part of VINs that read fast on odometer--whichever occurs first,, so an 03 is good on time just sone not covered vin and you need to ask for assistance

ALL these `vin list` are in the diy section thread list, or online, or thru your free acura.com owner account, or call acura usa 1 800 382 2238 x5
everyone needs to register there and ask if all recalls are completed
the new one for airbag inflator is not getting a good response rate!!
acura needs current owner info to send recall cards to- that 800 number is customer care- they handle that

Only if you are trying for goodwill assistance after warranty of out of vin- then generating goodwill begets goodwill = take a box of donuts and say hi to the service desk staff and service MANAGER especially

01tl4tl

smell the trans dipstick--burnt sugar ?? dark color?? = bad news-
unless you are covered vin, then its great news!
basically half a new car for free!!

Bones45

where can I find out if Im covered?

01tl4tl

usa owners call 1 800 382 2238x5 m-f 6am-5pm pacific time

or here http://owners.acura.com/registration...istration.aspx
by VIN number and look in recall section--thats your cars account- it will say `trans extended warranty` in the recall section if covered

will also say Recall- oil jet kit- Fixed

Bones45

im already registered on that.. it does say that the status is fixed for the 2nd gear issue... yet i clearly have some sort of problem..

and i dont see anywhere that is says extneded warrantee..i would be on the same page, i would assume.

i also do my own maintenance, yet im going back to the dealer where i bought the car.

am i screwed? i mean 57k is kinda pathetic to need a new tranny....

01tl4tl

actually 57 is right on schedule for one of those original units-no kidding

fixed on the recall means oil jet kit was installed external to the trans to prevent 2nd gear shaft from snapping in half at freeway speed

owner book didnt really call for any atf change at your miles so they cant cite that

call and speak to.. or better- go in person to the service MANAGER- ask when they want the car,, so the head trans tech can ck it out

The phone person just fills the open spots in the book- with no regard to when the right person to look at your car is available

you bought the car there--thats good,,make sure manager knows that- brand loyalty counts a lot
ask them to run the vin for you re: trans waranty,,you were not sure after looking on acura.com..that shows an educated consumer, no reason to bs you

let the manager step up for you and get it covered regardless of vin- they know it was only to settle the court case-- a phone call can make it happen in 15 minutes-
here is your loaner car sir,,be a slight delay due to holiday this week and shipping trans from the rebuilder warehouse

you are not a 20 year old who just bought the car and blew it up-
you are a responsible customer at that dealer- they made money off you before on the sale and maybe some oil change or parts--
doesnt matter with such low miles--expect good results!! be positive about how you are on acurazine.com and were encouraged to ask for Goodwill

That box of donuts for the writers and manager plus your tech- who you may be able to take around the block if needed- if problem not obvious--generates goodwill your direction

Bones45

just an update.

Went to smithtown acura and explained the situation. I really bs'ed it up with the person who was helping me.They took the car and gave me a loaner (TSX 2010, unimpressive). They gathered all the info on what is happening and eval the car and present it to Acura.

- vin number is not included in the 7/100 extended warrantee
- I had an extended warrantee which expired in August (naturally)
- Such low mileage.

They will road test the car, find out what it needs, and present it to acura and see what they say. Thanks for all your advice 01 --- Il keep everyone posted on how it works out.

they only thing which she said was a concern was no record of changing the tranny fluid ( " did it in my driveway..")

01tl4tl

as I said before- the owner book didnt call for a trans fluid change before 60 so they can suck that as an excuse
Im guessing you spoke with a service writer not the manager as needed--thats who makes the actual phone call to the regional rep on your behalf

what I told you is the procedure--what they said was to bs and upsell you
or you would have an answer,, like I showed before--
guess who used to be in the biz???~ thats how I know all this insider stuff!!

the court case needed to settle so they picked a vin- never was a fix

01tl4tl

if they told you it was 7/100 they are wrong
its 7 years plus 9 months from date first sold, or 109kmiles, or 114.5 miles for odometer error cars (different court case)

Bones45

So I got the call today from acura smithtown..

The call starts out like.. "we see you havent done your timing belt.. and it should be done every......"

So here is the offer they gave me.

The car, naturally, needs a new tranny. There are no warrantees at all for my car, extended or otherwise...

A new tranny is 3678
A new timing belt is 986

IF I get just the tranny, Acura picks up 50% - and my cost is 1839

If i get the tranny and the timing belt/water pump done, then Acura picks up 75%. My cost is 1990

She explained that they want to have me as a customer and that Im not. And then some other BS.

my thought was that a faulty transmission has nothing to do with a timing belt getting done. Im sure they will manipulate everything so that the claim goes under warrantee.. whatever.

So bottom line is that I get a new tranny --- 3/36 warrantee, and the timing belt/water pump/radiator flush for $1990.

and a rental til at least Sat.

I'm pretty $^#@% pissed that I have to spend this on a car which only has 57k, but guess the bottom line is that I had no warrantee and they didnt HAVE to do anything. I should be set for another 100k on this car.

Boriqua TL

Sounds like a good deal to me just for the tranny. Jump all over it.
Also should replace timing belt tensioner and idlers while they're in there.

russianDude

timing belt is so cheap is because they have zero labor to install it since they have to take so much stuff appart.

01tl4tl

russion dude- how do you figure a trans replacement is located anywhere near a timing belt job??

they are charging retail on that tbelt job- not including the water pump or tensioners most likely- as they know with low miles and doing belt on time wearout limit-not actual wear...
they are coming out ahead on the deal

the 50 percent off trans was a good first offer, but IMO holding out and pressuring the fact of extended warranty purchased had just expired,,low miles yadayadas..may have gotten more $ off- or may have gone south on the offer--its happened before

the OP is satisfied the car will be right and enjoy many happy miles

russianDude

if I read his post, it will only be $150 more to get timing belt done, this makes no sense unless there is overlapping labor.

01tl4tl

ok I need new reading glasses-- my bad- sorry- public apology

in that case they are playing with the numbers to make a $500-1000 goodwill trans offer into a profit somehow = you need timing belt!!

for actual labor, the only overlap is IF the tech decides to disconnect the battery neg for trans removal (as a safety for electric connections)--which they dont~

Bones45

just a final update on this.. thanks to everyone who chimed in.

Picked up the car today. Had a 2010 TSX as a loaner.. TSX was nice except for two things..

1. sounds like a civic when you get on it. Avoid the 4 cyl. the 6 is the only way to go.

2. the seats suck.. nowhere near as nice as my 7 yr old seats in the TL.

other than that, I liked it.

TL is good.

new tranny is smooth as butter---3 yr warrantee on the tranny.. by that time, I should have traded it in...

01tl4tl

that trans adds a lot of value at resale time!!..and having done the 105 service

my suggestion is treat the trans nice for the first 500 miles- test it for sure,,
but dont redline run it, or otherwise cause excess wear in SS mode with radical max rpm downshifts

500-1000 miles,,go do those bad things so IF its got a problem it should show then.
After that- enjoy your baby,,its like getting half a new car,,smoooooth and fast

Note it may have an ECU program change (some years) so it holds 1-2nd gear shift higher rpm in the first minute or so of driving when dead cold
Thats to help speed engine warming so it gets on the lean fuel cycle faster
Not a slam or thunk--just a little stiffer than original trans from 1 to 2 when overnight cold

Bones45

thanks for that.. I have been driving her gently... just figuring that there is a break in period for it. I generally dont rip it up running around---Im a pretty normal driver.

after dropping that cash, you know that Ill be ging to them with any little thing.

Question -- on the paperwork, it states.. "found atf contamination, no dtc's present...goodwill repair..."

what are dtc's?

01tl4tl

dtc = stored fault codes
they need to state reason for failure for the rebuilder shop and the warranty paperwork

contamination means the cluch packs let loose and ruined the fluid/clog TQ etc = reason for replacement on goodwill

01tl4tl

example my car had fault code for engine overrev-
but since it was running fine that meant it hadnt been overrevved!! or would be in LIMP mode with rpm limited to 2500

it actually meant the trans was slipping and fooling speed sensors somewhere.

Codes are clues,, not diagnosis in themself--important to remember when looking for a problem!!!

Special Ed

good luck with it... i just broke 50k and it still feels good, knock on wood

01tl4tl

oh NOOOOOOO!!!! please retract your statement--

that sort of typing starts the `azine trans death clock curse`!!
dont say miles and how well it is doing,,unless you are in warranty-- or in good with the service manager!!

russianDude

then you will only have negative posts and the problem will seem bigger than it is, let people share both good and bad experiences.

01tl4tl

rd you have been here long enough to know of the curse--can ruin what seemed like a perfectly good trans in 7 days after coming on here
(should have done all that in red so everyone knows its the inside joke of the trans failure thread)
barely driven cars still good at 50 are no biggie,,that just hasnt reached the average
60-80 failure point,,or as the trans tech at my dealer called it `right on schedule`

if you have found a fluid and change regime thats gotten 150 out of a TL trans- share that info for sure!!

since this is a tech help forum, the numbers will seem higher for total reported failures - thats true,,
type `acura TL problems` in most search engines and it leads you to the tranny failure thread~
AND
you can ask 4 TL owners in a parking lot, and 3 wont know what the recall did and never had a problem with the trans at 100+
the 4th person has 1 or 2 replacements~

russianDude

yes I know, I am on a replacement tranny too.

Bones45

took some pics from above of the new tranny..

01tl4tl

the blue bolts!!!