Hi I have a 2003 Acura TL-S and I've put about 13k miles on it so far and Ive always noticed its shifts kinda rough since I bought it and it has clean atf in it and I was wondering if Im having the rough shifts and whining from the transmission from having too much fluid because it drips alittle atf but Im not sure if it's due to age or just being too full even though the case is sealed

This is a cold engine after sitting overnight

This is after a 22 min hwy drive

This is after sitting for an hour

 

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Use the method outline below from the service manual:

If the level is not between the 'B & C' marks on the dipstick, as indicated, then it is likely overfilled.
Get an appropriately sized plastic tube, the one below is about 14.5", that will fit into the dipstick tube, with a syringe and adjust the level.
Just make sure you are on a level surface, the engine / trans fluid are sufficiently warm & engine off.

 

What Zeta said!!

Hard to tell from your pics but there should be trans fluid in the holes in your dipstick

 

Okay Ill keep that in mind I wanna get this fixed because it drops into drive when I shift it from park or reverse and its clean fluid plus all of my drive is hwy but maybe like 5 mins is short city traffic but other than that Im on the hwy for 30 mins

 

Get the correct amount of fluid in transmission and let us know if you still have a whining noise and rough shifts. if you don't have the tubing etc, you can pull the drain plug (make sure you have a new crush washer first) that will drain out about 3 quarts of fluid. You can then top it off as needed.

 

Im definitely gonna get that done soon Im parking her up and driving my integra for now I just want to get that tranny to last till Im out of college so I can get a tlx type s or a integra a spec 6mt

 

Oh btw its got 163k miles that I know off but the tranny does look awfully clean when I compare it to the engine and I have no proof of a transmission service at all or a swap thats why Im also confused with this tl lol all I know that Im the 4th owner and its been to a salvage auction and made road legal again

 

I can see by the pictures you posted it has nice red fluid on the stick. Used cars with nice red transmission fluid would make me a little nervous, specially since it is overfilled. This creates more pressure and would help cover up issues if the Torque Converter or tranny clutch packs were going. High pitch whine or thudding could be the TC. The overfilled fluid may also cause these noises. Let us know what happens when you level out the fluid.

 

 

Did setting the correct amount of fluid change the noise? How it shifts?

 

Its still shifting roughish its not slipping anymore on the 3-4 shift atleast and less of "slamming" into gear but not as good as I was expecting lol

 

What about the whining sound you were hearing, is it still there?

 

Oh ya it is you can hear it nice and loud lol 1st-3rd but 4th and 5th plus tc lock up is quiet

 

Out of curiosity is it the same if you put it in manual mode and go through the gears yourself? When in manual mode there is an increase in internal pressure so I am curious if this affects the whine. A high pitch whine was one of the first indications my TC was going, 3rd gear issues is one of the first indication of the tranny problem as the race on one of the gears associated with 3rd starts to wear. I hope this is not the case with your car, your fluid is not showing the signs of clutch material contamination.

 

its better but when I use Manual mode it kicks a p1709 code for the range selector so I dont use it

 

Understand. When you are in the manual mode does the display show you the gears (1-5) or does the display only show some of the gears? If it is showing some of the gears it may just need a little adjusting. That is done by loosening the range selector (after you take off the cover and inspect the wiring and connector, and slightly rotating the selector and tightening it down. If it displays all the gears already then inspect the wiring and connectors, for cuts and abrasions and clean up the connector pins with electronic cleaner and a small brass brush.
Of course this is only if you want to try and find that issue.
I am concerned that you have the whining issue and rough shift. To me this is an indication of a torque converter and transmission that is on its way to failing. I have been wrong before but thought you should be considering it. Hopefully others will comment on this.

 

Im def thinking that my transmission is just on the way out Im just gonna ride it out just as is because I dont have the money at the moment to buy a AV6 and swap it and plus my TL-S is really not the cleanest because its been in 5 accidents because of the last owner lol

 

Wow, 5 accidents! With that information the whining could be axles or wheel bearings. Is the whining only there when moving or can you hear when running but using to the brake to stay still and going through some gears?

 

Its definitely just tranny noise Ive checked the bearings and axles already and it increases and decreases with engine rpm not speed