Something is seriously wrong with my car. I had a meeting at 1:00 today. Everything is fine, car started and ran good.

I get about half way there, going 55-60 on a two lane road. The car feels like its downshifting, with quick decelerations. My first thought was the car is downshifting, but I watched the tach while it kept doing it. The RPMs were not dropping then rising like it usually does when it downshifts. I pulled the car from D5 to D4 to maybe see if it would stop.

It still didn't stop. I turned down a street, still on my way, and listened to it accelerate normally from 15mph to 45mph. Everything seemed fine, and it shifted fine. No hang ups, no shifting "flares," nothing. Ran like it does on any other day.

The only other thing I could think of besides the transmission, would be the brakes. It is time to get new rotors and pads. I thought maybe they were really getting worn out and causing them to compress on the rotors, causing the sudden decelleration?

The decelleration wasn't enough to slow me down any, it was kind of like a 'hang up'. But, the car was in 5th gear when all the 'hang ups' occured. They weren't long, it was like someone does a very small 'brake-check.'

I was worried about the tranny.

Anyone know what it could be?

 

I think your instinct is spot on (unfortunately)! That is a serious sign of the tranny soon to be crapping out!

 

Your brakes being worn have nothing to do with what you're describing. It sounds like your transmission may be on it's way out.

 

Yes, your tranny is showing typical signs of failing. You will experience more and more frequent occurrences later on.

 

aw man, thats not good, sorry to hear. time for a 6 speed i hope i am not next, even tho my tranny is perfectly fine right now, i always fear one day thats its going to end like that.

i heard changing the tranny fluid real quick and getting a new atf filter can help it last a little bit longer after it starts showing sings of failure.

 

You can replace the fluid (most likely won't help though) but you'd have to disassemble the transmission to replace the filter.

 

an 02 is still in coverage so get to the dealer ASAP
Call and tell them trans problem--ask for first available appt
If its too scary to drive, they will provide a tow - its part of the warranty

This is assuming you are not salvage title and have less than 109k miles on the car today

 

This sucks.

I told my parents, (remember I am only 16) and mom said if it goes we'll just have to get it fixed... I don't want to wait around on it though. I would hate for it to fail in two months when I'm starting school again... Then be carless. She drove it for about 6 miles and couldn't get it to do it again. I drove it after her, and it still didn't do it.

I explained to her the transmission failures, which she already knew about. The transmission has never failed before. I told her about the 6-Speed swap and she said we'll talk about it when it goes.

I tried looking online for a transmission, and couldn't find anything. Where does one buy the highly prized CL6 6-Speed?

One of our long-time family friends owns a transmission shop, and we could most likely use his lift, engine hoist and anything else we needed. I drove by the other day and they had a 2002-03 TL-P hoisted up.

I also have trust in my step-dad, who has removed engines plenty of times. So, hopefully, I may have a 6-Speed soon!

In the meantime, I'm scared its going to slam into 2nd gear while I'm driving.

 

Best of luck with that man.

But I think you can try junkyard for a totaled CLS-6spd. Or have some connections and get into a dealer auction.

 

I hope we can find one...

 

ok- the recall install of the external oil jet kit takes care of the slams into 2nd gear issue

Was that ever done to your car?
call acura 1-800-382-2238 x5 register with cars VIN as the new owner and ask about recalls and extended warranties
Tell them you have a trans problem- they document that and tell you to go to the dealer for inspection
Dealer -by law- has to have you sign an estimate to inspect car- $100
If the trans is bad, warranty covers that too- a new work order for warranty is written and 5 days later your car comes back washed and with a newly rebuilt trans

There is a special 7 year plus 9 month since cars first date of service (customer care has that date) trans warranty on our car- you are near the end of it,
but as long as the car is not a rebuilt or salvage title car- a scrapped car..
then you are covered by acura for a replacement unit at no cost to you!!

At age 16- your mom will need to take the car in and get a loaner in her name- you may NOT drive the loaner or its insurance is void- you crash it you bought it!

There are specific test the tech does on a test drive that are past extreme driving you would ever think of doing to the trans~ if its going to act up it should do it then-
when trans is hot is most likely, and shifting 2-3 is where you feel it normally on clutch pak failure
A TQ failure has a different feel- more like what you described, but its all covered
Tech hooks up a special code reader -checks for burnt smell in fluid- (you can do that as an easy check)

ask mom about the clear-good clean title and call dealer for appointment

you dont need a 6 speed until track day experienced in the TL- not street racing it !

 

allen- if you have over 60k miles- its right on schedule for failure

 

Soo....how many miles do you have? Salvage title?

 

My car is no longer covered under that warranty.

I will call though, just to see what they have on record for it though...

 

if the dealer is nice to you they can cut you a big break.

 

No salvage title, never been in a wreck.

I looked when I drove it last, 137,641 miles. I was given the car when it had like 120,000 miles on it.

 

They are not nice, and have yet to fix my SRS issue. I've been to the dealer 2 times, which is about 90 miles away.

They piss me off.

 

have you been taking the car in, or the parents ?

SRS issue can take 2-3 visits- as they fix one part, only to find it still needs another
They are not out to screw you over on warranty- they get paid to do the work
by acura
Are they waiting on another parts still?

Not that far over mileage that a good price cant be negotiated, maybe $2500 or less
If they dont like you personally- for some reason- send dad or mom to make a plea for assistance
Plenty of advice in the `tranny failure` threads last few pages

 

you can change the filter the ATF filter is servicable and is external, I posted many treads on how to change it..
Acura would not help me out hopefully they will help u. I think they are pretty much done helping people with this tranny problem!

 

Best of luck with everything man.

 

^x2, agree on AFT filter. That filter can get clog easily, and that could be one of the symptoms you are experiencing. Lack of flow fluid causes shifting and overheating issues, and leads to many other problems.

 

if out of warranty its worth trying the fixes other ziners have been using to keep it running

 

Guys, my nearest dealer is like 90 miles away.

I haven't taken the car in, or made an appointment. I'm really not into the idea of spending $1,500+ for a new transmission that may fail again.

Everytime I drive the car I worry about the transmission failing. It would be nice to not have to worry about it. i.e., 6 Speed.

I may take it in to the friend and get him to change the fluid and the external filter. The car formed a shudder from the transmission in early 2007. He changed the fluid, and it stopped. Hasn't done it again until these problems came.

 

I called Acura Corporate. This is what I dug up...

My 2002 Acura TL Type-S was manufactured in February 2002. It was then shipped to Gillman Acura of Houston, TX. Gillman Acura replaced the Timing Belt Tensioner on December 15th, 2003. They then performed the 2nd Gear Recall on September 2nd, 2004. It had the Front Belt Retractor replaced on February 16th, 2009 by Orr Acura & Infiniti of Shreveport. There was no record of the transmission ever being replaced.

So, am I running on an original transmission? That is crazy!

This is the 2nd time the transmission has acted up. The first time it developed a shudder where the car would kind of like shake. We had the transmission fluid and filter replaced and it hasn't done it since. Now, its doing weird things again.

We're probably going to get the fluid changed again along with the external filter. I called my local transmission shop, and he said he just had two Acuras in the last couple of weeks. I'm going up there early next week so he can drive it and see if it will reproduce the "hiccups."

Hopefully the fluid and filter change will help it. If not, then its 6 speed time.

 

so your family has owned this car for a while?
The other items are the normal recall -some 02-03s got a timing belt pulley and smart owners paid a little extra to have water pump replaced then- save hundreds on the 105k service
2004- the 2nd gear oil jet kit- you can see that right on top of the transmission-
yes you are on an original transmission

IF it had gone to the shop when it had a shudder 2 years ago, instead of a fluid change- probably would have been in warranty then

Make sure its getting Honda Z1 trans fluid --or is it ZR-1 or Z1-R--
its the honda stuff from the dealer-
NEVER use dex 3 or the shop owes you a trans

 

We haven't owned it that long... We bought the car in November 2006. It had around 70K on it.

The shudder developed around 114-5K.

It has had no transmission problems until now, with 137,000 miles on it.

 

i know this is kinda a stretch, but are we sure this isnt a grade-logic hiccup?

 

Allen-, your tranny's 3rd gear clutch pack is busted. No amount of ATF change and filter change is gonna reverse the damages.

Do take care when you're driving at speed on the highways, because when the sudden 5th-to-2nd tranny downshift occurs, it may catch you off guard and crash your car.

 

I would go get it checked out. My 2nd and 3rd gears where slippping and recently got it changed. cost me 3600! could have done the 6spd swap! how stupid of me. but yeah, if i were you and your tranny died, go for 6spd swap. car value should go up i think... but at 130k and still going strong on original tranny, i congrats cause mine just died at 86K..

 

Allen , the last time you "friend" changed the fluid, what kind did he use?
You are VERY lucky u got 120K out of the original tranny, I could not get over 65K outta a tranny and I drive like miss daiseY!

 

So, how long will it take before the transmission completely stops working? Like to where the car will be in-driveable?

If I do the 6-Speed swap, its because I don't want another failing transmission. This is my first car, and you always have a unique bond with it. I want it to last, because I really like it. All the other extras like performance, extra gas mileage, etc. are all just bonuses!

 

I think it should be drivable but your car wont go past 30MPH

 

Unfortunately there is no set time for it to go, they just randomly fail. If you have money for the swap already, start looking for the parts. If not, start saving for the parts so by the time it does go out, you'll be ready for the project! The rest of the car is pretty much bullet proof so once you do the swap you should be set. Good luck.

 

it will keep working well right up till it goes into Limp Mode and you call a tow
may as well try the filters and such

seriously: if it acts up and sticks in 2nd- pull over- turn off engine and let everything rest for 30 minutes,,, to cool off
Start engine and proceed- should be ok to get home or safely off the freeway
ck my sig for more info

 

Or its fine untill you are travaling on the freeway at 70MPH and all of a sudden it feels like u hit a brick wal and drops to 20MPH

The tranny is gonna go sooner then later and its not worth u or anyone else getting hurt over... Are any of the CEL on, or the VSA light?

 

I talked to my mom about it some more.

Her point of view is that we will fix it when it goes out.

My point of view is start buying parts now, then switch when it finally fails.

She's going to talk to the transmission shop Monday, and then we'll decide from there. I told her if she wants to go the 6-Speed way, I'm going to help pay for it. I told her that even if we replace it with another automatic, it could fail at anytime again.

I drove the car earlier tonight, and it seemed a little confused twice. Otherwise, it ran excellent with smooth, right-on-time shifts.

 

I thought the oil-jet kit prevented it from slamming into 2nd?!

 

you bolded it and still didnt note the differance between STICKS
as in wont shift into the next higher gear on accelleration, stays in 2nd getting on freeway....

and SLAMS-- which the oil jet kit is supposed to prevent: actual BREAKING of the 2nd metal gear shaft,, and surprise decelleration at 70 as the trans locks up.. bang inside!!

 

any used car you buy may have the trans or engine go at any time!!

Smart money would buy an extended aftermarkey warranty today,, and hope trans last past the waiting period before failure~

 

at 16 with a TL, a 6 speed is a huge risk for mom to assume,, insurance wise

Please spend 200-300 dollars on a track day and find out what driving a performance car is all about (may have to rent something while TL trans is bad- that would kill it for sure)

You get a 6 speed installed and wrap it around a tree or go straight into a pole or curb..so much for the TL

not getting on one person:
Im saying in general- its a fast car- proper shifting adds to the things you have to focus on- including rpm-
miss a downshift, redline it a few seconds,,valve hits piston and kiss the engine goodbye- see gen3 thread on the problem, its very real...$2800 valve damage and hope the piston, rod, and rod bearings are ok

If you have been driving a stick for a few years then its no sweat
but a fast 1st car, new driver, shifting= the lethal triangle