So my TL-S has 70K miles and the tranny is working great.

I've talked to my acura dealer and they say not all TL's have the tranny problem. So, is there a certain milage that when you cross you're days of worrying about the tranny are gone? As in, your tranny at 70K miles is ONE of the ONLY trannies that was built/installed correctly?

Also, why would it be that some trannies fail and not others? I'm not mechanical guru so I was just wondering what would make one different from another considering they are all made in the same machine, the same way.

 

you may never be clear. My first died around 69k

 

The problem is the 3rd gear clutch pack. The tranny design does not permit enough fluid across it to keep the heat down and eventually it fails. Acura has a recall for the 2nd gear where they install a bypass hose to get more lub to the 2nd gear assembly but because of the overall design this doesnt help the 3rd gear. You are not out of the woods if you hit 70k and you havent had a failure. Its a matter of time. I'm on my 3rd tranny at just under 99k miles. While driving style itself hasn't got anything to do with failure, perhaps your driving patterns (the routes you take, etc) have gotten the car out of 3rd gear sooner so there has been less heat buildup. Fsttyms1 is the expert in this area. He's been through 4 trannies and personally inspected the clutch plates on the 3rd gear.

 

I believe at least 02-03 has the same tranny design, dealers or acura will not admit all 00-03 have tranny problem. If they did, then it will cost them a lot of money to resolve. To get away from it, they will just said only certain vin#, and then fix one by one when it happens without the obligation and can even deny when it is out of warranty. As you know warranty is for unexpected problem, not known problem. If they admitted it is a known problem, they will have to fix it whether it is under warranty or not. This common approach is used for every bussiness. For those who drive unaggressively, the problem will not appear as soon as others. There is a good and bad side on this situation. The good is you don't have the problem at 70k for instance. The bad is since you drive carefully and the problem slowly degraded and occurred after 100k, then you are out of luck; its no longer covered under warranty. I spoke to some mechanics, and most of them concluded it is the way we drive to get the problem to show sooner, but the problem is there. A faulty design and prone to fail prematurely.

 

what a crock. I can't believe that they built such poor tannies

 

Welcome to the club

 

Just spoke to my Acura dealer again and here what he had to say.

1. Driving style makes all the difference (stay in automatic and don't slam the pedal)

2. The failure only happens in 1% - 2% of the trannies issued in the 02-03 TL-S

3. The new trannies that they install (as of 2005) are improved b/c there is more clearance in the 3rd gear area (cause of the failure). Thus, the replacement trannies should not fail.

What do you guys think of my dealers input? Is my dealer full of sh*t? I'm not so sure about the 1% - 2% statistic, seeing that there are so many people on this forum that have had tranny issues.

 

The 2G is a great car, except the tranny. But, you shouldn't worry about it. At least you are not having problem right now and you are covered up to 100k.

 

Driving style doesnt make a difference. There have been grannies that have had them fail and there have been people who drive hard that havent had them fail.

the 1-2 percent failure rate is ONLY for the 2nd gear shaft failure, not the 3rd gear clutch pack.

as for the newer trannies, thats what i found out as well, BUT only time will tell

 

What percentage would you (fsttyms1) say fail b/c of the 3rd gear problem?

It's good to hear that the new trannies are better, in case mine fails after 100K miles. I drive almost 30K a year!

 

1. i used auto all the time
2. im 1% - 2% then.
3.ok sure (still don't trust this)

 

So when this 3rd clutch plates fail, what exactly is the problem? Gear breaking , shavings? So if you find shaving materials on the drain bolt prior then it must be it right?
Last time I drain and fill my trans fluid there was very little particles on the magnet and the fluid was brown.
This is my first Auto tranny car ever, been driving manual since when I first learn how to drive.

 

I still can't belive Acura has had to issue the same powertrain recalls for 01, 02, 03 and 04. 05 is next, just give it time. You think they woudl have it solved by now.

 

I thought the prob was only on the 00-03 trannies?

 

the best part about this, after mine died we asked ACURA how much they would give us on a trade in, and the lady doing the the est, actually took off for the replaced tranny, and acted like she had never heard of the recall, and even said "well don't you think its strange you had the car 1.5 years then the tranny failed".

 

You're right I missed the 00. Used this website to check recalls. You have to click on recalls by year. 04 is listed for powertrain as well.

http://www.automotive.com/used-cars/.../tl/index.html

 

I just join the dead tranny last night my car have 74k miles cluch slips on 3rd gear already made appointment with dealer tomorrow

 

How much for a new tranny (just the part)? I have a local mechanic who an install it for me at a super discounted price... just in case it fails past 100K

 

what %???? honda and the NTHSA after they did their study on them never gave a #
as for if the new ones will last? none of us know, the updates are too new, only time will tell. we will have to keep track of the failures here and see if any of the upcoming ones are the newer design

nothing breaks. its a pad material and due to excessive heat caused by inadaquit cooling by the fluid they wear out.

do some searching on this. its been covered in depth many times.

 

I just had my tranny replaced in my 03 TL-S at the beginning of this month (71K), so I must have gotten one of the new ones? Hopefully that means it will last, but like you say, we will have to wait and see. My tranny hadn't actually died, but would occasionally give that feeling of slippage at the top of the gear. My dealer ordered a new tranny based solely on my description, they didn't even inspect the car. Keeping my fingers crossed...

 

Go out and look to see if you have and external oiljet kit

 

I bought my car a year ago as a certified used car, so they had installed the oil jet kit at that time. Is there any other way to tell one of the newer replacement trannies from one of the older ones?

 

is there any after market company makes upgrade clutch for our tranny?

 

about the only way i know of is that the newer ones have the oil jet built in and not a external one

There are acouple out there that are supposed to be "bulletproof" ones but some of them have failed. Its not as simple as just a clutch though.

 

Gents.....some of you know I'm planning a trip up to NYC this weekend....the more I read the more parinoid I am becoming (see: Tranny Fluid Pole, To Change or not to Change, thread)
My fluid looks tan.

 

Id leave teh fluid, its more likely to die sooner with a fluid change than if you leave it due to the detergents in the fluid. If you are that paranoid about it BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER!

 

Thanks Fsttyms.....I understand you 'have done this before'.

As it's getting close to the Sat. departure date will be leaving the fluid for the trip up and change it myself up there....a good friend has a custom paint and body shop and will throw it up on the jack there....I think he also has a vacume fluid extractor which may be able to pull out most of the fluid on the first drain.....believe it is a hose which goes through the dip stick opening....won't that be convienent....will advise.

Thanks again bro..

 

Well, it's gonna be interesting.
I have a late 2003 S and had the recall / bypass done.
I live where the speed limit virtually everywhere is 35mph. I drive in 3rd gear ALL the time. That's where I leave the shifter. Maybe 4 times a year I take a longer trip (vacations) on the highway at 75mph or what have you and am in 5th for a long stretch. Around town, I periodically run the RPM up in second gear to 5500 or so and use the sport shift whenever I feel like it - especially on the longer trips. Recently drove the backcountry of Utah and spent quite a bit of time at 70mph or so between 3rd-4th gears on winding roads using sport shift. Before that long freeway trip, 300 miles, straight road, in 5th gear at 75mph or so.

Only 12K miles on the odometer. No signs of transmission problems. Glad I have the warranty extension. Will definitely hit the time versus mileage limitation at the rate I'm going. I don't worry about the tranny. Hopefully, if it breaks and locks up I'll be going 35mph and right by home versus 75mph and out in the middle of nowhere.

Think the car is great but will most likely sell it at the end of the extended warranty period. Acura should warranty transmissions for 10 years minimum, or better yet, lifetime. OR at least provide confidence that they've fixed the problem! The pooch is hiding from Acura on this one.

When I bought, it was between the Acura and a G35. Liked the performance of the G35, but not the visible quality of the build - esp. interior. Don't remember what they call it, but Nissan "pioneered" some process of producing body panels from really thin steel. The car sounded and felt rather tinny. I like the A4 and A6, but I hear a lot of reliability issues as well. Who knows what the market will have on tap in 4 or 5 years though. Right now nothing I like better than the Acura - actually like the new RL. Will be interesting to see if Honda / Acura experiences any significant tranny issues in their new cars.

 

wouldnt worry about it locking up, cause thats not what they do. unless your one of the unlucky 1%ers that have the 2nd gear shaft break, but if you have the oiljet it shouldnt be a problem. I still havent seen any one on this forum suffer the 2nd gear failure (except for possibly 1)

 

Hey
My first tranny died at 90K (2000 TL)
I am on the 2nd and now I have 140K on the car(that is 50K on the 2nd tranny) And I am happy with it!

 

i just hit 140k yesterday and still going strong

 

although, if Im parked uphill, it does make a horrible clunking noise when shifting into reverse or drive...it wont be long I guess...

 

That's because you've put all the weight of the car onto the transmission. Try this:

1. pull into the parking spot (on the incline)
2. engage emergency brake
3. put car in neutral
4. release brake pedal, putting the pressure on the e-brake.
5. if it rolls, stop it. Then put it in park.


This will relieve the pressure on the transmission. You should notice it shift out of park easier and not make a clunk if you do this. I do this habitually because I can't stand to hear it make that noise.

 

The other thing you can do when parking on a hill to keep pressure off the parking lock is to turn your wheels so that the tire will go into the curb (provided there is one). If you let the wheel rest on the curb a bit there will be no built up pressure on the parking mechanism. (and if the ebrake has a problem - ie snapped cable etc - the car won't roll anywhere)

 

Be sure you set the parking brake before putting the car into park and before takeing your foot off the brake.....this will take the stress off the parking gear.

 

I am reading that a couple of people are glad they have the 7year/100k mile extended warranty on their cars. I just wat to clarify something. There is a limited vin range on the extended warranty. I have an early 2003 TLP. My Vin was not included in the Extended Warranty. I spoke with Acura customer service after my trans failed last week @34500 miles. At first they told me in so many words too bad you will need to purchase an extended warranty if i want the coverage. I asked to speek to the supervisor. Two days later I received a call in which I was told they would cover my car under the extended transmission but i had to sign a waver stating I would not pursue lemon law action because of the trans, nor would the extended warranty cover anything but the transmission. This is Honda/ Acura should just accept responsibility and issue a recall to fix this. I have owned 4 of their cars now. The TL may be my last because of this.

 

You should have been covered by the 4 year 50k mile bumper to bumper warranty with no questions asked. What's all this talk about an extended warranty?

 

Acura has granted an extended warranty for some transmissions to 7 years or 100,000 miles. My car which has the transmission failure problem was not included because my vin falls outside the supposed failure range. I was covered for this failure, but I am sure it will happen again so thats why I am asking to be included in the extended warranty.

 

There have been members here with trannies that fell in the vin range like you that had their trannies covered without having to sign a waiver. Acura knows that they have a issue no matter what vin you have. asking you to sign a waiver or whatever is a crock!

 

thanx for the info...i think I will try this...