rjstro01

Had my pressure switch for 3rd gear fail last week. Took it to Acura and they replaced for $250 ( I would've replaced myself if I didn't need it fixed right then and there). The repairs manager said he wanted to give me full disclosure and said "a vast majority of the time when these sensors fail, it means your trans is about to fail. Clutch material is floating around your trans and fouling the sensor". I searched around these forums and couldn't find a big correlation between the two. Anyone know anything? I want to know if I need to plan for a failed tranny in the near future. Already had it replaced at 90K. I have 160K now.

01tl4tl

how do know it failed?
whats the trans been doing? any shudder shift, sticky shift, revs up without shifting
D5 light flashed on dash
how often do you change the fluid?,,ever?

most of the time codes for failed pressure switch and torque convertor = its toast
You can clean the pressure switches/shift selenoids but thats usually a bandaid if any help at all
Our 3rd gear clutchpack suffers heat stress,,you had one fail under warranty so you already know
rebuild yours at local shop runs 2000 2500 average,,or an odessey trans from crashed van will fit in and half the price- total

a 3 ounce sample of ATF to blackstone labs will tell you whats in there-by mass spectrograph,,too much clutch particulate matter will show up
other members had theirs tested, so comparatives will come with your results

Sperry

iTrader: (1)

I'm at 162K+, first trans. 2000TL. Got "The codes" early September 2011.

I ordered the 3rd and 4th gear switches but cleaned the existing ones while waiting.
It has been 5 months and 10K miles since the cleaning, and the code has not come back.

The switches are still in their factory-sealed packages . . .

victus1

While cleaning the original ones was good for the interim, I would put in the new ones. The old pressure switches are not within the same specs after 12 years of operation. There is a long thread about pressure switches and their gradual deterioration.

rjstro01

I have had no symptoms that the transmission is failing. Was on my way to work and it was wanting to stall at stop lights or when I slowed down. I took it to Acura and they said the code was a failed 3rd gear pressure switch.

Admittedly i have been very bad about changing tranny fluid. I recently have stopped procrastinating on maintaining my cars though. Hopefully the switch just failed from natural causes

totaledTL

Let's hope, get the autopsy report.

01tl4tl

the atf fluid sample to blackstone labs will tell you if things are bad in the trans
www.blackstone-labs.com
$25 for an analysis,,they do atf, engine oil,,coolant,, almost any fluid for any type vehicle too..bikes planes boats tractors,,

email them or call and the sample container/bottle and mailer pack are sent no charge--the $25 covers everything but your 3 bucks to mail it to them

01tl4tl

I still have that light shudder into 2-3 gear at light throttle,,for several years

trans guru buddy recently rode with me and said he has a special cleaner to run for a week, then do a full fluid changeout. says fluid will be black!
claims that will fix it right up,,based on many acura trans he dealt with

His first querstion was- how often do you change the fluid??

Sperry

iTrader: (1)

I keep meaning to install the switches. Figured I'd wait to see how long the cleanout lasted.

In fact, being that the weather is nice today, I'm putting the front up on stands.
But today is to track down the invisible oil leak. I smell it cooking off when stopped in traffic.

totaledTL

You know of an additive for the transm. that's ok to use, w/ + results? Please share w/ us.

72Packer

I have a 2000 TL with 278,000 miles. I replaced first transmission at 155K, and have been feeling shudder as I drive down the road. When it first started, I had transmission fluid changed and it stopped for about 2 months. It then began again, and has gradually gotten worse.

Does this scenario match anyone else's experience?

Sperry

iTrader: (1)

Could be suspension. Something about putting a car up on a lift and letting it Hang-10. My previous car did the same thing, and it needed front struts.

The 3x3 transmission drain/fill is usually seen as a yearly/35K preventative maintenance item.
Might resolve your issue.

01tl4tl

ttld-- I will be trying a cleaner soon- and report back

Shudder while in gear? ck motor mounts
any slipping-revving of rpm when hard on gas and up-shifting?

rjstro01

Since they have replaced my pressure switch, i have noticed my transmission is leaking (could have been leaking slightly before without me noticing, i leave for work when its dark and get home at dark). Not sure where the pressure switch is. I would assume since this can get fouled by material in trans that it is possible they didn't install correctly and that why it is leaking??? Taking to Acura today but wanted to get some thoughts. I couldn't tell where the leak was coming from.

Also, I drained and filled my tranny this weekend. There was a lot of material on the magnetic drain plug (haven't drained in 60K mi though). No big pieces that I noticed. I kept a small container sample. Going to send off to the labs.

rjstro01

[quote=rjstro01;13533544]Since they have replaced my pressure switch, i have noticed my transmission is leaking (could have been leaking slightly before without me noticing, i leave for work when its dark and get home at dark). quote]

Update: Acura told me the transmission was leaking around the axle seal. Will be replacing this weekend. Thank god it wasn't the main seal.

01tl4tl

Hope they are cutting you a major price break..less than 1 hour total for sure

Techs are supposed to notice things in need of repair and write them on the repair order, that paper goes to the dispatcher- who gives it to the service writer to call for approval on upping your bill!!
Then it goes reverse thru that group and back to a tech for work to be performed

A leaking seal is really bad news!!! a DO TODAY item when found!
thats akin to letting the car leave without atf! as it soon could be empty when that seal blows all the way~

I hope you have the service MANAGER involved in this case
They need to know what their staff is up to, or failing to do
For a customer to `come back` with a prob after any service,, is the worst
I did these jobs--I know

rjstro01

I am fixing myself this weekend. I haven't been to pleased with these guys but they are very close to my work so its conveinant. Just had this apart a month or so ago replacing tie rod end and lower ball joint. Should be pretty quick. Any tips on the install to make it easier? I am gonig to get a seal removal tool.

01tl4tl

PM fsttyms1 for advice--he has done everything to his car!

rjstro01

UPDATE: Got everything ready to replace the cv axle seal. Luckily I decided to take a look before taking anything apart. I found ABSOLUTELY no fluid around the seal. Took the car back to the dealership yesterday and they told me the pressure switch seal was leaking and that it will only be $50 to fix. I just about lost it. I explained the situtation and how THEY were the ones that replaced the switch and they fixed for free.

Can safely say this is the last time they will see my business.

Sperry

iTrader: (1)

Thank the Gods you decided to take a good, hard look at the issue.

I once went through such BS at a Ford Dealership in Merced, CA,
over a known electrical fault, and I also just about lost it on the service department.

32TSX

I wont say the guy is wrong, but what he said does make sense. If the oil is "dirty", some particles will get inside the switch, clogging it and causing the switch to fail. If you ignore the warning long enough, the tranny will fail. However, if you maintain your car at regular intervals and dont pretend you are on the dragstrip, you should be ok. UNLESS youve used cheap tranny oil and/or tranny was defective...........then youre in for some heavy $pending.

thoiboi

Thanks for your input and resurrecting a 3 year old thread!

01acls

Its better to do a 1x3 x 3 throughout the year than waiting till end of the year to do all 3x3 at once. That way you are flushing out the contaminants as you go and refreshing the fluids. And don't forget to replace the external filter once every 10 quarts of fluids or so.

01acls

A good way to stay on schedule is to perform a 1x3 every 2, 3, or 4 (10-15K miles- depending on your motor oil change interval) motor oil change. To keep the trans filter on schedule just change that at the same time as your air filter change.

It will only add another half half hour to your service time, since your car is already raised to do a motor oil change, why not change your trans oil at the same time? It's just that simple.

Likewise, when changing the trans filter, the air filter will be removed for access and easy removal. Due to the weakness of our trans, I recommend that these two filters have the same service intervals, 30K +/- 5K miles.

With a systematic preventive maintenance program in place and some TLC our transmissions have a better chance of staying on the road than being in the repair shop.