This topic has been discussed before but I want to know if this is common... I just got my tranny replaced at 98000 miles and now I am at 102,000 miles on my 99 tl.... How many of you guys when the car just starts up (cold), the reverse makes a very hard clink? But when the car is in drive, everything shifts perfectly smooth. This only happens the first time I put it into reverse. When I warm up the car for five mins it doesnt do it. What is up with that? I know it doesn't happen to all the tl's because at my job we have a 2000 tl trade in and it shifts perfectly fine in reverse while the car is still cold. Now I have to let the car warm up for 10 mins so it won't do that. I shouldn't have to do all of this just to drive the damn car. :angryfire This car is making me stress! I can't afford to buy another crappy tranny. I wish I was rich, than I wouldn't really have to care that this is happening.... Just buy a new damn car. Sorry..... Have to vent.

 

AND my damn rotors is warpped AND the hanger on my exhaust is about to break off. WTF?!

 

I'm at 92K + and my tranny always did that. I just did a fluid drain and the color looked great (it's been 30K+ since my last drain).

I think it's just one of the quirks. And the tranny issue is with the 3rd gear clutch pack, not reverse.

 

Damn D, sorry to hear all your probs. The hangers I understand because those draggers must be heavy as hell. I just had my tranny replaced last week, started slipping from 2nd into 3rd. I'm hoping this one will last me

BTW Check the meets, we have a bunch coming up...

 

My 99 TL sits in a heated garage. Temp is always above 50 degrees. It clunks into reverse every morning, but other than that works perfectly. 49,000 miles on it. I don't run it hard, so I expect my tranny to last and last and last!

 

mine does th esame, i start it up for 10 min in th emorning, but most the times i drive it cold after couple min, and when in drive, my shifts are perfect, takes bout 10-20 mins for it to warm up, then it shifts good. basically my shifts r like delays, slowly delayed, but its like still syncronized, u can hear how it shifts too....im not scared, till 100 k lol

 

It's a design problem, they don't fail due to abuse - at least not usually. Transmission failures happen to people who drive the hell out of their cars, and people who baby them. My TL-P transmission lasted 47k relatively easy miles. On the same note, Pure Adrenaline who beats the hell out of his TL-S had his first tranny last to 51k.

 

October 2002

Dear 3.2TL and 3.2CL Owners:

American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for the automatic transmission on all 2000-02 3.2TLs, all 2001-02 3.2CLs, and some 2003 3.2TLs and 3.2CLs. The automatic transmission and torque converter are now covered for a total of 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date of original sale. We are providing this warranty extension because a higher than normal number of automatic transmissions in certain vehicles may have problems due to defects in material or workmanship beyond the 4-year, 50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty.
How do I know if there is a problem with my vehicle's automatic transmission?

If you think your vehicle has a transmission problem, refer to the operating characteristics below. Understanding these characteristics can help you decide if you need to call your Acura dealer.

These characteristics are normal; they should not require you to call your Acura dealer.

* Quick downshifts. The transmission has a computerized control system called grade logic. When going down a hill, even a light touch of the brake pedal can cause grade lobic to downshift to the next lower gear. Downshifting helps to slow the vehicle through engine braking.

* Does not always shift through the full range of gears. This can also be caused by the grade logic system keeping the transmission in the optimum gear for different driving conditions.

* Mechanical noise when selecting a forward or reverse gear. It's normal to hear a slight mechanical noise when moving the shift lever from one gear to another. This noise can sound abnormally loud if any of the windows are down and you are parked next to a wall or another vehicle.

* Vehicle may not hold its position when stopped on an incline in gear (may roll backward when the brake pedal is released). This can occur on most Acura-made vehicles. It is one of the measures used to improve fuel economy.

* Hard shifts before the engine warms up. By design, the transmission shifts a little harder when the engine is cold. It returns to smoother shifting when the engine warms up.

These characteristics are not normal; if you experience any of them, call your Acura dealer.

* While driving, the D5 indicator on the instrument panel flashes.

D5 Indicator


* An abnormally loud noise from the transmission.
* Extremely slow or delayed gear engagement, upshifts, or downshifts.
* Abnormal gear slippage during upshifts or downshifts.
* Erratic or excessively harsh shifting.
* Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) leaks.

In the next few weeks, owners of potentially affected vehicles will be sent a copy of this letter along with reimbursement instructions in case they previously paid to have the transmission repaired or replaced.

It's important to maintain your vehicle's transmission according to the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual. Not maintaining the transmission properly can void the warranty coverage.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Acura Automobile Division

 

I hope mine and yours last long. I will be able to make it to the meet as long as I don't work that Saturday.

 

...

 

Mine just got trashed today....76k miles. 3rd time too...(1st- 12k, 2nd 28k) oh well...I'll stick with honda for bikes only...
I know the feeling...wow! such a great deal (bang for buck) but this really dampens my opinion on acura/honda cars. Anyways, just venting also

 

It will always shift hard when it first shifts to 2nd gear if the car was not warmed up long enough. 02 and 03 has two way-cooling system and that will work for two-way warming was well even the car is not moving. It always works that way on my tl not sure if that is a problem.

 

do you not agree??? nearly every car is like this