I have a 2003 acura tl I purchased a little over a year ago. While changing the brakes and oil I discovered my sub frame is rusting out on the front passenger side(see picture) I'm having a hard time figuring out which part exactly it is. The drivers side is perfectly fine. Also the car has 143000 miles but I'm not sure the timing has ever been changed. Is there a way to check for sure if it was?

 

That is the infamous rust caused by the A/C Drain leak....
Your having a hard time figuring out which part it is? You already named it.. ITS YOUR SUBFRAME!



That's completely dangerous to keep driving in that condition!!!
Your best bet is to find a used Sub-frame from a TL or Accord V6 from the same year.

 

If you want the SPECIFIC NAME and PART NUMBER Honda calls them:


"Front Beam Assembly":
50250-S87-A00 and 50250-S3M-A00 (I suppose one of them is for Type S and the other for TL-p? Check with Dealership)
and
"Rear Beam Assembly":
50200-S0K-A01

 

Thanks. Why would they put the ac there if everyone is having troubles with it now

 

Junkyard might be a good bet too.. find one that was in a rear end collision to avoid potential bent subframes.

 

Yeah thats the issue around here is finding one. Local junkyard doesnt have one so ill have to either go online or travel a bit.

 

Methods where are you located. I have a complete 00 TL that I am parting out. Subframe is good shape. Normal wear but no rust like yours has.

 

Ohio. We found an accord one which they said will fit the same. So hopefully that's true

 

I would make sure it fits before you buy it! You shouldnt be too far from me then if you are interested in the one I got.

 

I looked up all the cars that have this subframe. 50250-S87-A00. Non Type S Only.

1998-2002 Honda Accord V6 ONLY
1999-2003 Acura TL
2001-2003 Acura CL

If you have a Type S then you can only get a subframe from another 02-03 TL Type S or 01-03 CL Type S.

I do not know what the differences are so its possible they are interchangeable.

 

Did anyone found out what is the different between 50250-S87-A00 and 50250-S3M-A00?
I have a type s, and want to see if I can replace it with 50250-S87-A00. What modifications, if any, should be done?

 

I'm pretty sure you can use either one. The only difference I can think of is the PS line clips. The TL-P should have an extra hole for the second PS line, while the TL-S would have one. In terms of fitment, they should be exactly the same. I'm using a TL-P subrame with TL-S PS.