to see if its got a warranty replaced trans now, look for blue paint on the bolt heads of bolts going thru trans, and the things attached to it,,easy to see if present

143 on original would be a good lifespan versus what many get

there are options of using an oddessy trans or certain other honda trans with better life too

 

If anyone is interested my TL Type-S tranny just failed. Acura quote to repair was more than it's worth so I want to get rid of it as-is. Car has 79K miles. It is 2002 Black with Tan leather w/ NAViGATION. Car is in NYC. Looking for $2400 picked up. Car is otherwise in good condition but dirty with a few cosmetic issues. Maintained by stealership. Call me if you're interested. 917 776 675 seven (7).

-Jake

 

you can get yours rebuilt for about 2500 at local shops
beats losing a perfectly good car and trying to replace it for 2500

 

Yes, I would totally do that; the car sounds nice with the navigation system and all. I don't know, though, to me s1mpsons sounds like a man who already has his heart set on a new car . . .

 

Yeah imo an 02 with only 72k is definitely worth keeping. But maybe he's been reading through all the tranny threads.

 

New guy here... Add me to the ranks of "I wish I knew about this earlier...". Just bought a 2001 TL w/ 83k on the odometer last week. During the test drive everything went fine - no sign of transmission issues. The next day I start it up cold and take off down the street. It shifted really hard from 1st --> 2nd and wouldn't come out of 2nd after that. TCM and check engine light came on (P1750 and P0780), but once it warmed up it ran fine.. all shifts are solid with no noticeable slipping. I came back home and googled "Acura transmission issues" and spent the next 3 hours sifting through results while feeling sicker and sicker every minute. I've read the first 20 pages and last 20 pages of this thread (btw - this has to be the longest forum thread I've ever seen anywhere).

My question is for anyone whose seen similar symptoms, how long do I have until it goes out?

Symptoms are:
- When cold: rough shift 1st --> 2nd, then won't come out of 2nd
- Leaking transmission fluid (keeping close eye not letting it get too low)
- When warm: shifts smooth with no noticeable slipping
- Under mild acceleration there is occasional hesitation on the 2 -> 3 shift, as if it can't decide what gear it wants.
- Drained and re-added 1 qt of fluid. Fluid is reddish brown with no metal shavings and does not have burned smell.
- Transmission appears to have been replaced at some point (blue bolts), but no idea when. Jet is installed.

Has anyone with similar symptoms been able to make it last another 5-10k miles, or does it just go downhill from here?

 

blue bolts = warranty unit
external jet kit = pre 2005 unit

what atf did you use?
where exactly is it leaking atf from?

this thread started several years ago,,and continues

 

New DW-1 honda fluid has been good for me. My tranny likes it better than the redline. How did you drain just 1 quart?

And I would find out why the transmission leaks.

Honda transmissions by design are supposed to shift harder when cold helping with engine warmup to operating temps.

 

Used DW-1.. bought from the Honda dealer. I loosened the drain plug just long enough to drain ~ 1qt... I just wanted capture a sample to check for metal shavings, etc..

If not for the leak, I would just 3x tranny flush thing to see if that helps shift issues in the cold (may do that anyway). I can't tell where it is coming from without getting underneith it, which I plan to do this weekend.

A local shop quoted me $1500-$2000 for a rebuild, but I'd like to avoid that (at least for now) if at all possible. I just bought this car as a commuter... have a 2010 Camaro SS and don't want to rack the miles up on it. Prior to the Camaro I had a 2005 TL which I bought new and drove for 5 years. 77k miles and never had any issues. Wish I could have that one back. :-)

Thanks for the feedback. I think the trans fluid flush is at least worth a try before shelling out another 2k on a rebuild. Will let you know how that works out after this weekend.

 

Well go figure.. shortly after my last post it started slipping. I punched it going ~20mph trying to merge w/ traffic and it just redlined before finally engaging after I let off a bit.

Also, I think I found what was causing the leak. When I went to drain the fluid (expected 3-3.5 qts to drain out) it drained a little over 1.5 gallons. Looks like the previous owner overfilled it by 3-4 quarts. After replacing w/ 3 quarts and dipstick measuring correctly the leaking stopped.

I went ahead and dropped it off at a local transmission shop where they diagnosed it as needing a rebuild ($1695), plus torque converter ($380). Not bad vs. other quotes I had received.

The point of my original thread was to find out how long it could limp along with the issues in the cold before complete failure. I think the lesson here (if it plays out the same for everyone else) is once it starts acting up in the cold (won't shift out of 2nd, throws 1750 and 0780 codes), transmission failure is probably imminent.

 

sigh... bought a 2001 tl-p w/navi, 142,000 miles, for $4,900 less than four weeks ago. the previous owner kept it looking great. we both knew about the tranny problem; he never had any problems (or so he says). we both agreed that he must have had a "good" tranny, and if it were to go out it'd be because it's about that time anyways.

this tuesday, my poor baby had the tach dance with the blinking D5 light and the TCS light came on. mileage up to 143k now.

it's at the shop; sounds like rebuild time. sad because i have a set of type-s taillights ready to be installed.

 

Failed at 95K.

Did Redline ATF (non-racing) and 3rd/4th switches at 65K.

Changed fluids again at 80K.

It's done :-(

 

here's the quote i got from my local mechanic (houston, tx) in case anyone's curious:

new transmission:
1450+600 labor = $2050

used transmission (rebuild):
850+600 labor = $1450

 

Is there such a thing as a new transmission for these cars? A dealer told me they're all rebuilt and so there's no such thing as brand new for these transmissions.

 

Yeah What Mechanic in Houston?

Thanks thats a good deal

 

Iv been reading this thread for years and my 3rd tranny went out a while ago after having some work done (which was weird) on her. When the tranny originally went out all the dash lights came on, it wouldn't switch gears but rather stay in the same gear while being able to reach speeds of 55mph, only did it to get home.

Well its been sitting for a long time and as much as i love the car i felt i should sell it as is cause i spent thousands on her right before the tranny went out not including the little things that id have to fix that would add up.

Had a guy come by to buy it and we jump started it and i noticed the dash lights are no longer on like they were when the tranny went out. Also the rpms after a min started to dance from 1k to 3k and wouldn't stop. He did get in the car and put the car in every gear while it was parked but we never tried driving it.

Now its got me thinking if i should attempt to drive it. Anyways its a 99 with around 140k, nav, in pretty darn good shape was asking $2000.

Hell just jump starting it made me drool all over again even after 10 years of ownership and a year of that sitting with a what i think is a dead tranny. This is def one of the hardest decisions iv had to make in a long time.

 

its got gelled fuel from sitting--run seafoam in gas at 2 ounces per gallon fuel

then remove the TB throttle body and clean the IACV idle air control

what were the trans symptoms when you parked it?
dead battery will clear stored fault codes, guessing you had to jump it?

 

The tranny would not switch gears (been so long i kinda forgot all the details). We had no other choice but to jump it. Im just worried about causing damage that why i didnt try driving it.

The guy wants the car but now im not sure what to do. 01tl4tl thanks for commenting, you truly are a big help around here and I truly appreciate your time. I want to keep it and fix the tranny but iv had the car for a long time and kinda feel its time for some change in my life.

 

that's what i was thinking, so i opted for the rebuilt one. my mechanic is a guy on 249 near fallbrook. if anyone's interested feel free to ping me, although i'm going to wait until i got the car back before suggesting him to anyone.

i'll keep you all posted as to the result. it drove great before i started experiencing the usual symptoms.

 

zib,,,sell it for 2g and smile all the way to your next car
something 5 years newer will blow away your memories of the TL

you know what it cost to rebuild trans = 2500, the new owner accepts that as part of the cost to purchase, good for them! excellent for you

note: leaving the car parked not running, not preserved properly for the storage,,
will cost a lot in failed rubber seals to make it roadworthy
new owner should expect wp, hose or belt problems (been there)
Seen it in shops too many times

 

as much as i love the car i felt i should sell it

GO WITH YOUR GUT

i spent thousands on her right before the tranny went out not including the little things that id have to fix that would add up.

Answered all your own questions and fears right there, already had to dump a lot into it- now a lot more...

if it were destined to become a valuable car again in a few years,,,it would be a different story
But these are being turned into beer cans at a high rate
When the trans is gone and its got worn out shocks and other parts,,time to dismantle and recycle all the bits

top it all off with, its just a 99,,
the later cars had real nav, 5 speeds helped mpg, type S motor avail yadayada

those trans codes and non shifting will come back with attemt to drive, crud in TC gets flung into outlet flow screens and no pressure happens to make it shift

 

I did start the car and drive it up and down the drive way last night. When i put the gear in reverse i get a loud thump but the other gears not so much. When i press the gas pedal the car struggles to move and doesn't shift gears. I guess i just want to be 100% certain the tranny is shot before i sell it.

 

Long time reader but haven't added too much. My transmission just blew to.
04 TL with Nav with 97k miles
Started it up and will drive for about 2 to 3 minutes then just coasted as I watch the RPM shoot to 3k to 4k. Parked it for a couple seconds and all of a sudden heard a loud crunch. Turned it off then started it again and was able to drive for another 2 to 3 minutes before it coasted again. No lights ever showed up on the dashboard which didn't make an sense. Pissed as all h3ll right now.
Had a 100k mile warranty so took it to the dealer and they tell me that my warranty expired in September?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All he could tell me was the gears were slipping and broke most of the teeth from the gears and it was going to cost me $4300!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!11!!:thumbsdow
He did a courtesy call to Acura and they were willing to give me 25% discount on the price. In the end it's going to cost me around $3400. Not sure if this is worth it anymore. There should have been a recall on this thing.
What's happened so far on this thing:
1. windshield wiper motor (recall)
2. power steering hose (recall)
3. Dashboard crack down the airbag (50% acura paid)
4. Seatbelt light is intermittent (warranty won't cover)
5. Rearview Mirror just blew and dim doesn't work (warranty expired)
5. Transmission failure (Warranty expired)

As a Honda\Acura car, I expected more reliability and durability. Very surprised it's had this many issues, my crappy pontiac bonneville '87 lasted longer than this and it had a slipped gear to.
I saw there was a recall letter on another thread about the transmission failing on early models of the 04 TL. Mine was an end of the year model. Checked for a recall for mine there wasn't. Possible they could have missed? Love the car and all but it's getting hard to maintain this thing.
Thinking about calling Acura customer server and complaining. should have lasted longer.

 

I can sympathize. I think you should call Acura and express your frustration. They may well give you a lot more help. You do have to ask for it, though. Most likely they will want to see your maintenance records, so it will help if you can show that you have maintained the car properly. Good luck.

 

just a follow up in case anyone's interested. picked up the car five days later and transmission seems to work like new. it shifts seamlessly but i find myself paying attention to any little noise or hesitation, scared that it'll go out again.

all in all, i'm upset that i had to pay an extra $1500 on a $4900 car i just bought, but she runs (for now) and if anyone in houston wants a cheap tranny fix on their 2G tl, let me know and i'll refer to you my guy.

 

the recall was to install an external oil spray kit in the filler hole on top of trans- for 2nd gear oiling
had nothing to do with the clutch pack failure common to gen2 and into gen3

they made a new case design in 04-05 sometime and it has the recall installed part moved internal of the case
it also has better oil passages in general - according to rumor and improved lifespan

sorry to hear of prob with your new baby,,many owners sell them when maitenance gets behind and the trans slips
but now its an awesome ride!

many of those trans noises will go away as the new parts wear into each other
Make sure the shop used honda DW1 atf

 

Ok. Just came back from the dealer last night and the problem is my transmission failed. So basically I have to get a new one.

DTC Troubleshooting: P0740 (40)
Replace the transmission and torque converter

Didn't the warranty extend to 7yrs/100k for the 02 models after the recall? I remember receiving a letter about the recall and something about the extending the warranty. I can't find the letter.

The service advisor told me to call Acura Corp and complain (in an upset manner) that 99% of the time I got my car serviced at the dealer, I use mobil 1 synthetic oil, I got the transmission flush done and also the recall back in 2005 and now I have to get my transmission replaced? Basically tell them why if I take care of my car and it suppose to be an Acura. It only has 91k miles and it's an 2002.

Hopefully Acura can help me out becaues it's a little over 6k. Which after reading the threads on here now I think is BS.


UPDATE: The service advisor said they can cover 25% of the cost. I pay the rest. I think is still bs. I read that it can cost around 4-5k to replace right? So basically they charge me retail and say help pay 25% then basically it brings it down to the real price they should be charging to begin with. Right? Then I'm really not saving.

I've been a loyal customer since 02 and spend a lot of money there. I just spend $1,300 fixing the coils, 1 spark plug in which they tought was the problem at first. Because my engine light came on twice before this month. I bring it in the 3rd time and now it's my transmission all together that failed. I could of saved that $1300 and put it towards the new transmission. Right?

Now I have another question. Does the new transmission come with new coils, spark plugs etc etc. Getting a new transmission means the whole motor right?

 

Just spoke to the Service advisor and they quoted me $4,523 out the door. This is including labor and tax. It comes with a 3yr/36k warranty. It will be rebuilt at the Honda/Acura plant using Acura parts. He suggest me to call Acura Corp to see if they can drop the price down some more. Which I will do tomorrow.

 

$4500...check KBB for the value of your car. go to a reputable transmission shop locally and get it rebuilt for $2k and be done with it. there comes a point where pissing that much money into a transmission just isnt worth it. i am in the same boat with my car so i will update when it is fixed to the costs and parts

 

The vaulue is between $8,500-$8,800. There is a transmission shop right down the street from me on Lee Hwy. It's been there for like 12+ years, maybe more. I always drive by it. But the thing about other shops, are they going to use Acura parts?

 

Hey guys, i have an 03 TL Type S. I've had the car since 05, and the transmission finally gave out at 130,000 last dec. and we had it replaced from a junk yard with 67,000 miles on it. A couple days ago it started shifting really hard, and eventually it started slipping, and shifting from 1st to 2nd gear was bad. It started revving in between instead of switching out of 1st gear going up to 4,000 rpm.We took it to ammco to do a diagnostic test and said the oil was burnt. My uncle took a look at it (he did the transmission swap), he replaced the transmission fluid before we called it quits as a last attempt and now it runs perfectly fine. Do you guys think it'll last or is it just a matter of time before it starts slipping again?

 

I got quoted $3,200 at my dealership. A rebuilt tranny at that price OTD even though they are willing to give you the 25% is still a rip off. Contact Acura/Honda Corp and see what they can do. Most of the stories I have heard that either Acura will pay 50% and you cover the other 50% and or even Acura covering 80% and you end up paying the 20%. I should have done that when my tranny went out. I made the mistake of going to AAMCO and them having to rebuild my tranny 2 more times. That is when I gave up.

 

I called Acura corp today and made a claim. The Manager will call me tomorrow yo discuss on what they can do.

 

They really should and probably will do a lot more for you. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

Dealer called me today and said they spoke with Acura corp. The price is now $3,000 plus tax. What you think?

 

I think you should have to pay under $1,000, especially if you have maintenance records to prove that you have taken care of the car. That's roughly what they did for me about a year ago.

 

Oh wow. what year is your car?miles?

 

ok I just got mine back - $1950 later. she shifts like a dream! they replaced all wear and tear parts including the torque converter and replaced everything with the new updated Honda parts/specs. 3 year 36k warranty so I am very happy. and yes any dealer will only quote you a replacement of a fully rebuit transmission $3400 at least.
good luck everyone, but to me our cars are too nice/well built to let a 1 time transmission fix stay in the way.
just realize these cars arent made to be driven like a sports car - if you want to drive them like that then get a different car or get used to transmission issues!

 

'02 also, original owner. Actually, it was almost two years ago (how time flies!), when the car had about 85,000 miles on it. It was my second transmission replacement. The first had been entirely covered by Acura because the car was so new. I suspect that the first time the transmission was replaced it didn't really need to be. Even the second time my transmission never completely failed, it was just shifting hard.

 

My other concern is when I spoke to the lady at Acura corp today, I can't remember if she told me that someone from the dealer will call me to give me the final price or she will on monday. THe dealer called again today to ask me what I am going to do. Now I want to wait till monday to talk to the lady again to see if she is on the same page with the dealer on the final price. Or is the dealer just making their offer. Again $3000 plus tax = $3200. The guy from the dealer wanted to know asap because he said they were pushing him to find out what am I going to do.

Should I wait to talk to the lady again on monday? If the dealer doesn't let me keep my car there until my decision on monday then I am going to mention that I recently spend $1700 on fixing the other issues my car had this month and that they should work with me.

I spend MONEY at this DEALER!