Lsamir53

I was going to the store the other day, drove the TL, and the tranny was doing fine and smooth. On the drive home the tranny was jerking in every gear! Just horrible and annoying jerks every time she shifts...not cool..I was wondering if some of that Trans-X Slip-Stop stuff would help me out a little...Or any kind of stop-slip. Would it hurt the transmission?

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Title sounds a little odd, but hey...Diff strokes for diff folks...


But on a real note, I would not recommend that stuff...You can try a last minute trans fluid change and see if that helps any, use ONLY Honda/Acura ATF Z-1. What year/mileage?

01tl4tl

yes any additive will hurt the trans!!!!!
chances are the clutch packs finally wore out their grip

how does the trans fluid smell? and color on dipstick

you can try to clean the shift seleniods,, but thats a longshot and band-aid in most cases

if you can get to a parts store and get a free code reading- see if the computer is storing any info for diagnosis
Its not always trans failure

Lsamir53

The fluid smells fine, and is looking fine. Its not black, but that gold color.

I don't have a CEL though?

01tl4tl

you wont always get a cel- especially trans probs- that will throw tcs lights

see if the parts store can get any codes from the ecu

never seen gold atf in a TL, has anyone added.. or changed the trans fluid recenlty?

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

I had the same issue with my car and it turned out the throttle position sensor (TPS) was bad.

TPS is located on the throttle body and can be replaced.
If I were you, I'd wait until you get a check engine light (CEL) to diagnose the real problem.

01tl4tl

good point nsx
and sometimes you get codes without a CEL- go to a parts store for a free code ck

Lsamir53

Sorry for the late reply, thanks for the input. I think Im going to go by Autozone tomorrow and see if there are any codes being put out, if not, Ill just wait for the CEL and go from there.

Lsamir53

Mileage is 138,000. No trans fluid changes have been done since I've had the car.

01tl4tl

wow- I bet the fluid is black!~ does it smell burnt on dipstick ck?

Lsamir53

Naa, Ive had the car for 10,000 miles. And all the necessary checkups have been done. THe fluid is a golden brown like normal. ya think I should flush it and change it?

01tl4tl

golden brown is not a TL trans fluid color I ever heard of

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Maybe he pulled the engine oil dipstick?

gold2003tl (90)

tranny fluid should be red, as it ages it will turn redish black/brown and black. if the tranny fluid looks like motor oil or golden brown that it NOT normal, that means the wrong fluid was put in.

Lsamir53

Lol, Its totally cool guys...at that piont..I had had 3 hours of sleep (still in Highschool doin HW)....Its fine...The trans fluid is clean not black or murky, or brown.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

So did you ever get a check engine light?

Personally I wouldn't do anything until the light comes on. Go to AutoZone, have them read it and report back to us.

Might end up saving you a ton of money.

totaledTL

And the color is-?

"Highschool doin HW" - @ 30?

Lsamir53

I have a lot of homework...i plan on going to MIT...so yeah...Color is redish. I haven't had a chance to get to autozone..Don't have a CELThanks for your input guys.On a side note, from the time that I posted this till now, she's been drivin extremely smoothly and nothings been wrong. I am so confused right now. It goes from short periods of junk shifting to long periods of smooth confortable shifting.Sometimes I push her a lot and it screwes up the shifting, and sometimes alls I have to do is turn of the engine and restart it and it'll shift smooth again. :/

01tl4tl

thats the standard trans is going out symptoms
garbage one day and perfect for a week,,,until one day it will stop

Dont need dash lights to have stored fault codes
parts store cks those for free

Lsamir53

I've put it off long enough. Im goin today

FenixQns187

My 03 Tl-s has been doing this for a week now. Everytime it goes to shift it will over-rev and take a while to shift. When it finally does, it slams into gear and jerks the whole car. Threw a code and the VSA light stays on. Ive got a warrenty so I dont really care whats wrong with it as long as it gets fixed. Hoping its something simple because I just want my car back.

01tl4tl

its major transmission failure.. almost certain of it!
get on the phone for appointment with dealer
tell them its `VOR` vehicle off road - undriveable
they will get soonest appointment for you and send tow truck if you ask-warranty covers it
takes about 4 days total for the trans to arrive on truck and half day labor for the remove and install

with many reports of leaking `rear main seal` after trans repacement recently-
suggest you pay the half hour labor and 10 dollars for a seal to be replaced,, for safety

They are not related in failure, but its a pita to remove trans again for a 10 buck part

01tl4tl

dont be surprised if `front motor mount` is found bad--very common and discovered when tech looks under the car

part cost 120-150$ and .3 hour labor when trans is already removed.
NOT the 3 hours they try to accidentally charge you- thats the trans installed labor time

may need side mount too- if slamming has been extreme, it wears out next but only cost $50 and 50 install

Lsamir53

Autozone said they only read CEL codes and wouldn't put their reader in my car unless I had a CEL... :/ Thats garbage.. I guess ill just wait until she dies and then look into a 6 speed swap. I like manuals, and my cousin is dying to do a swap. Perfect fit, lolAnd there's no temporary fix for this stuff right? Wish I had a warranty...

01tl4tl

you can try a 3 qt change and clean the selenoids -see diy section

Lsamir53

Alright, ill see what I can do