I have a 2002 acura tl type s with 70000 miles on it. A couple of days ago I noticed a hard shift after starting the car in the morning only at first and second gear. It warmed up and the hard shifting stopped. When I got home later that day I noticed transmission fluid under the car on driver side. Upon further inspection of leak I have found that it is coming from the seal where the axle plugs into transmission. The mechanic says he hears a little noise coming from transmission and with the leak coming from that location that my transmission is about to go. I added some fluid to transmission because it had lost a quart. After adding the fluid transmission runs like new...Should i worry that I need a transmission right now...Or should I feel fine changing the axle seal knowing my transmission has allot of life left.....Help please...

 

I know that leaking atf fluid is a sign of failed trannys...has anybody had a leak from the axle seal on driver side....replaced it and had a successfull transmission. I guess thats my real question...Im trying not to waste any money..I have none to waste

 

Good luck man, I just had to replace my tranny. Hondas make pretty shitty transmissions so if i was you id start saving up incase it needs to be done. I just dropped 3k on my tranny.

 

Just fix the seal for now.

 

Leaking fluid isnt a sign of a failed trans. Replace the axle seal and see if your problem goes away

 

Seal will be replaced....transmission flush right after...total 225 including parts.....ill keep you guys posted.....thanks

 

good deal, had seal replaced 2 years ago. no problem so far.

 

Don't flush the tranny! Drain and fill or do a running fluid change.

 

Changed the seal and the leak went away for a month....the leak has since came back so my mechanic changed the seal again....both times with a full drain and fill.....the leak came back again and this morningD5 flashed the he's light lit up and check engine lit up....I turned car off and back on again....check engine light is still lit probadly from a code sent. Well next stop is diagnostic check.....im in Maryland..Any recommendations on. Transmission. Solutions......only have 70000 miles...

 

you need a trans

the popular option now and a grand cheaper than the 2500 to rebuild yours
is an odessey or accord trans from certain years= from junkyard

70k is right on schedule for clutch wearout

was the recall installed external oil jet kit done?

exactly what fluid was used? honda dw1.....
or some crap that put the nail in your trans coffin dex3 will kill a TL trans

 

Honda fluid......but I was thinking about buying a extended warranty waiting the 30 days and letting them put in a new one.....how do I find out what year transmissions match my car

 

A warranty won't cover a swap to a trans that doesn't match. You'll get a TL transmission.

 

O I know if I get the warranty they going to give me a to transmission....but I also was thinking about getting a transmission from junk yard.....I talked to a few transmission guys....they said they wont install the odyssey or accord transmission....im sure they thinking liability issues

 

Feel ya man. I let some dumb fuckass rebuild my trans & put d3 in it. 50k later, it's about to go again (notice the shitty shifts between 2nd & 3rd. I remember my first failed). Sure I have the right fluid in there now but it's too late. It's what I get. Lesson learned & for others to learn idiots like myself .

Anyway, good luck. I'm still trying to decide if I want to fix it one more time or not once it goes soon.

 

Hey Guys, just joined. Thought I would mention something I learned the hard way. Had a transmission fluid leak on the passenger side, fairly compentent garage mechanic, so thought I could replace the seal myself, so I did. Ended up tapping it in too far. You MUST only tap it in so that the edge of the seal is flush with the transmission, no farther, or it will leak. I figured, just tap it in so it sits in the area provided, well, that was not right. You have the main edge of the seal and then the little flange part that rides against the axle. Tap in too far, and you will still have your leak....thanks!

 

Had the seal problem also. 2003 tl 135,000 miles. My mechanic only charged me 100.00 to pull axel & change the seal.
Seal wasnt that old and looked new when we took it out, trans rebuilt only 25000 miles ago.
Not an oem honda seal, maybe the issue? . But problem solved.

 

Mine was a combo of a worn o ring on the hard line that connects to the tranny fluid filter and the tranny fluid filter itself (my car has 294000 kms), the filter took no effort to remove (must have come loose with engine vibrations over the years. The underside if the filter was badly corroded and the o ring was damn near flat! Nothing like the new oring that came with the new filter. Took the opportunity to drain the tranny and add new fluid, the whole process was about $90 (3 quarts @ $14, new filter $30, couple o rings (just in case you nick one during install), tranny funnel $5 and taxes). Tranny filter hardline can be tough to pop in, use a 1x2 piece of lumber to push agaisnt the body to pop the o ring and hardline into position. If I had a pressure washer I'd hoist the car and clean the mix of tranny fluid and sand from under the car, it built up above a bracket under the tranny.

 

Hello all-

I'm new to the site. I thought I'd start out here, and see if I could get some early advice. Here's a view from the front of my '03 TL Type S, looking to the back. You can see the drips. I'm wondering if this looks familiar to anyone, and this might be a telltale sign of something specific. Thanks.

 

You can check if it's oil or transmission fluid by inspecting the color of those fluids from their respective dipsticks and comparing it to a sample what you see dripping.

I'd say this is the rear main seal or oil pump seals leaking. More than likely the rear main which is pretty common given the age of our cars.

It's probably the single most costly item to replace given that the part is a few bucks, but requires removal of the transmission to replace.

Mine weaps so little that I just bought a oil drip pad for my car when it's parked in the garage.