didn't think it would happen to me, but my tranny blew this weekend.

i checked owner link and see that my 2003 tl-s is not included in the extended warranty 7yr/100K. i have 55K miles on my car....original warranty cover up to 50K

what is the chance that acura will still honor the warranty and replace my tranny for free?? do you think i should bring up the odometer lawsuit if they say that i do not qualify for the warranty since i'm 5K over warranty?

i will be calling my local dealer tomorrow...so just like to know what to expect.

RIP my TL-S

 

First see if your local dealer will cover it.

If they decline coverage, contact the national/corporate Acura Customer Service folks before contacting your regional Acura office.

See the helpful post by forum member "recklessdriver" in this thread:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153481

This will increase the odds that you will get some amount of out of warranty coverage since the corporate level folks might be more inclined to help. On the other side of the same coin, they're apparently less likely to override a local decision that's already been made.

Good Luck!

Bob

 

Just go in nice and polite
Speak ONLY with Service MANAGER

5 k over with the odometer issue should be a non issue AND
with more 03s failing- they will likely be added to the group

Mention you are a member of online forum Acurazine
and how much you appreciate his/her help in this terrible failure of your car!

 

so i just called my local service dealer and talked to the service manager. i told him about my car being 5K over transmission warranty and if he would consider fixing the tranny under warranty? his response "you just answered your own question, you car is out of warranty . if you want, bring it down to us and we run diagnosed test (cost about $160) and then we will contact acura HQ to see if they would consider fixing it"

so should i bring it down? or should I contact corporate acura customer service first? is that the same as acura client services?

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Services
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-9746
Telephone: (800) 382-2238

 

Damn that sucks man. I wish you all the best. Let us know the outcome. I too bought an 03 and lucked out that is it covered under the warranty. The foolish part was that I didn't check the vin first to see if it was covered.

 

I guess I should have been more clear about going IN PERSON to speak with the service manager.
Of course you got the answer you did!

So now its time to call 1-800-382-2238 x 5 and talk to Customer Care about the odometer issue and also see if there is another dealer near you

Going in person could get the manager to say your car has 49k on it
but on the phone- not a chance- I dont know who you are- some spy trying to set me up

 

The diagnostic fee- usually 1.5 hours or 150 bucks is required by law - so they have a work order allowing them to inspect the car. If warranty prob- you dont pay the diagnostic fee

Cars in the shop without repair order and owner signature/authorization are probably being stripped

Read the odometer thread carefully and do the coversion to see what your real miles are

Take the car to Aamco and Cottman for free diagnostics- they check codes and test drive and such FREE

 

i called the dealer i bought the car from....the service manager told me to bring it down to have them check ($135). he said he can't guarantee, but since my car was under 4 years old, it'll probably get approved by the district manager to get repair under warranty . this guy was so much more helpful than the first local service manager i called....he was an a$$!

anyways, i also called corporate acura, and was told to bring it to a dealer to have them check it out.

one interesting point the lady told me - she said if they fix the tranny under "good will", then there will be no warranty on that service. . but if i paid for some of the work, then i will get the 3 yr warranty on it . has anyone heard of that??

 

You should of called Acura Customer Service 1st, and talked with them, you kinda screwed up things with the 1st service manager by talking with him on the phone about the issue, face to face works ALOT better.

 

^ yes, i know face to face is alot better. but i have to work, so I do not have time today to go to the dealer.

honestly, i don't think calling acura corporate first would have made a difference. the lady told me that i will have to bring it to a local dealer to have them check it out anyways. she explain that they review with the manager's on all the cases they received. if i am not happy with the decision of the district manager, then I should call acura corporate back and work things from there.

 

tl is in acura dealership awaiting diagnostic test. i should know the result today. so basically, i'm just waiting and hopefully they will fix under warranty

 

Good Luck!

Bob

 

every TLer's wost fear....tranny failure out of warranty

Good luck... and remember

"a reacharound can go a long way in making friends" - some guy in juvie

 

hoooray!!!!.....just got the best news!!

as a "good will" , factory will replace the tranny for free!!!!!! . guy said the car was pretty new with low miles, so factory approved it. i'm so RELIEVED!!!!

 

Acurazine
Your place for the inside info to Acura goodwill gestures!!

Congrats
Glad it worked out in the end
Make sure to send written thank you to Customer Care and specify anyone who really stood out, and the Dealer who helped you- same thing
They are hooking you up with $4000 worth of updated fun
A little goodwill on your part will help them in performance reviews too

 

The reason to call Customer Care at Corporate FIRST time you suspect a problem in your TL, is to document your concern. Of course they just tell you to take it in.
How else will you find out whats wrong?
Even if they tech cant locate the prob this time- thats ok- its on record if trans dies after warranty.

Now we all know- if you bought this car from a local dealer- take it to them for special request.
You are already a customer who gave them profit, they want to keep you as a customer.

 

^ thanks for your help and suggestions!

i must agree, if you can bring it to the dealer you bought the car from, it might help. the first local dealer i called (which is only about 10 miles away) didn't seem very nice or willing to help. so i ended up towing the car about 30 miles to the dealer i bought from. it was well worth the trip!

 

Congrats man. Go Acura.

 

You know what the strange thing is... I have a 2003 tl type s that wasn't covered under the 100k warranty and I got a phone call yesterday telling me that the transmission will be fixed under warranty. They never said out of good will although that is what they originally told me. My warranty was expired btw.

 

^ good to hear. maybe acura is finally realizing that they should include ALL of 03 TL's in their extended warranty. it is just strange that only certain vechicles within a VIN range is covered.

 

They make up the VIN number range so they can get away with recall. But, basically 2nd gen uses the same parts that fails. As long as they cover when a tranny fails, recall isn't necessary. recall could kill them financially.

 

Well I just called Acura corporate to double check to see if my car was included on the extended warranty. I could have sworn it was looking at the owner link. The lady on the phone NO it wasn't included. So now I'm a little nervous about what to do. I really don't want to get rid of the car, but I can't be stuck with a $4000 tranny replacement.

Sounds like some of you 03 guys are having luck with replacements even tho you're out of VIN range. If I start experiencing tranny troubles, heaven forbid, what should my first step be? Calling corporate?

Damn, finding that out just made me really uneasy!

 

^ how many miles do you have on your car?

based on my experience, since you already called corporate, you should just bring it in the dealer for testing. if you need a new tranny and is out of warranty, then they will contact acura HQ to get approval for a 'good will' replacement under warranty. if they approve, then you're good to go. but if they don't, then i think that is when you really need to get in touch with corporate acura.

 

If it happened, you need to take your car to a dealer you believe it is not a scumbag, and see what resolution he is giving you. If you are not satisfied, then you call acura customer care.

 

My car has 67K and the tranny is working beautifully(knocks on wood) at the moment. I had planned to keep this car until 100K, but I'm scared now.

Now I've read that you should call corporate before you contact the dealer.

 

That's weird, mine is 03 tl-s, I got it brand new in Sep 2003, around 2 months ago, i got an official letter, extended tranny warranty is given to my car, i thought all 03 TLs have extended tranny warranty...

 

03 owners should think about changing the trans fluid. Its just oil folks, and new will help your trans live longer.
The new cars require it!

 

OK, here is what I don't get. My car was manufactured in May of 2002. Wouldn't you think it would be in the group of 03's that was covered? I don't understand that...

As far as changing the tranny fluid, I've heard people have major problems right after changing it.

After how many miles are you supposed to change it?

 

They say every 15,000 miles drain and refill. Just remember no flushy.

 

^ acura suggest the first transmission change at 60K. then 30K onward (90K, 120k).

 

If you have an existing problem and run sludge and grime as your trans fluid, flushing might find it, unlikely to actually CAUSE a failure that was not already looking to happen

I would not change 1 qt of engine oil and call it good- would you?
Mixing old with new does not provide the proper cooling and lube qualities of all fresh new 10 quarts in the trans vs 3.5 on a simple drain and refill
USE Honda fluid

Just like if you have an existing oil leak- synthetic will leak more- surprise!

And note to all
have you changed the brake fluid- all the way, new fluid from Master to each bleeder and then more until no trace possible of old fluid?
If you do this every year its a good thing.
Most cars- 2nd owner- never been done- and will be brown not clear

 

A week after I bought my TL-S I had it checked by my mechanic. It's a Honda/Acura Only place. He suggested to have the brake fluid changed to which I agreed.

He never mentioned the tranny fluid. But he did mention how the tranny's fail like crazy. I told him I knew they were notorious for failing. He also suggested getting rid of it before the extended warranty ran out.

Too bad this was before I found out mine was not included in the extension.

 

All this tranny talk has got me nervous 2!! I got my 99 Tl with 58k on it from an Acura dealership in VA. Hopefully I won't have any poblems with it down the line....

 

The original transmission in my 1999 TL made it all the way to 173,000 miles. So you have many miles to go before you have a problem.

The 1999 TL uses a 4-speed transmission that is typically more reliable than the 5-speed model used in the 2000-2003 TLs.

Bob

 

good luck.