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While installing some new PIAA fog lights, i noticed a greased up area and since i do not know much about car mechanic, i am not sure from where this leak could be coming from. any hint would be gladly appreciated, i'm about to take it to the dealer and i'm scared at what he'll tell me :X.
That side of the engine bay is the tranny ... but it's hard to tell what the leak as the bottom of any leak does not indicate the start of the leak. You will need to crawl under and try to back track that leak to find the actual starting point.
I have just wiped the oil a little bit with a white towel and it is very black (i know dust and scrap stickied to the oil) but my question is, if it would've been transmission fluid (which is red if i am not mistaken) would the red be noticeable even though there's dust etc ?. Engine is still under warranty because of the oil consumption so can anybody give me a hint how to know if it is engine or tranny oil ?
The first, and most likely suspicion is that someone did a trans fluid change and failed to do one, or more of the following: 1) tighten the drain plug, 2) use a new crush washer, which is required any time a sump is opened on a Honda, 3) oil ran out on parts of the engine/transmission case during the oil change and the bum who did the job didn't clean up after himself.
One of those has 95% probability of being the source of your problem. Honda cases don't start leaking/seeping until about 200K miles.
Alternatively, you have a leaking main seal on the end of the crankshaft.
Thank you all for your ideas. I'd like to point out that i have checked the tranny dipstick and the oil is still very red. Can the oil darken over time while being exposed to oxygen ?
Thank you all for your ideas. I'd like to point out that i have checked the tranny dipstick and the oil is still very red. Can the oil darken over time while being exposed to oxygen ?
Thanks!
No. The oil in Honda transmissions is one of the most sophisticated, synthetic oils available anywhere. You couldn't break those carbon chains with a million little hammers!
So, this means that if the oil is red when i check with the tranny dipstick, if there would be a leak, it would be a red fluid and would stay red if i understood correctly ?. I am learning a lot right now. Very nice
So, this means that if the oil is red when i check with the tranny dipstick, if there would be a leak, it would be a red fluid and would stay red if i understood correctly ?. I am learning a lot right now. Very nice
Transmission fluid (like any other fluid) will change color with age and wear - but - the color from the dipstick will match the color on the outside UNLESS the stain on the outside is very old. Any recent leak will match the color of the fluid inside the engine but will - of course - collect dirt and debris.
I would guess a rear main crankshaft seal or the shift linkage shaft seal both will show oil right there looks more like a small seep over a long time nothing to be super worried about
Thank you will do!. I am not sure if it is tranny oil or engine oil. In the event that it is engine oil, i am still under warranty (2009 @ 115 000kms) because dealer found that my engine was burning oil a little and they extended my original engine warranty by 1 year (until july 2016). In the event that it is tranny oil, i am not covered bu a warranty anymore since the extended portion of the warranty only covers the engine. SO that's why i want to be sure of what oil it is before bringing it to the dealer .
@UTAH TSX
Thank you very much, good idea. Like i said before, when i find out which type of oil it is, i'll go see the dealer and get it done. I'll comeback here to say what it was so the community can benefit.
Thank you will do!. I am not sure if it is tranny oil or engine oil. In the event that it is engine oil, i am still under warranty (2009 @ 115 000kms) because dealer found that my engine was burning oil a little and they extended my original engine warranty by 1 year (until july 2016). In the event that it is tranny oil, i am not covered bu a warranty anymore since the extended portion of the warranty only covers the engine. SO that's why i want to be sure of what oil it is before bringing it to the dealer .
@UTAH TSX
Thank you very much, good idea. Like i said before, when i find out which type of oil it is, i'll go see the dealer and get it done. I'll comeback here to say what it was so the community can benefit.
What's the basic drivetrain warranty in Canada? I assume you're in Canada since you have kms. In the US it is 6 years/70k miles so you're pretty close on miles/km but might be over in time. If you're close (i.e. still with the miles but outside of time) then you can ask Acura for a goodwill repair and they may cover part of the repair.
Basic drivetrain in Canada is 5years/100 000kms if i'm not mistaken. I have (had) the 7 years/130 000kms (but the big one that covers electronics and all other stuff, not "just" engine and tranny). This warranty expired on the 15th of July 2015 or something. Although, like i said, i have started an oil consumption test with my dealer because the car is burning oil. After 3500kms, My oil dipstick is under the last little dot (don't know if you know what i mean). So the dealer then proceeded to give me another year of "engine only" warranty (which ends on 15th of July 2016) . SO knowing that, i don't think i can play the goodwill card since it's been 2 months already, but i could try IF the oil ends up coming from the tranny, which i doubt. On the other case, being engine oil, there will be no problem, it'll be under warranty.
Basic drivetrain in Canada is 5years/100 000kms if i'm not mistaken. I have (had) the 7 years/130 000kms (but the big one that covers electronics and all other stuff, not "just" engine and tranny). This warranty expired on the 15th of July 2015 or something. Although, like i said, i have started an oil consumption test with my dealer because the car is burning oil. After 3500kms, My oil dipstick is under the last little dot (don't know if you know what i mean). So the dealer then proceeded to give me another year of "engine only" warranty (which ends on 15th of July 2016) . SO knowing that, i don't think i can play the goodwill card since it's been 2 months already, but i could try IF the oil ends up coming from the tranny, which i doubt. On the other case, being engine oil, there will be no problem, it'll be under warranty.
It's a sad day for my wallet . It turns out the tranny is leaking through 2 little seals, overtime they dried out and now they leak just a little. Dealer said it wasn't a big deal, it wasn't necessary to change them right now but being a guy who likes cars and i like things to be as they should, i asked them to change them.
Parts : 2xlittle rubber seals = 20.00$
Time : 6hoursx125$ (canadian $) = 750.00$
Taxe : 15% (hello province of quebec)
Total : 885.50$
What pisses me off is that the car was under warranty in july :X.
@xtcnrice : haven't got the car yet. They have to keep it overnight since they didn't have enough time to do everything. But i'll post if there's a different feel to it.
@cu2wagon : no they didn't offer anything since it's been +/- 3months off warranty. I didn't bother to ask. But i'll ask when i'll return just for the info. They told to i could ride it off for some time but me being me, i can't have my car pissin oil. I probably am OCD with cars.
Anyways, i'll post here when it'll be fixed and i'll tell you al what were the two seals that broke. I've seen a bunch of people say that honda's auto tranny aren't the best and i couldn't believe it. Now, if you ask me, i think they could do better in that department. 120k kilos and this crap happens..
@xtcnrice : haven't got the car yet. They have to keep it overnight since they didn't have enough time to do everything. But i'll post if there's a different feel to it.
@cu2wagon : no they didn't offer anything since it's been +/- 3months off warranty. I didn't bother to ask. But i'll ask when i'll return just for the info. They told to i could ride it off for some time but me being me, i can't have my car pissin oil. I probably am OCD with cars.
Anyways, i'll post here when it'll be fixed and i'll tell you al what were the two seals that broke. I've seen a bunch of people say that honda's auto tranny aren't the best and i couldn't believe it. Now, if you ask me, i think they could do better in that department. 120k kilos and this crap happens..
While your car is still in the shop I would call Acura and explain the situation - a bit out of warranty but this problem was likely there in warranty and could they do something for you.
@Icrap : i live in canada and more precisely in québec and here it's like 6% federal taxes and 9% provincial (state) taxes. Which brings me to 15% sadly. Anyways i'm actually on the phone with an acura rep and been waiting for 10mins, she said she'd look what she could do, my guess is that while i'm on hold, she's calling my dealer to see what's the issue and if it could be possible that the issue was there when i was still under warranty. Crossing fingers.
@Icrap : i live in canada and more precisely in québec and here it's like 6% federal taxes and 9% provincial (state) taxes. Which brings me to 15% sadly. Anyways i'm actually on the phone with an acura rep and been waiting for 10mins, she said she'd look what she could do, my guess is that while i'm on hold, she's calling my dealer to see what's the issue and if it could be possible that the issue was there when i was still under warranty. Crossing fingers.
How did it go? You've had your entire Acurazine family crossing their fingers for you all day. Can we uncross our eyes now too?
@ceb/everybody : GOOD NEWS! I couldn't believe it but i have been blessed by an angel lol. Acura is GOING to cover the costs to repair the transmission (900$ +/-) even though i'm out of warranty. They said that, because i always did my oil changes and inspections/checkup on time they will call the dealer and take the bill on "good will". I have to say that the customer service is undeniably the best. I'd like to thank you guys for telling me this because i wouldn't have thought about it.
Now the transmission feels ALOT smoother when passing from P/R/D/N (automatic). So if you guys have a problem and just went out of warranty, remember that they paid for me even though i was out of warranty for 2 months and 3 weeks.
Great news. It never hurts to be nice and ask politely.
There are several things in your favor:
You did all your maintenance
You were only slightly out of warranty and there was a good chance that the problem actually existed during the warranty period.
You were pleasant and had no unrealistic expectations
These good news story are always the highlight of my day.
@ssjoeboe9 : yea well for my next car i thought i'd go for the lexus is 350 but after that awesome customer service, i think i'll get the TLX tech. They might have just gotten a new loyal customer .
@ssjoeboe9 : yea well for my next car i thought i'd go for the lexus is 350 but after that awesome customer service, i think i'll get the TLX tech. They might have just gotten a new loyal customer .
Oof. Don't let brand loyalty blind you...
Look into the problems they're seeing over on the TLX side. The top few threads aren't confidence inspiring.
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