So I have an 04 TL that I bought NEW. The trans went out 4 years ago at 100k miles. I didn't need the car....so it sits. NOW I need it. I call a shop that specializes in Acura, and they want $5-6000 out the door to fix. I also need wheels and tires....I have a bent rim and they look awful. Factory rims were chromed and a lot of it has PEELED off.

So is it totaled? Is it worth fixing? Im not sure I want to drop the entire subframe to replace the trans myself....although I do have access to a shop with at lift. THOUGHTS? I don't really want to drop 8 grand in the car... what are others paying for an AT replacement?

 

6K is quite a bit of money for a trans on the TL. Folks have swapped to the accord trans for a lot less than that.

You can always grab some cheap wheels that will fit, but the car isn't worth much without the trans. With 100K miles, you'll need to do the timing belt service and prob need to fix a few things from the car sitting so long.

 

I thought about swapping the tranny myself and i see them on ebay for $2k to $2500 so i could save money there.....if I could do it myself but I think it would be hard since I don't do that stuff all the time. I can get a shop with a lift.
Just walked out and realized the dash is now cracked too. it was in the garage, so I thot it would be okay... man, I kinda want it to be okay, but it isn't like a classic and going to appreciate.

 

With the cracked dash, it wouldn't be worth putting the money into it.
For the same amount of money you could pick up a higher-mileage 07-08 TL, an 05-08 RL or an MDX needing nothing.

 

Search on car-part.com for an Accord tranny. I remember they used to be ~$700 for a used unit.

A used dash is about $200 if you can find an clean dash. Honestly, not that hard to replace it.

 

that was what i was wondering. Unless i could tackle it myself and save money. just not sure i want to try dropping the whole front out. never done that.

 

I dont trust putting a used and not rebuilt trans into the car. i don't want to do it again.

 

easiest thing would be to drop the whole front subframe with engine and trans. Remove trans on one side and do the timing stuff on the other side. Throw a dash matt on the dash and call it a day. Don't forget you may also need a new torque converter. Give a call up to a place that specializes in honda's in your area and see what they can do.

 

That's the gamble.

The easiest would be to just sell it.

 

thats what I want to do, but I've never done. So I wonder if I get in over my head and then what? sounds easy, but I don't know about dropping the whole front end, and what else breaks while I'm doing it.

 

who would buy it if we are all assuming its basically totalled?

 

Options:
1. Father-son project
2. Boneyard
3. Part it out yourself

It's basically worth nothing as it sits. You let it go a long time ago.
The cost of putting it back on the road is more than it's worth. So it's totaled.

Get a better car and take care of it.

 

Dude, it's a lot of work even for people who have done it once before. It will probably take you a week the first time you do it, and you will need some help hold stuff. A pro can do it in a couple of hours because they have the tools and experience. That's what people pay for.

It's a mechanic special. Price will depend on condition of the rest of the car and local market. Expect to get low balled though.

I disagree.

 

Did the car sit inside or outside? 4 years is a long time to be sitting and then suddenly want to become a daily driver again. Not to say it isn't impossible, but just impractical, as others have said. I also agree that the juice may not be worth the squeeze - ~8k to get it back on the road, just for the transmission and wheels. That figure doesn't appear to include replacing all fluids, filters, battery... no idea about the state of the engine as it is. Certain gaskets and hoses may be compromised and you won't know until you're running the car.

Have you started it recently/in the past 4 years? If it's truly been dormant that entire time, valves could have been left stuck open, you may have rust in your cylinder walls or intake. Spark plugs could be corroded.... remedying these before trying to turn the car over would be optimal. (this is more if it's been sitting outside) Ensuring your water pump isn't seized, making sure your belts are in good order....There's a laundry list of things you have to consider when reviving a car that has been sitting.

Also if it's been outside, depending on where it was sitting, you need to inspect the fuel lines and brake lines as they may be compromised as well. Inspecting the entire brake system, honestly.

At this point, again, ask yourself if it's worth it. You could take that original 8 grand for the trans/wheels and spend it on another used TL likely in far better shape than this one.

 

Four years ago it could have been a fixer-upper.

How long are you going to stare at it?