OK guys seeking advice from the most helpfull people on the planet.

My cars in service & Dealership just called & strongly recomended a FLUID EXCHANGE. They said the trans fluid is dark.

just 2 months ago I did a DRAIN & REFIL...
which I thought was the exac same service, but now they tell me they only drained the 4 quarts that were in the pan... not the full transmission.

my question is,.... is there a diference, or are they telling me somthing.

 

I would go down and look at the tranny fluid for myself before authorizing that service...especially if you just had it done.

 

I know, Its just that Im am too busy at work today.... They are willing to credit what I paid 2 months ago ($89) torward the $219 leaving me with a balance of $130... Is this worth it?

 

You have to do the drain and fill 3x in order to "refresh" your atf fluid. It is cheaper if you have the time to do it yourself.

 

They are telling you right.

Dealer (or owner) will often do a drain and fill (3 or 4 qts only). Then repeat every now and then.

The other way is a "3 x 3" so-called "flush" where they do the drain and refill three times in a row. This replaces most of the fluid in one service and is recommeded ~60k (iirc) miles. Many here do this every 15k or 30 k miles.

Honestly, the dealer should have done the 3 x 3 the first time or give you credit for what you paid a couple months ago. Basically they are double-dipping a little by doing both services so close together.

 

If they only drained the first time and didnt do the 3x3 as stated above, make sure they credit you and get the correct service done.

 

OK called another dealership & they were able to break everything down for me.. seems I could use the full FLUID EXCHANGE. (they actualy hook up a hose & pump new fluid fom one end & drain from another end. to ensure it gets flushed COMPLETELY.... now with that said I think I'm guna do it. My only regret is, they should have recomended this service 2 months ago.

 

No, No, NO!!

Not if you're talking about an Acura and changing transmission fluid. NO!!

Even Acura's Service Manuals and Tech Articles say NO MACHINE FLUSH.

Correct method is drain 3 quarts and refill 3 times. Period.


AND not only should they have recommended it 2 months ago, they should credit you that amount for double-dipping.

 

Yes, they are crediting me the original $89 I paid 2 months ago.

 

they are hooking up directly to the transmission fluid coolant lines, and flushing using the engines own power (im not sure if the exact terms, but its gtting pumped by the trans pump/engine) sorry if Im a noob at these engine trems.

 

I'd listen to Bearcat94. You should keep the receipt and have them sign a note just in case something happens to you transmission, you have proof to look back on.

 

No! The dealer should NOT be using any sort of evac/vacuum machine!.
The proper way to change fluid per Acura's Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals is to drain, fill, drive 10 minutes (make sure trans gears all shift), drain, fill, drive, then drain and fill for the 3d time- that's the "3X3" referenced here, in the Acura bulletins and in the 3G Garage here.

 

Ill ask more bout it.

 

Wait-- here's the Jan. 2008 service article you can print up for them:
http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SN/B080100.PDF

 

is this an acura dealership you have it at? they should know this already...

 

yes FRESNO, ACURA is doing it

 

Don't do the machine flush! Just drain and fill a few times...

 

You guys are the best, don't know anywhere else you can go to get such FAST & GREAT help. So everythings been finished & Im guna go pick her up after 5pm. Ill let you know how it goes.

 

They aren't doing the normal flush. They are using the pump with the engine running to push the fluid out while new fluid is being installed. No problem as long as they don't let the trans run dry.

Don't know how many miles on the TL, but the trans fluid is 100K fluid, unless driven hard, then 60K, but my personal opinion is to just do the 3 x 3 wothout the engine/trans operating. Takes longer, but better be safe than sorry.

 

stop doing e brake turns and flooring it after you put in your race pipe and you wouldnt have this problem jk bro

 

Check your transmission fluid yourself. If your transmission fluid is already brown for two months since the drain and fill, there is something wrong. Either its a service/sales gimmick so they can get more money or they never changed the fluid, unless your transmission is dying.

 

NICE! just tryin to learn how to race like you. LOL

 

the trans holds 7.3 qts and a normal drain out gives up only 3.a little quarts at a time.

The rest is hiding in the torque convertor which gets pushed forward in the systen as you do a 5 minute drive using each gear

So the acura easy method for service is a straight drain and refill 1 time 3 qts
Owners like to do it better~

If you have used dex3 in an emergency top off situation- then you have to do the 3x3- which is actually 12 qts not 9,,,to those who read the book~

Now acura made a new way with that tech bulletin- mainly designed for their newest cars with a different trans than we have
It reduces the time a tech spends putting the car up and down and driving- now they simulate the drive on the lift,,

 

fluid color is only part of the equation- if its not changing colors, its not picking up crud as its designed to.
Smell it to know how its doing!

Many places will look at the mileage and assume it needs certain work done- without the tech even saying it needs a trans service- service writer decides it does,,,
oh- 90k miles?? you must need a flush on all the fluids
Never mind the fact you did it all a month earlier--- they dont even look in their own records to see what they have done!!! let alone look at the car!

 

Yeah, I'm not sure where Acura gets the idea that it's bad for the tranny.

 

I am going to tell you from personal experience that your trans is toast. I was going through the same thing about every 7.5K miles where the fluid was turning dark. Eventually the code for AT internal malfuction was set and I got a new trans.

 

That's an 2G TL tranny which are notorious for failures, but you could be right. Check your fluid and it should not be brown that fast unless you happen to drive over 40k miles in 2 months.

 

Dont trust dealers!

 

and the o4 and some 05 cars have the exact same pos trans....

 

Great post!

Perhaps, we could create an area on the forums and list any TSB for our cars.