My 2006 TL has about 220k miles on it. I changed the trans fluid (3x3) every 30k or so and changed the 3d and 4th solenoids at 90k and 219k (just last month since the car was jerking on downshifts). Today it started surging and bucking going up a hill at about 30mph - bad enough that I pulled over and am having it towed home. When I checked the trans fluid, it read really high (1/4 way up the dipstick). Is there any chance that i just overfilled the trans fluid and by draining some fluid my transmission will magically work again? I'm fairly certain I checked the fluid level after the 3x3 last month and it was ok.

I read about a Honda transmission as a replacement option, but can't find the details. Anyone have a suggestion?

I'm probably not going to fix or replace the transmission, but if i can do it for $1,000.00 I might consider it.

Thanks!

 

Just curious, either when changing the ATF fluid or when you just check the level, what method / process do you use?

It seems difficult to believe that the ATF level mysteriously increased if it was OK last month.

 

I checked the fluid hot with the car running both times. I wonder if there is a clog or something in the trans lines that is making the dipstick read too high. I have not changed the trans filter in the last 100k miles (which might be the problem!).

 

That's not the proper way to check the ATF in your 06 TL.
Follow the procedure exactly below for proper ATF level check:

 

Does the car "slip" and the tach revs and you go no where or is the car just bucking and jerking? If it is just bucking, have you ever replaced the APP sensor? A quick way to test your APP sensor would be to drive the car but activate cruise control, at low speeds, and use the button to accelerate up to speed. If the car drives normal, your APP sensor is bad and needs replacement.

 

Surging and bucking does not sound like a trans issue.

 

I checked the trans fluid correctly (thanks Zeta) and it is reading normal. I adjusted the app sensor cable and tightened it a little, it was not very slack. I then tried the cruise control to check the app sensor and it made no difference. The car drives fine for the first 5 miles, then it surges and engine revs up like a clutch is slipping, especially when going uphill. It was bad enough that I didn't think it would make it up the small hill to my street. I parked it for a few hours, then came back and it drove fine the 3 miles home.

I checked codes with my cheap OBDII reader and it shows no codes and the MIL/CEL light is not on.

The only thing I think I have left to check is the trans filter in the engine bay. I'm pretty sure I changed it 100k miles ago, but not sure if I've changed it since.

Any other ideas? Otherwise, I'll probably be parting it out soon.

Thanks!

 

With this said, I would say your trans is toast. The car will drive fine when the fluid is cold (thicker oil for the clutch packs) once it warms up it is thinner and starts slipping. Reason when you let it sit it worked for the 3 mile ride home. Any longer I am sure it would act up again. You could try a new filter, but I don't think that is your issue. I ended up parting the car out when mine was dead since no one wanted to pay what I wanted for it with the bad trans. I came out with double my asking price but took about 1-1.5 years to get there. Basement was a parts department and the wife wasn't too happy!

Best of luck!

 

Sorry its probably toast and it would cost about 4500 to have it replaced with a remanufactured one. Cheaper then another car. Unless yours is all beat up. New used cars need parts too. Its like a half eaten sandwich.