I've been reading all the posts regarding the 3G TL auto transmissions. My wife drives an '08 Base TL that we purchased new in July of '08. No problems currently with the tranny. My original thought was to wait until the factory drivetrain warranty was about to expire (June this year or 3500 miles from today) and have a tranny drain and fill. After reading stuff all over this forum, I'm wondering if I would be better served going ahead and replacing the 3 shift pressure switches and doing a 3X3 tranny drain and fill, or just a 1X3 or 3X3 drain & fill and not worry about the switches. I will probably continue to use Honda ATF. The fact that Honda reformulated from Z-1 to DW-1 concerns me as well since I'm sure we have 5.5 year old Z-1 with 66K still in there. We plan to use this car for another 5 or 6 years and I really don't want to shell out cubic $ for a trans rebuild. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

the easiest thing to do is drain and fill the tranny and go from there.
Dont over think it!
drain and fill and see how you like the color of the fluid. see how well the car drives with new fluid.

 

Its always good to do a 1x3 every 20-30k. So your past due. The pressure switches were more of a problem on the 2004-2006; however, the 2007-2008 can and should be replaced too with time. We have a newer design than the 2004-2006, but its not worth risking a transmission over $100 in parts. Some say do them at 50k, i'm at 100k and about to do mine. You could wait, but its more of a preventative maint item on our cars now to prevent premature transmission failure. It's up to you, at minimum do a 1x3

 

Also to the OP, obviously keeping up with the fluid is a great idea, but you do realize the 07 and 08 TL auto trannies are good right? It's the 04-06's that seemed to have all the problems. Your good to go just drive it and enjoy.

 

There have been a few that have had problems between 60-100k. It's not a common issue, but as any part it can fail. I would do them at 100k IMO. Mine is shifting harder than it should and has some weird shift points. I'm a mechanic so and I know when it should shift, and what the perfect shift is. The best way to determine if the switches need to be replaced is with a Honda/Acura scan tool. I have not done it myself, but with GM cars you can monitor the pressures on each clutch pack. This is most likely possible by the dealer, but they would NOT give me readings on mine. They only tell me "its not setting a code, were not replacing them under warranty." Like I said earlier, 2007+ transmission are a different design. So 1x3 is the only thing thats needed/required. Just change it often enough to keep it clean.

 

I know it's a dumb questions but in regards to tranny fluid wth is 1x3 and 3x3? I know i used to know this but i've been off my game for a while .

 

Thanks for everyones input. Will probably do a 3x3 soon and wait until close to 105K to change out the swithes (unless a problem arises sooner). Tones160: A 1x3 is "drain once and refill with approx. 3 quarts" and a 3x3 is to do the procedure 3 times. It took me a while to figure this out too.

 

pheww thanks dude lol...now i remember .

 

Did the first drain & fill today. Not sure which is more of a PITA: The cover clips on the bottom or the super tight drain plug. I ruined a half to three eights extension trying to break that mother loose. Only broke one of those stupid clips though. Must have had the car on a good angle on the jack stands though, as I was able to drain out 3.5 quarts. Probably do a second 1X3 in a few weeks.

 

are those clips the same ones in the glove box when you change the cabin air filter? those stink.

is the drain plug the one that you undo with the 3/8 socket end? i have yet to do this. kind of like my S2000 required the socket end to undo the drain bolt on the trans...that car was a pleasure to work on...

 

Hope you didn't put the plug back on super tight as hell. 29 ft lbs. Honda uses those push clips on all their vehicles. Might as well buy a box of them off ebay for cheap.

 

^do you have a link for those push clips by chance? I didn't know the size. Thnks in advance!

 

If you look on ebay for "honda push clip" They are the ones that have the 20mm head fits 10mm holes. Same ones that hold all the fender liners/any plastic piece to the chassis pretty much.

And yes they are very cheap unless you want to buy individually wrapped oem ones.

 

First of all you have an 08, in 2007-2008 the transmissions were updated to use a 4 solenoid system vs the old 3 solenoid system in the 2006 and prior TL transmission. You shouldn't have no worries about your trans!

The factory fluid is spec'ed to be swapped out around 60K miles with the 1x3 procedure according to the manual. Most folks here think that is way to long with the Z-1 fluid and I agree. DW-1 is synthetic according to most folks and I would be comfortable with it until 60K. With that said this is what I would recommend:

Do a 1x3 with DW-1 or Redline D4 fluid, both should be fine! After that, I'd wait a thousand miles or so and then do another 1x3 procedure. I'd suggest the 3rd 15K miles after the first 1x3. I don't think you will have to change out the pressure switches, esp on a 2008 model due to the revised transmission but it can't hurt.