I'm looking at buying a 2004 or 2005 TL but I have a few questions:

1) After changing the pressure switches do people still have problems?
2) Is there a point where even changing the switches won't help? If I were to get one it would probably have 80-90k miles.
3) Is there a percentage like "20% of '04 TL owners experience transmission problems"?
4) Do they like to be driven hard?
Thanks guys!

 

I would also like to know this as i am looking at getting one

 

1. I did the pressure switches but I wasn't having tranny problems to begin with. (05 TL)
2. Yes.
3. Dont know. You do have a higher probability of having tranny issues with the 04 and early 05 TL's.
4. I don't drive my car hard but that doesn't mean others don't.

 

the one i get will have around 80K..so i won't even bother with switches..if the tranny goes..it goes..

 

^ not a good plan.

 

Why? You said yes that there is a point where it won't matter

 

I bought my 05 w/ 75k, changed plugs and ATF right away and never had an issue. have ~91k now

 

What fluid did you use? I will change it once i get the car

 

Right. You said you weren't going to change them at all. It is a good preventative maintenance item. If the tranny is bad then it may not matter. I would still do them no matter. However, if it is operating normal then it's a good idea to do them.

 

Anyone who has had their switches replaced please provide your input. Are the replacement switches a better design so they fix the problems or what?

 

the switches are the same, they just wear down over time.

I bought my '04 TL with 44k on it and now I'm at 80k. Shortly after I got the car, I swapped out the switches as a precaution and I have no issues. I also changed the ATF to Redline Racing around 60k, then changed is a mix of Redline Racing and D4 around 70k.

I also made sure the '04 I got didn't fall under one of earlier '04 models that had more issues. There's TSB out there that specifies the VINs affected.