DavieBoy

Just wanted to share my story with my fellow TL'rs. I purchased my beautiful car on May of 2005 and have had nothing but problems with it. After 2-3 years of constantly servicing the car (bent engine valve, transmission, electrical, suspension, etc...) I luckily beat Honda in a California Lemon Law claim and for that, I'm a bit content. However, at 44k miles...my transmission died while the car was revving at 6k+ on 5th gear -- going about 50 mph on the fwy. Couldn't get into out of that gear, clutch wouldn't respond, and eventually pulled over to shoulder of the fwy and the car died.

I know I'm not the only TL owner experiencing such a difficult life with these cars so I just wanted to share my experience with you all.

If your TL hasn't given you any problems, then you are very fortunate and I'm happy that your car is giving you everything you thought it would.

For the rest of us, troubled TL owners...we just need to fight and try to beat the system. I'll be selling my car as soon as it gets out of the shop.

Booo!!! To Acura.

01tl4tl

you generally only get a bent valve due to over rev of the engine-
3rd gear has some problems- and 6th on the freeway at 50 mph!!
did you ever read the owner handbook?
probably would have saved you much frustration

Hope your toyota works better!

blue.fired

I didnt actually understand your post.
You woudnt need to go anywhere near 6K if you are doing only 50 Mph (in 5th gear!!). The 6MT is considerably better than the AT as far as reliability is concerned.

carlos9827

iTrader: (2)

I'm sorry to hear of the problems with your car. I guess I am one of many lucky TL owners that hasn't experienced any problems whatsoever. I have a 2005 5AT and I'm only at 22k miles, factory warranty will run out October 2009 or as you may know 50k miles. I know I won't get to 50k miles before Oct 2009. I hope I don't have any problems after the warranty expires or I will be bummed.

MR1

Sorry to hear about your problems. I bought mine 11/04, ~43,000 miles today. It's been to the dealer exactly twice, most recently last week.

First time temperature gauge flatlined, fixed in two days. Recently, temperature control module failed and I could not turn the heater fan off; fixed in two days. Other than these minor repairs and a set of tires two weeks ago, that's it. I couldn't be more pleased. Just luck of the draw and normal care. Good luck with the replacement.

DavieBoy

This is problematic TL, which is why it was revving at 6000rpm in 5th gear, going 50-60mph. The transmission is completely messed up.

KN_TL

iTrader: (3)

Shouldn't Honda have already bought this back from you if you successfully processed it as a lemon?????

DavieBoy

I wish they did but it's rare that they do buy-backs. It was a cash settlement at $10k but I just found out that my clutch had died while driving on the fwy that day. Makes no sense to me because the clutch never even started slipping before the death of it came. Either way, it's still setting me back another $1800 to replace it and this is SERIOUSLY, the car from HELL...

01tl4tl

I was just thinking clutch as I read thru the thread again- that would be the only realistic cause to have sudden revs like that at cruise speed- the clutch plate was fried completely
How you even got around that day is amazing!
There has been some issue with the automatic tensioner system for the clutches

1800 for a clutch- I would speak with the regional acura warranty rep about that!

DavieBoy

So I went back today and found out that the entire clutch kit needed to be replaced...I spoke to my lawyer and they mentioned that clutches are not warranted. Would it even be worth it to speak to the regional warranty person?

Man, this sucks!! It did set me back another $1800 and this car is seriously not worth all the money that I put into it for maintenance. Blah!!!

What's the avg lifespan on clutches for the rest of you manual drivers???

blue.fired

I would expect the clutch to last the life of the car if used sparingly (no hard launches etc.).
Hard to put a number but atleast 100K mi.

01tl4tl

you have got to be kidding!!! 100k on a factory clutch- man are you in for a surprise!!!

Its not just hard launches- its stop and go traffic- and especially sitting with foot on clutch when stopped, instead of going to Nuetral and letting the whole thing rest and cool off.
You can go thru clutch disc (the wear out part) every 30 k miles no prob if you want to!
and constantly resting foot on pedal with a slight pressure, or always holding it in when stopped... eats the pressure plate.

Before saying a part will last xxxxxx miles- tell us how many miles on YOUR car now and how the clutch is. If you didnt get 100k out of it- its just a wild guess on the part of a very wishful very young mind~
Since these cars have an automatic adjuster in the clutch --you may not know
it going until the moment it fails or wears out and wont engage.

The clutch parts are not warranty- they are wear out
The exception would be a broken pressure plate with very low low miles due to defect in making or parts- rare but it happens

JoganJani

I'm almost 60K on my 04 6MT and clutch is fine. Does not slip a bit. But I am in habit of taking care of my clutch as well. No riding, no sudden releases or not pressed at the stop light.