All,
Just wanted to let you know I finally had a success with Acura on the ongoing third gear issue. I complained about the 3rd gear issue umteen times and finally today after having new synchros, a new tranny, and an exorbitant amount of time with my car in the shop my service guy told me that Acura is awar of the issue and is planning on putting out a fix for it somewhere around the feb 08 timeframe. I dont know about you but they finally owned up to the issue and I am planning on writing to Acura on this issue as they have obviously known about it since the 04 model came out. The guy said oh since you car probably will be out of warranty by the time it comes out they will honor the repair. Just thought you may like to know there is a little hope at the end of the 3rd gear tunnel..

 

I changed my manual transmission fluid almost 2 years ago to a 50/50 mix of the original fluid and the GM friction modified lube, and its been fine since.

I was worried about the friction modified part, more friction will make the syncros work better, dut more friction might not be good for other parts long term, and long term is over 100,000 miles...

Brett

 

No thanks. Fixed the issue myself long ago with GM fluid. Car shifts like a dream and no way I will have them tear into just to get he official fix. Acura can suck it on this one.

 

Dan you do this yourself?

 

I continue to bring this issue up with my dealer and they keep reassuring me that the problem does exist but they are not authorized to do anything about it... yet. However perhaps cawad's experience signals a turning point.

I've known about the miraculous properties of GM's fluid, however I have no interest in using it. It's the principle of the matter. I bought a $40,000 car from a company that touts precision and quality. First off, this kind of defect shouldn't exist at all. However since it does exist, their dealer network needs to be given the tools, training, resources, and whatever else necessary to fix this on complaint number one.

If using the factory preferred Acura branded oil doesn't make my transmission shift like butter, then either the Acura branded oil needs to change, or the transmission needs to change. The aftermarket shouldn't be the answer for a car that is this new (4 months) and this expensive.

And regarding forum rules about duplicate threads--I think it is in our collective best interest to increase the visibility of these common issues on the forum because it could lead to a better car down the road. Anyone can read this, including people at Honda client services or engineering.

 

Granted, the problem shouldn't exist as the car comes from the factory. But the fact of the matter is that practically all of us 6MT'ers on here solved this issue by using the GM stuff, and we all have piece of mind about how our MT's shift now to the point where we don't even think of it.

So if you want to go on in a perpetual state of 'Pissed Off', that's your perogative.
We've all told what to do to fix this issue and put it in the past, that's why you come here, right?

 

I wouldn't say I'm in a perpetual state of "pissed off", I simply want my car's manufacturer to take action... I shouldn't have to spend a dime on a brand new car to make it 100% mechanically operational, outside of scheduled maintenance and fuel. I don't think my expectations are excessive.

 

yea im with you junk. we should not have to do any thing from a car that is brand new or under warrenty to make it perform at 100%. i mean mine is a 2008 and it has the problem you know and its not even 2008 yet. i am just very upset with acura. if i wanted a luxury car from GM i would have bought cadillac cts 6smt.

 

You are absolutely right and your expecations are very reasonable, but being right does not solve the problem. Taking it back to the dealer and reading and writing about the problem takes a fair amount of time and your time has some value. This problem can be fixed in the vast majority of cases for less than $40. The value of the time you spend on this issue even if it is fixed for free will easily exceed that figure.

The better question is: What is the easiest, quickest, and overall cheapest way to fix this problem? Answer: GM Friction Modified fluid.

 

Well said !!!
Time IS money ..........

Another way to look at it is that many on here get rid of the crappy stock tires very shortly after taking delivery of the car. In my case, that was at age 600 miles. You'd essentially be doing the same thing, only replacing the stock trans fluid ....... for a hell of a lot less money than new tires.

Here's the light at the end of your tunnel....

 

New stuff didn't work for me either. Well it did for a month or two but that's it. UPS delivers the GM SMFM to me tomorrow! ~ ~ I have high hopes!

 

I agree with everyone here, we shouldn't have to do ANYTHING with a new car to get it to perform the way we expect it to. However, I recently had the GM fluid put in my 07 TLS and the problem is gone. It went from it happening once or twice a day (more as the weather turned cold) to nothing at all... .it's shifting like it should have been the day I drove it off the lot. It cost me about $40 bucks to get the fluid and another $30 to have a mechanic put it in for me. $70 dollars total and my car was in the shop a total of 20 minutes. This is definitely the way to go.

I have written a letter to Acura about this problem and I'm waiting to hear back. I just sent it two days ago so not sure when I will get a response back with the holidays coming. Now it's time to order that short shifter

 

Do you really expect an intelligent personalized response from Acura?
Good luck getting something other than a standard form letter (if any response at all) that will say something like ...

"Acura does not support non-recomended products for your vehicle. Such use may void your warranty".

 

So let me get this right. You told Acura directly something like "here is my name. here is my car, I ignored your statements and I put in something you say not to put in" Or did you say to more like "there are more and more reports of the problem every day, what are you going to do about it?". I hope the latter. If the former chances are they will hide behind exactly what DMZ said or worse document that the GM stuff caused issue with your car.

Before you jump all over me you will note that I am a major supporter of the GM stuff and had an identical turn-around in shifting performance as you noted. I just wasn't so keen on telling Acura the exact details. They monitor this board, they know all about it.

 

Anyone hear any updates on this? I'm having the 3rd gear problem, and have already had the dealer add the "new" fluid to my '06. It didn't do the trick (not that I expected it to), and I was about to go with the GM solution when I read this post. If there is really something coming next month from Acura, I might just wait...

 

My experience with the GM stuff is very positive. Hope it lasts cuz it is a night and day difference (especially for 3rd gear). Not one problem since I put it in.

 

It was the latter... I simply stated how disappointed I am in their inability to address this issue when they do nothing but promote what great customer service they have.

I honestly do not expect to hear anything back from them. Why did I write the letter?? Don't know, I was bored and pissed off... sue me.

 

Wait ....... for what?

To learn what all the other 6MT owners have been saying in this forum over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again for the last several years?

Gaze at this picture. Study it to the point where it's in your dreams EVERY FRIGGIN NIGHT!



Fuck what Acura says or thinks, THIS IS THE FINAL SOLUTION to the problem.
End of story .........

Moderators:
Time to close another thread .........

 

Wouldn't it be easier if you just stopped reading this thread? You don't think owners should know if Acura finally solves the problem? Someone was told that Acura may have a solution in Feb '08...

For a problem so common yet more or less ignored by Acura, I think its of interest to ALL 6MT owners if Acura finally acknowledges and solves the problem. Plus, I'd rather have them do the work for me, avoiding working on the car in the middle of winter, with no warranty worries.

If they don't come up with something, or it doesn't work, the GM solution is certainly the way to go, but at this point it makes sense to wait if they are genuinely coming up with something.

 

Naaa. I think DMZ and I find too much "sport" in it. Moth to a flame, snake to the mongoose....

I don't want to put words in DMZ's mouth but I think we are continually amazed at how much this keeps coming up on a board that has a working search function. If you go back throughout the threads you will find that the majority of posts are very repetitive and all echo pretty much nothing more than "there is a common issue, GM SMFM alleviates it, there is a new Acura MTF, it doesn't work, Acura's not fixed it,even if they do what fool would tear apart a gbx for something solved in a much less invasive way". The really fun ones diverge into "warranty voiding", "principle says they should fix it so I'll show then and I'm gonna keep grinding by golly" and, my personal favorite [ridiculous statement], "MTF shouldn't affect shifting anyway"

 

I hear you... I don't frequent these forums all that often, but do spend time in others and can get annoyed with the repetition. As far as searching though - at least anyone posting about this topic has found this thread and isn't starting another. The only thing that seemed of interest was that it sounded as though Acura was going to finally acknowledge things... but, if this is par for the course (they keep coming up with solutions that don't work), I didn't realize that. I know that had one service bulletin that they followed on my 6MT that didn't work, but if there's been more solutions along the way, then I guess I won't bother waiting....

 

I know that the GM stuff fixes the issue, but what I do now is that every time I bring it in for an oil change, I schedule time to have the tranny looked at. I get a loan for the day and they swap it yet again with the new stuff, so I'm getting both and oil change and tranny oil change.

It seems to be good for now, but I'm sure in another week or two it'll be back to it's POS self. Then I'll just complain again saying it's the third time and they haven't fixed it...and so on. Of course they tell me every time they can't reproduce the problem. I'll see how long I can continue to get transmission changes out of them until they're tired of doing it, or the warranty runs out.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...7&postcount=38

 

If you change the fluid, there is no way Acura is going to be able to tell, unless you tell them.
TL people have been doing it since at least 2004, other honda cars longer, without issues.

I myself changed it, and it corrected the issue, but then I put in half the Acura lube and half the GM stuff, and it shifts without problems.

The reason the GM stuff works is likely its a little less slippery which allows the syncros to grab better. I might keep the car till well over 100,000 miles, so I thought the blend might prevent some long term wear, but that is just guesswork...

Brett

 

This seems pointless and a waste of your time.
It might be better to just put the GM stuff in and forget about it and the problem.

You are not going to get anything out of them, and god forbid you did and they tore the transmission apart and screwed with it!

Getting free gear lube changes is pointless as the stuff is good for 60,000 miles and many people NEVER change the stuff.

Its not like motor oil, the trans is sealed, and only has some big gears and some bearings in it. You get a little wear metal during break in, then very little contamination over a long time.

I changed the gear lube in the trans in the old RAV4, it had been in for 60,000 miles and looked brand new....

I also put the GM stuff in shortly after we got the TL, and for the last 30,000 miles have not thought about the transmission at all, and the car has not been back to the dealers once....I got no time to waste on those bozo's.

You got no clue how dumb most of those people are, I ordered new shocks for the rav, and when I went to pick them up, I opened the box to find one leaking oil all over. One guy said thats normal (total BS), the other guy asked what it was
(did not know what a shock was by sight!!!)
I was sort of surprised they did not try poking a hole in the other shock so it also leaked, then they would be balanced.....

Brett

 

I hear what you're saying and I know the oil in the tranny is good for a long time. I'm not really wasting my time because I bring it in only when I need a normal oil change and do it then. They give me a loaner and I go to work for the day. The time that's wasted is theirs and it costs them money. If anything, maybe (but doubtful) they will finally catch on and try to fix the problem.

I honestly don't care if they take out the tranny to work on it. I'm not going to keep this car as it has so many little problems (see threads on suspension, engine knock, and rattles, and this). I'll keep it until the warranty is used up and find something else. It's sad, because I like the features this car has, but the problems are enough to keep me away from another acura.

 

I was gonna let it go but Brett's got me sucked in now
See that's the BIG difference here. You see your car as a POS ! but are willing to put up with it since you can repeatedly get the dealer to do free stuff and can scam a loaner for it. When I'm running the gears, POS is not anything I'm thinking.

Seems like you think your "stickin' it to the man [Acura]" on this one. So you've earned a spot in the "principle says they should fix it so I'll show them and I'm gonna keep grinding by golly" bucket. Here's your sign....

 

I don't need a sign, but thanks for wasting database disk space with your comment. I'm doing what I want, and just like that's your opinion, it's just that, an opinion. I'm not stickin' it to the man, as you will. I'm having them fix it as it's broken. Just because I'm privileged to more information doesn't mean I need to spend $70+ and several hours of my day to waste on the car. I'd rather Acura continue to spend their time on it and make it right. They provide a loaner, so I use that option. Yes, there's some self satisfaction that they have to continue to address a faulty product, but I'm not squeezing Acura's nuts and raping them of everything over a annoying car issue.

Lets say I did spend my time and money to fix this issue. It still doesn't solve all the other issues that are bigger, so my view on the car won't change much. It just means I'm spending more of my own money on it and it isn't worth it.

 

So there is a bit of "principle says they should fix it" in your logic but I get it since your other comment "It still doesn't solve all the other issues that are bigger, so my view on the car won't change much" indicates you've got many other things to be concerned with. I was thinking that the shifting was your only issue.

Your are correct in saying that our bantering is starting to waste space and diverge. I can agree to disagree if you can too.

 

I have the engine knock/pre-detonation issue, suspension clunk to a mild degree, the usual rear-deck rattle, the center console rattle, and this 3rd gear problem. I meant no ill-will towards you, but I felt like you were attacking me. I know I didn't articulate those other problems in my message because I wasn't expecting to be attacked by it; but those are the other things I'm unhappy with in this car.

Yes, I feel they should fix it, but I know they won't. The sensation for expecting a fix increases when vested interest increases in a materialistic object. 99.9% of people won't make a stink about a $1 pen having a major flaw because their vested interest is so minimal they can throw it away and try another brand very easily. But for me, $36K for a car is not chump change like the pen, and it's also not as easy to get rid of a car without losing a large amount of money. So that leaves the option to fight to get it fixed or find some middle ground that leaves me complacent with the problem. My goal was never to actually stick it to Acura, I'm just finding my middle ground where I can accept the problem and not be too upset.

I just don't feel the money spent to fix it on my own time is worth dealing with in comparison to the actual problem (though I might give in at some point and just get the GM stuff). Part of my care-less attitude in this car is that I've become desensitized to my car to the point where it is now just a simple form of transportation. My love for caring for this car is gone, which I know is sad and impractical, but it's how I feel.

 

my love for my 08 is gone also and i had to spend 40gs on it. my friend that works at an acura dealer told me that acura knows that their is a problem with the fluid and that the TSX and RSX have the same problems. They say that the fluid is too thin and thats why it causes the grind in the gears.