techguy

Need Advice/guidance to make sure the shops won't take me for a ride:

Acura TL 2004 5AT base.
Milage: 182K miles

Issue/symptom: This just happened yesterday while driving out, car has been sitting in driveway for a 9 days while we were out. Started out fine and after about 4 miles, the tranny seem to disengaged (like accelerating in Neutral). Doing manual shift finally took it forward, it engaged in drive but sometimes will disengage and re-engage in D. I parked and it took a while for the gears to engage. After 30 min parked, I headed back home and it occasionally did the same thing, I drove slowly through neighborhood traffic. There are no engine lights. Burning smell on fluid and is at level. I just changed it June 8 and was fine after that. Engine is doing OK.

History: First fluid change was at 60K following the MIL, then changed the fluid yearly (10-12K) using Acura brand using drain and fill method (DYI).

Are these symptoms of AT switches or do you think my AT needs to be replace/rebuilt. What is the going rate now if you know in the California Bay Area, I'm in Concord CA.

techguy

Update: I plug in the OBD sensor and it has a pending code of P0780. The car shifted fine in reverse and D and shifted fine as I drove around the block and back and forth on the driveway. Yesterday, when this all happened, it did so after about 5 miles, it may need to warm up a bit. Fluid level is fine.

truonghthe

The tranny start slipping. BTW have you ever change the pressure switches?

techguy

truonghth - No, only fluid drain and fill. They are original. Do you suggest to replace them and see if it solves the issue? Is it relatively easy to DYI?

thoiboi

https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...2006-a-729149/

truonghthe

you are gambling rolling the dice to see if the switches work, it may solve your issue or may not at all. The switches should get replace every 2 years or 30k-60k miles.

techguy

@troungthe, considering that mine are original switches, it needs replacement regardless and ya it may not fully resolve the issue. Update - drove it in the neighborhood, about 5 miles, no more than 35 MPH and it ran fine. I was the only one in the car.

techguy

Bought the switches from the local dealership, it was the same price if I got the same OEM through Amazon. I rather get Honda/Acura parts. Replacement was uneventful following video and documented steps on this forum. I drove around town and got about 45 MPH, no issues, no slipping and the shift were smooth and snappy. BTW, the part numbers were superseded with the following:

28600-RKE-004
28610-RKE-004

Cost me around $90 for both. I hope this fix buys me time before the tranny needs to be fully rebuilt.

truonghthe

well drive a while to see the symptom goes away.