I just bought an 05 (158k) fully aware of the potential transmission issues but my test drive didn't reveal any shifting issues.

Took it home and my mechanic gave it a run. He floored it and noticed that it would stay in 3rd or 4th gear almost to 6000rpm before shifting. F*ck.

Tranny fluid was dark (I stupidly didn't check it prior to purchase...I know I know...)

He also put his foot on the brakes and revved the engine and it moved about 2 inches which I understand is a motor mount issue. Does that have anything to do with the transmission problems?

Mechanic thinks the tranny will fail in a year. I can barely look my wife in the face.

Searched the forums but going cross eyed with all of the info.

Can anyone tell me if I just wasted a bunch of money?

 

You can buy an accord transmission for $800 dollars, pay about $300-500 for labor and get it put in, you didn't make any sort of bad decision! One guy did it here in his driveway and posted the whole process!

what you described is normal for the trans when you floor it, the issue is when it starts slipping or grinding! Change your fluid out on your transmission (look at the DIY here, any person can do it with basic tools and a pan to drain the fluid into. It should be pinkish red!

A fluid change with Acura/Honda DW-1 will make a great difference. Also the 3rd and 4th gear pressure switches are a great maintenance item to help make sure the car is shifting fine. You can get the fluid cheap at a honda dealership if you buy a case, which you'll need all 12 quarts for a full change.

The motor mounts do fail over time and you'll provably need to replace all 3. You can buy them online from our vendors and get a sizeable discount compared to buying locally. The rear mount is one the one that cushions the most vibrations felt in the cabin.

Have your mechanic check out your transmission mounts and see if they are in good shape!

The Lower Control Arm Bushings are a big issue as well. With 150K on your TL it's probably time to change them. You can search on here and see how you can get it done by yourself or for a great price through a shop.

Is your dashboard cracked? If it is, you can buy a dash-cover for it or cover it in suede or Alcantara!

Does your audio system have a buzzing or hiss? If it does, there's a DIY on how to fix it by replacing a few capacitors.

Have you checked the maintenance on the car?

If not, I'd recommend a brake fluid flush (fluid should be clearish yellow with no mold growth), FULL transmission Fluid flush, new filters (can buy off amazon cheap and replace yourself in 10 minutes), coolant flush and Power Steering System Fluid flush. You can easily do all these things with a bucket, towels and basic hand tools and a jack stand.

The TL will run easily until 500K miles, you just have to take care of it.

Also make sure you use Mobil 1 High Milage 5W-20 that comes in the GOLD CAP!!!!! Its $40 at advance with a Mobil 1 filter. It's guaranteed until 15K miles but I change it when the MID indicates 0% oil life, usually around 9K miles.

With it being winter get your battery checked out. Autozone and many shops will do it for free! If you need a new battery, find a coupon online for 30-40% off at autozone, advance, etc and choose the pickup in store option.

You'll probably have to spend a little money at first but it'll be worth it!

 

First of all, THANK YOU for giving me a bit of relief in what I thought was going to be a sleepless night.

I sold a perfectly good accord to get into an Acura and I've been devastated since I heard the news.

You just blew my mind. I checked ebay (link) and I see transmission/transaxles for $400 (like this one).

Is it a straight swap?

I can't find the post of the guy who did it in his driveway. :/

How much is a quart of the DW-1 normally?

As for the dark fluid, if that's not normal, why is it dark? Is this directly related to the failing tranny?

And if I do everything EXCEPT for the full tranny swap (pressure switches, flush, tranny mounts), will that add a lot of life to the tranny itself? Or does it make sense to just swap it out with an accord tranny - which I presume are much more reliable.

NO! That's the one upside.

However, the backlit A/C controls and lights for the gear shift are all out. Not sure which fuses to check yet.

The A/C on full blast is loud, but I feel like the air is not properly directed straight out of the vents because the force of the wind blast isn't anywhere near as strong as on my former accord.

I don't hear anything but it's an aftermarket stereo. There is a light buzz when I have the dashlights dimmed.

Of course, the latter are minor issues for me at the moment. I'm just freaked out about the tranny.

Thanks again for the response!

 

Disregard my ebay links - those are for a 4-cylinder (where should I look for a ~$800 tranny?)

Is this the swap thread? (https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...o-pics-915808/)

 

Personally don't like someone, mechanic or not, that takes a high mileage car for a test ride and runs the hell out of it, but to ease your mind somewhat, A/T transmission fluid is manufactured red to distinguish it from other fluids but will darken over time and this is normal, hopefully not burnt or black.

Fix the mount(s), change the fluid and keep your right foot off the floor. If you want to go farther, have the transmission filter also changed. This is not recommended maintenance by Honda/Acura, but well worth the small investment.