Answer Me This

A question for all you TL drivers with Automatic trannys: have any of you yet experienced the kind of issues I have been reading about the 2nd generation TL ATs have (which is a VERY poor AT that gives out as early as 50K) ... Anybody running up high mileage and had any issues yet?

 

I have 41,000 trouble free miles on my original 2004 TL tranny.

FYI, I am an '01 TL Forum member that purchased a 2002 TL Type S (in '01) and had three tranny replacements. THen I arbitrated w/ Honda/Acura to have them buy back my '02 TL and replace it with an '04 which has been amazing so far.

I drive the 'piss outta my '04 TL tranny, and it's treating me well so far. Just changed the tranny fluid for the first time today for $59.00 at the dealership.

BTW, my first '02 tranny went at 13,000 miles, the second last 14,000 miles, one last until I got outta the dealership parking lot, and the last one was going when I had Acura buy the car back.

So if anyone would know how to answer your question, I think I'm pretty capable.

 

i think acura fixed the tranny issue by not allowing the driver to shift into 1st gear with tip tronic...or in gateshifting which we don't have....they went through many precautions to extend the life of the trannys

 

You never could do that with the '00-'03 TL 5-speed, anyway. That wasn't the problem.

If anything, Acura became more lax on the 3G transmission by giving the operator the option to start from 2nd gear from a stand still. You couldn't do that with the '00-'03.

The latest batch of replacement transmissions for the 2G have had numerous fixes implemented. They seem to be holding up, and I got my second transmission about 2k miles ago. I'm guessing mine is one of them. Time will tell next season when I put this one through torture and hell on the track like the first transmission.

The 2nd gear oil problem affected 2G 5-speed, along with the early '04 batch. So the transmissions between the two generations are probably similar, if not virtually identical. But the main problem is the 3rd gear. And I've been keeping an eye on the 3G TL's auto transmissions to see if they are failing like the 2G, but so far, I haven't seen anything. So I'm hoping that the problem has been resolved, and the same transmission is now being replaced into 2G TL and CL.

 

Thanks for the replies.... I am somewhat surprised there are not more high milegage 3G TL auto drivers out there. I have 60K on my TSX and no problems, but apparently (and I do not know this for sure) the AT with the four cyl cars is not as bad.

I would still like to hear from more 3G TL drivers with AT to see how the trannys hold up as they get out of warranty. I want a TL, but not so bad that I will be replacing the tranny in 2-3 years.

 

'05 -14K miles 5AT no problems

 

04 TL AT 33k no tranny problems, but I still don't think it shifts all that well compared to my old Infiniti's.

 

My transmission was replaced at 22000 miles about. 2005 AT TL (26000 miles)

They are more and more transmissions changed even on 2005 model. I think acura is going to make a recall soon.

Some on the forum where talking about transmission fluid that don't have a high resistance with high temp.

I think also my problem was some overheat in my transmission.

 

73K on my 2004 TL AT and no problems. I do change the trans fluid every 20k

Hope this helps

 

Good to hear you're up there in mileage with no problems. Same thing here, 2004 Automatic at 51k plus miles. No issues here and planning to switch over to Amsoil ATF within the next couple of weeks. Tranny cooler install should also help keep the temps down.

 

yes they still have problems,its the second gear clutch pack,not heat
they made it shift softer
not all people have problems but alot do
no fix in site or a recall in order from them-would cost them to much
just change the fuild alot more then what the manuel says
i have had grandmother customers have problems and people beat them to hell and no problems
just bad build quality

 

AcuraWest101:

Thanks for that info... sounds like you know what is going on.
Do you know if the 4cyl AT (as the one in my TSX) has the same issues?

 

I have 41,000 miles on my '04 TL and the AT is doing fine. I got the fluid changed at 25,000.

I will have it changed again at 50,000 or at my next oil change.

I just checked the fluid on monday and it is still nipple pink.

 

tsx runs accords tranny and have not seen any problems yet,motor doesnt make enought torque to mess things up

 

101West -

35.5K and nothing I'd call trouble, though over time the shifts into 2nd, both down and up, are not as smooth as they once were. I too have been reading the latest posts from Michael Wan and others about getting the fluid out much earlier than Acura calls for, and replacing with a Z-1 rated synthetic. I'm fixing to do that soon, before year's end -- the factory fluid is not very red anymore, more brownish . I'm hoping that helps the 2nd gear smoothness. If you're worried about your auto tranny, doing the fluid every 30K at most is the best insurance policy.

I occasionally use the sport shift, but only to maintain gears when I'm stuck on a highway at 0 to 30 mph, for miles. Baltimore-DC corridor traffic sucks. (but not as bad as you LA guys/gals!) SS works out to less shifting in those conditions. But I will start out in 2nd during that time.

 

richrath change it every 10k to 15k to make it last longer,but second will never shift smoother,the clutch pack wear easy in this car,its just like motorcycle clutch
honda does this for better gas mileage
honda(acura) doesnt allow even the dealer to rebuild trannys,the have to be sent back to factory to be rebuilt

 

04 Tl auto with 22k miles.

I just took it to the dealer. D5 light was blinking and the tranny was having a tough time finding which gear to use. Putting the car in park then back to D would fix it.

Kinda scary when you need to merge onto a highway though!

Just took it to the dealer, havn't heard back yet.

 

acura101 .. you work for Honda/Acura right? If so, are you allowed to make these comments on this forum?

 

2nd gear - improper lubrication
3rd gear - clutchpack problem

I had the oil jet kit installed per the recall for the 2nd gear. When my transmission failed, it was the 3rd gear clutchpack.

If you were right, then I would not have been able to drive off the highway revving at 5,000 RPM in second gear.

I beat the living shit out of my car for 51k miles, and when I wasn't even hard on it that day, it failed. Go figure. '03 TL-S

 

This has happened twice to me now. It happened this morning while just driving normally so I pulled over and restarted the car and it shifted fine then.

I have 80k on the car. Will changing the ATF fluid help this issue or is it a lost cause because the transmission is going to fail?

 

07 Type-S...180k miles on the original transmission. The only thing I've experienced is the "P1717 Manufacturer Control Transmission" error code, which turned out to be a false positive, or a "switch glitch", as some call it. I'm currently in the process of doing a 3x3, and the last "3" will happen at the next oil change. The already smooth shifting gets even smoother every time I change the fluid.

 

replace the 3rd and 4th gear pressure switches and change the fluid. im learning the hard way now that a little preventative maintainance goes a long way with this transmissions.