tlbase04

Hello all. I recently purchased an 04 TL. The lady i got it from sold it to me based on a transmission problem. I havent seen any other issues like this one so i hope im not repeating any prior posts.

Well, i thought it didnt really have a trans problem driving it around town, till last week when i drove it on the highway. From what i can tell, when the car gets above 60mph, and well after warm-up and a roughly 30-40 miles, the car will drop out of 5th and into second gear. When the trans does this, it will not shift above second gear and the delay on shifting is long. The other day when i drove it, i stayed below 60mph and it only tried to drop out and into 2nd two times, but immediately went back into 5th.

The other thing i have noticed, is when the trans does this, manual mode is inop and the display for it will stop working as well. Reverse also stops working. Once the car is cooled down, everything works normal again. So far all i have done a drain and fill on the trans. Im ready to pony up the bucks for a trans, but wondering if there is a fix for this problem? Thanks!

flyromeo3

Sure you dont want to hear this but its time to rebuild or replace.

When the trans downshifts like that its pretty much telling you im failing and will put you in second gear so you can at least make it home/mechanic.

tlbase04

Well, like i was saying, im ready to pony up for it, just wanted to makes sure i was on track. Would it be best to try and track down an 05 or 06 transmission to avoid this issue in the future?

thoiboi

04-06 were all bad.. the 07-08's are built a little better but not 100% bulletproof.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

First, try changing the filter as it's inexpensive.

musiclevelz5

You searched this problem and couldnt find anything? This is one of the most common transmission problems these cars suffer when the transmission is going bad.

You need to rebuild your transmission or get an upgraded unit. Until then if you keep driving it you are risking getting yourself stranded.

An external filter change will NOT fix anything. The issue is internal.

tlbase04

Maybe i wasnt putting the correct phrasing in the search bar, but i tried a few different things. Musiclevelz5, you mentioned an upgraded unit. Is that a reman upgraded or something else you get from another manufacturer to upgrade the issue. Do the 07-08 trans work on the 04-06 cars without any problems?

flyromeo3

07 08 trans wont fit since 04-06 shares a different bell housing.
A member swapped in an 06 V6 accord trans and its been running fine.

Replacing the filter wont work because its the one inside the transmission that clogs up.
When my whine started, I changed the trans fluid using Redline D4. Although this wasnt a permanent fix. I was able to use the car for another few months without experiencing slipping or flaring.

flyromeo3

*uses a different bell housing.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

I guess you might call it an external filter, but thought that the majority of trans failures were due to overheated converters that's why they like to drill a hole in line to conv. charge circuit.

nist7

Dang sorry for that issue. People with more knowledge/experience have posted above but I can offer some of my thoughts:

I got a 06 TL from a lady as well...with 160k and now the car is at 175k...the trans is shifting perfectly smooth. I did do a 3/4th gear update and the ATF filter and ATF drain and fill 4x3 with DW1 (will need to switch to Redline here soon) right after I buy it.

Many people probably don't know or ignore AT maintenance...because the interval is so long (something like 30k-60k per manual?) and so it's hard to know how well the AT was cared for. And buying a car with known issue....especially AT issue may be a hit and miss....better know a trans mechanic or a nice shop to get it diagnosed and repaired. Good luck man

MarcDavidoff

Do the accord AV6 swap (06/07 v6 accord trans). I think that is the best way to go..

musiclevelz5

Yes by upgraded unit I mean the AV6 from the 06-07 accord. Go to the 2G TL forums, there is a FAQ on the swap that will help you or a shop install it.

tlbase04

I cant do the swap according to the FAQ, i have an 3G 04 TL as stated in my original post. It says it only works for the 00-03 TLs. Any other ideas?

truonghthe

the 06-07 AV6 trany will bolt up to your TL, someone already did the swap and confirm that it does work.

https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...o-pics-915808/

tlbase04

Thank you so much! I appreciate your guys' help. I need to open up a thread with a proper introduction and so forth. I'll have to do that one day for sure. Thanks again for your help. I need to get my TL back on the road. The few times i have driven it since buying it, its been a blast.

MarcDavidoff

If you can source a low mileage AV6 trans for a good price of less than $1k and find a good shop to install it at a reasonable price, you'll be happy

tlbase04

I'll source a trans no problem. I work for a parts house and have lots of sources for good trannies at VERY good prices. Have a shop install it? What? Fuck that, i'll do the work myself lol. Im no stranger to trans swaps, but this is my first import i have owned that i would do one in. No problem there.

tlbase04

I was reading the write-ups on this swap. Do i have to change the sensors since i have the next gen model, or do i just swap the wiring harness over to make it work.

Also, on a side note, the previous owner of the car informed me that this is the second transmission and it only has 40k miles on it, and developed the same problem. Something tells me this is not a mechanical problem but more an electrical problem. Is there any where that theres a fluid flow chart for the trans and is there a temp sending unit on the trans itself?

tlbase04

Anyone?