Hey guys, new here. I've been reading quite a bid about the transmission issues with the TL's. I just picked up an 04 TL as a project, got it pretty cheap because it has transmission problems.

The car will get up to 30-40 mph, and after that it starts to slip (RPM's will keep increasing but the car isn't really moving faster, like when the clutch starts slipping on a manual. It will also take a long time to shift, and when it does it will jerk/ shift really rough. The car only has 105k miles but I've been reading horror stories where guys had their tranny fail at 90k even.

I've done manual transmission rebuilds before, but never auto, so I'm going to just swap the tranny. I can get an OEM used one with about 90k miles for around 1400 with 2 year warranty, or I can get a remanufactured one with 1 year warranty for 1500... What would you recommend?

 

Thinking of going with the 05 tranny with 90k miles for ~$1400... The 05 tranny will fit into the 04 vehicle, since its all gen 3 right?

 

if you search i think acura rebuilds them for like $900-1300

 

I have found a few 07 & 08 TL trannys for around 1100 with 50-60k miles on them... Would an 07 or 08 tranny fit my 04?

 

I doubt acura rebuilds them for this price, if they do then the estimate I was told is a scam. Only way I can see this happening is if you do regular maintenance with a dealership and they cover some of the cost...

 

Guys I'm really about to pull the trigger on this 08 transmission tomorrow. Please let me know if there are fitment issues, I searched and could not find anything. Also if there is another tranny that is a better option and will fit (maybe like an accord or rl) please let me know soon. Thanks guys

 

I would call a dealership or ask a shop mang! Good luck!

 

Calibud-from what I've read the '07-'08 TL tranny is different from the '04. Post #12 in the thread below states some differences.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/will-06-07-transmission-fit-04-tl-864465/

 

Thanks for the reply's guys. The guy in the thread above successfully installed an 06 accord tranny into his 3rd gen TL. I don't see anything regarding 07-08 TL's. As long as the mounting points are the same, I would only need to swap over the sensors, but I'm not finding any definitive info on this. I'll ask the dealership but I doubt theyll be of any help since they're always so "by the book"

 

the differences in the transmission have to do with

a wire harness that has to be swapped from old trans
PRNDL switch has to be swapped
you can but don't have to swap the differential filter
install the oil to water cooler from a TL auto (use a new one)

 

Thanks so much for the info. It seems pretty doable, do you think it's worth doing it to have the 08 tranny? Also it will bold up right? And I can use the 08 torque converter?

 

Sorry, but like I said prior, I don't think the '07+ TL tranny is that easy to swap in. I may be wrong, but I haven't seen it done yet. Certain year accord transmissions will work, from the thread I linked earlier, but they could be different due to weight/etc..... ?


Copy & pasted from member "csmeance"


"The 07 I doubt will fit and work properly since the ECU and the case was changed a bit in 2005 or 2006. As well the TL-S's won't work since it has a different housing + mount points.

I would be wary of the accord as the accord has less power than the TL and perhaps lighter duty components. "

 

Looking at the specs the power diff. should not make too much difference...

06-07 Accord
Horsepower: 244
Torque: 211 ft/lbs

04 TL
Horsepower: 270 (258 by newer standars)
Torque: 233 ft/lbs torque

Comparing the stats, the accord tranny would only be subjected to 26 more hp and 22 more ft/lbs of torque. Many on various forums and people I know, run boost with stock transmission internals (though not ridiculous amounts of boost). In my opinion the accord tranny should hold up just fine looking at these numbers.

 

read further down in said thread, there is a dude that swapped the accord trans in and no issues. ALL of those 5at share the same basic design.

 

empty your inbox bub...

 

Sorry my inbox keeps tripping out. Looks like I'll go with the 06-07 tranny like you recommended in the pm. This works out better for me since I can find a low mileage one cheaper than even a high mileage TL tranny. And from what I read they're supposed to be more reliable.

Can you please let me know what exactly I need to swap over to the accord tranny from my old TL one?