So I got the call from the Acura dealer today. My transmissions has in fact blown 3rd gear (2002 TL-S)....so one new transmission on its way.
But on another note Carl the service guy had a laundry list of problems that I "need" to get fixed, so I need your input.

1. SRS light reset $90. This is the problem because I removed my seat to find a lost ring.
2. Battery cable the terminal is corroded $175 including labor. He claims it goes all the way behind the motor.
3. Front and Side motor mounts are broken $340 Caused my tranny problems?
4. New battery $100 (partially covered by them)

So all told he is aksing for me to shell out $700............

Thoughts?

ps I am out of warranty with 71k miles.

 

The good teck types of the board will handle your other q's, but on
#4 the battery front...

Unless they are chipping in $50 or more, absolutely bag that and get an Optima brand battery. If you have a wholesale place in your town, ie Costco or Sams Club or ___, you can get it for under $100 and once Costco had it for a coma-like price of $70. If not, ask Sears if they will match a wholesalers price. Many Sears Auto managers will do this.

The Optimas kick, huge cranking power and encased in much stronger stuff for max perfomance in heat or cold.

The Optima site may not show an application to your rig. Don't believe it. One will fit. You may have to get a little plastic deal to make it sit up a little higher. Done, Optima has them and if not Sears will.

 

the motor mount is BS....its a trick acura dealerships use. since they have to do the warranty work free they always charge motor mounts. almost everyone i know that took their TL in for service was told they needed new motormounts

if you really think your motormounts are loose (ie, half your engine hangs lower than the other), take it to a local shop instead...dont get raped by dealers

when i had my tranny in they wanted 300 for motormount plus brake light. i had the brake light fixed and tehy charged me 60 bucks...fucking BS

 

btw motormounts being bad would have NO EFFECT on your tranny, if the service manager told you this hes taking you for a nice ride on the bullshit bus....get off at the next stop immediately

 

You can fix that SRS light thing yourself in 10 seconds if you know how, its just a certain way of turning the electrical system in the car on and off in a sequence...I think its posted on here somewhere I'll see if I can find it.

I had it done at my dealer though once and they "only" charged me $50.

 

I would say that you're getting robbed! $90 bucks just to reset a light switch? Thats way too much especially for something you can do yourself. Just do what Beet said and look up the thread that tells you how to do it. Have you looked at the battery cable? You can check to see if it indeed goes all the way behind the engine. Just open the hood and follow the cables. I remember changing the cable on my CL and it was like a 10 minute job. Check out http://acuraautomotiveparts.org to get an idea of what the parts cost. You can do most of the things by taking an hour on the weekend to do them. The motor mounts...well thats a different story.

 

I went through 3 trannies in my CLS. The mounts had to be replaced each time. Tell them you didn't have those problems before (everyone should be able to tell the difference between a broken and normal mount)

 

did they charge you for the mounts?

 

i may tell them that the mounts broke when the car violently dumped into 3rd....that was the main problem I was having with the tranny anyway..

 

acura maitenance is really bullshit...they charge over 100 bucks just to read the code. i went to a local acura and they wanted 260 in code readings and diagnostics before any work was done!!!! FUCK THAT!!!!!

 

No, I was on my third transmission in 6 months. They knew I that I knew what was going on.

 

damn that sucks, i have been pleased with Lehigh Valley Acura, in fact i have been having an issue with my ABS/VSA lights coming on intermittenly, and neve when its in for normal service, so the last time it happened i drove right up there and they brought out the computer and got the codes for me, no charge.

 

I disagree. I have never had any problems with my dealer. Maybe it is just your dealer that is an ass.

 

Fuck that, the terminal corrosion is not your fault. That is a warranty item. My 99 was out of warranty and they still replaced motor mounts for me.

 

So I spoke to the service advisor today and he said they have already done the SRS light (which I had previously authorized) so I am screwed there.

On the motor mounts he is going to call Acura and see if he can get them to cover them, but he cannot make any guarantees.

He has offered to drop the install cost on the battery cable to $54, but I still have to pay $75 for the cable and terminal.

I am thinking about just paying the $90 for the F*@king light and saying screw the rest.

 

what dealership is this..sounds like a rip

 

david mcdavid in plano tx

 

I just replaced the exact same motor mounts on my car as well as my 3rd transmission ( 80k miles ). Ive taken my car to 2 different dealerships to replace transmissions.


Acura dealership I bought my car XXXXXX - 51,000 miles transmission blows - they call me 3 days after dropping off my car and ask for $350 for a new tranny mount? ( I think he meant to say, " motor mount" ) Thats what the service rep said and im thinking what the hell im getting a new transmission after he played me like it wasnt covered after 50k and im lucky im gettin an extended warranty through them for 100k miles. The day I pick up my car Im driving home when all of a sudden the car wont shift into 3rd, it wont rev over 4000 rpm, and all the lights on my dash lit up. Take the car back thinking I just blew another transmission. Service rep tells me I need to pay them 90 bucks to run a diagnostic Then later tells me I need to replace my throttle body another $400 i got ( im thinking the original problem was the throttle body and they played me )


Next closest dealership to my house - 79,000 miles transmission #2 blows while on the freeway... almost crashed big time. This next dealership was good w/ the customer service would have been better if they hooked up a loaner. Simply dropped off my car and was told it would take 1 week. Of course 2 days before im supposed to pick up my car I get the dreaded call. " You have 2 broken motor mounts as well, I think this might have happened on the violent downshift while on the fwy. Your engine is fine, and btw did you want to do a major service while you are at it? " Didnt ask to see the "busted motor mounts" but I know I should have before paying for them.

 

kinda dumb to not ask to see them

 

its a rip off!!!
they told me i needed new axles, and that the boots where ripped, i was underneath my car a week before and saw them and they were perfectly fine. I told him no thanks ill have my mechanic look at it.
Oh yea I also "needed" new ball joints.. yea right....

 

they are real good down there, i think they may be competing with the lexus dealership next door