Mike Bertram

My 2000 Acura TL 3.2's (US) transmission slips out of reverse under load. The current transmission is a rebuilt transmission put in 4 years ago now with 40,000 miles since then on it. When shifted into reverse there are no unusual noises and the gear engages and backs up at idle or with a slight amount of pressure on the gas pedal. If additional load from the accelerator is added it slips out of gear (no noise) and the engine revs up. Once the engine returns to idle the gear reengages. Clearly, this makes reversing up any significant incline nearly impossible.

There are no other issues with any of the other gears either in automatic or manual shift mode. I checked the transmission fluid and it appeared fine. I went ahead and performed a 3X3 fluid flush with Honda ATF-Z1 but that did not solve the problem.

Any thought on what the problem might be would be appreciated? What should be my next steps?

Thanks in advance for your help.

01acls

Check the shift cable for defect at both ends and readjust it at the shifter.

Seriously... Z1 ATF? LOL

Mike Bertram

Thanks for the suggestion I will try it out.

My mistake on the ATF. I did use DWI not Z1.

ErickUa5

From my experience you should give it more time and let the cleaners from the new ATF do its job, I'd say about a week or 2 of driving.

However to me it sounds like the internal filter is clogged. Time for another transmission, if the car is in good condition.

01acls

You might want to try replacing Shift Solenoid B.

01tl4tl

what about a new external filter? guru's of trans- will that help?

Mike Bertram

I was thinking of changing the external filter, it is relatively cheap and easy to change out.

While I am in there I will also take a look at Solenoid B and test it.

ErickUa5

It could be a stuck 5th gear accumulator. Go for a drive at highway speeds and check for abnormal 5th gear. Like I mentioned in my last post try to drive it for a while to let the new atf clean.
That filter may not do much for the current issue, Its a magnetized flow through design.

Mike Bertram

Thanks for following up Erick. I will take it out on the highway. In what way would 5th gear behave abnormal....what am I looking for?

I have noticed some improvement since the new ATF when engine/transmission is not hot and have not used reverse much but once the transmission gets hot the reverse slippage reverts to the same.

I did check shift solenoid B and it performed within specs.

01acls

^ 5th gear slipping or not working right.

Try resetting the pcm by pulling the clock fuse for 30 seconds. Maybe the pcm is activating the reverse inhibitor.

Seriously, as a last ditch effort I would replace Shift Solenoids A, B, & C and hope for the best. Hoping they are out of spec. Especially if they're the original ones.

Solenoids may test ok as in clicking but they wear and may be out of spec and still click on/off.

Unless you're slipping in 5th gear then theres a clutch issue for sure.