Im new to Acurazine and recently bought a 2002 Tl-S in January of 2014 with 179k and as of today it has 193k around the mileage of 185k my tranny started flaring in 1st going into 2nd and I did a fluid flush (3x3 method) and have had absolutely no problems since then I recently found out that the current tranny was replaced in late 2006 and with 87k so it has over 100k on it currently and I was really wondering how long these trannys last, I read on wiki that if they were replaced after mid 2005 then they were redesigned and work fine. after the flush it shift great like a new car, I plan on changing the fluid every 15k or so and was wondering how to replace the filter on it. Also is it usual for it to hold gears a little longer and shift harder at low RPMs with the A/C on? I baby it so usually hit about 2k before it shifts.

 

Welcome Ndoghuntsville !!!
Our 2nd Gen TL's biggest issue is the problematic trannys.
Durability is all a roll of the dice, but good PM and keeping the fluid clean will help.

To replace the spin-on ATF filter, here's a "DIY" :
Transmission bypass spin on filter replacement - AcuraZine Community

This thread is from the 2nd Gen's "DIY" sticky. There's plenty more of common problems and fixes listed.

 

I've got about 50k on a post 2005 Acura rebuilt and I was asking myself the same question - how long can I expect it to last. Reviewing several threads here (200k and above, tranny failure thread, etc), I came up with my own guess. Failures seem to start at around 80k and seem to be reported between 80k and 120k. Some do go longer. Best advice is fresh fluid every so often and replace the filter. That's about the best you can do.

Question - "flaring" between 1 and 2 or is it between 2 and 3? The car shifts out of first pretty soon after moving. Third gear clutch pack is the weak point I hear.

 

Thank you guys for the replies. I wanted to touch back on when I meant flaring, I think it was faring because when I would barely hit the gas and reach 2nd gear(I meant 2nd to 3rd in the original post, my bad) and it is about to shift to 3rd it acts like I removed my foot from the gas pedal and the first couple times it did it I literally floored the car and it kept slowly dropping the rpms and when It happened and I tried to use sports shift to shift to 3rd it would clunk really loud and shift back to second. but after the flush, its now been about 7k since then and I haven't had any problems sense and before the flush the fluid was red like it should be. so I always had in the back of my head it was the TPS sensor

 

Could've been a clogged solenoid that was cleaned some by the new fluid ?

 

I hope thats all it needed like I was saying its been about 7k so far so good. When I reach 195k ill change the fluid again and clean the solenoids and change filter. My biggest concern with my car is the ticking noise, has anyone else had this sound before? I thought it was tranny but when I used a stethoscope(I believe it was) it was coming from one of the tensioners. Have you ever had this issue?

 

I have 70k on my rebuilt tranny no problems so far. Just be nice to your car and avoid triptronic shifting at all costs, even if I can't.

 

The belt tensioner will makes noises when it starting to wear. Also, a "ticking" sound often comes from the EVAP Purge Valve solenoid near the Brake booster. Sometimes manifold heat shields or a broken stud can also tick. Even the valves or fuel injectors can simulate a ticking sound. So, to eliminate the tensioner......spray the affected area, if the noise goes away.....then ya may have a worn bearing within the tensioner assembly.

 

I had my original tranny replaced in May 2005 with a rebuilt unit at around 38,000 miles. Now I have over 170k miles on that tranny, so going on over 130k miles on the rebuilt tranny. Tranny fluid changes every 15 miles.

 

Now that's aggressive!!

 

I haven't seen anything that would indicate this to be an issue with the tranny, any reason why it would be?

 

I was told by two separate Acura techs not to use it as it only strains the transmission further, idk if it's a published opinion but it makes sense, specifically in down shifting you're putting a lot of strain on the trans if you downshift to 2nd while rolling at 50mph for example.

 

I do a 3qt change every 15k as well. I have found that with Honda autos (even prior to owning a TL) it is always been a good practice to do a change every 15k

 

I was making a funny on 15 miles vs 15K.

 

Ohh Lol- hadn't even noticed that! Yeah that would be a little OCD

 

< Been using Sport Shift since I rebuild my original trans 24/7 365... Not a single sign of Sport Shifting damaging the trans in 109,000 miles since the rebuild.

Some folks doesn't know this but the TL uses Engine Braking a lot on Full Auto! Try it: Go at 60mph and hard press the brake about 50% Get amazed when the trans drops 2 gears into third just to help you stop.. This can be much noticed when you are rolling downhill as the TL uses a special Yaw sensor to know you are either going up hill (Hold Low Gear Longer) or going downhill (Assists with engine braking) either way the trans gets a beat down without ever using Sport Shift you aren't doing any good since the trans literally kill itself on a daily basis.
(This function has a Honda branded Technical Name but I can't recall it)

So in a way Sport Shift is kinder to the trans since it completely neglects the use of the Yaw Sensor to do it's downshifting/up shifting.. If you don't engine brake like a maniac in SS like it was a Manual?, the trans will do just fine.

 

^^ yes - believe it's called "Grade Logic". Don't really care for it either when it downshifts when hitting a downgrade at 60mph

 

^ Yup! Grade Logic!
Although the point is that the Trans hurt itself like it or not. SS wont do any more damage that the trans do to itself in a daily basis.

 

Is it just me or does it seem faster in auto? Obviously when you're holding second at 3 & 1/2 grand and hop on it no, but from a dig I always feel like auto is faster, maybe it's placebo.

 

Haha, didn't catch that before!

Also, I actually met up with an old friend last weekend. He has a 2002 TL-S with a rebuilt tranny that was put in around June 2005, with the updated version. He has done tranny fluid changes around 20-25k intervals.

He actually wants to buy a new TLX now but wants to wait til his TL-S dies. He has 240k miles on it and he actually said "I really want a TLX but this car just won't die!" He didn't expect the trans to last beyond 200k.

 

Cant say for sure at Drag/Dig racing since I gate shift for those..
But at least for DD? Sport Shifting IS FASTER.

 

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