Tomb Acura

Can someone help? My 2003 TL Type S is developing a transmission problem. It only happens when it is stone cold in the morning. I gently go down the street to the first stop sign. Then in the intersection after going a few feet, it simply stops going forward like it is in neutral. I have learned to put it into neutral, then back to drive. It then goes perfect. This has happened consistantly each morning. If I let the care warm up for 5+minutes, this doesn not happen. 80,000 miles on warranteed transmission. Car has 123000 miles on it and is perfect otherwise. Maybe it is an electrical solenoid on the transmission. Any advice is apprecitated. Thanks.

russianDude

what do you mean exactly by "stops going forward", are you trying to accelerate and RPMS jump high but car would not move? When transmission is very cold, the computer would make it drive at higher RPMS, but it should still be responsive and make your car move. It makes no sense when you warm up a car and it goes away, the only way to warm up transmission is to actually drive it, it does not warm up at idle. Sounds like your transmission was replaced before 2005, if so, these are the same POS trannies as original ones. How is your fluid, when was it changed last time?

Tomb Acura

The car moves forward 5 feet into the intersection, then that's it. Dead in the water. I can give it gas and no forward motion. I have learned to move it to neutral for a moment, then back to drive and it operates normally. The replacement was done 11/05, supposedly one of the upgraded transmissions.

russianDude

Is your fluid clean? when was it changed last time. I am assuming your RPMS jump but no acceleration, it might be going bad soon...

VQPower37

sounds like ur tranny is going bad ... may have to fork out a good amount of change to get it fixed

01tl4tl

stop by a parts store and ask for a code scanning--free

your nuetral trick is altering the line pressure and forcing it into gear

dsmaniac

This is also happening to me in the morning, I only have 8000 miles on a rebuilt transmission. I going to change the fluid next weekend since that hasn't been done yet.

01tl4tl

shouldnt need fluid change till at least 15kmiles
But what color and smell is your fluid?

Take it back to the shop- thats a warranty prob at 8000 miles

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

Spoilaz

Can somebody point out the #'s in the diagram for the mounts that should be replaced. (front and pass side)

Also, please point out the rear and 2 at the tranny.

I am getting together wear and tear parts that I will be changing over the winter...thank you in advance

Spoilaz

sorry...had a couple windows open and put this in the wrong thread

MOBB

I also HAVE the very same problem. Every morning on the same god damn spot on the freeway always. I'll start it up in the morning head maybe 2miles down to the on ramp hit gas reach 60 mph. Then all of the sudden *studder Motion, loss of power** OHh Shit WTF?? then feels like it hits gear and drives smoothly again. The rpm's never fluctuate during the loss of power and if I hit gas power is restored. It feels as if I slipped it into N by accident but i didnt.

This is really weird because it happens EVERY DAY after the same Exact mileage is traveled at the same spot all the time. Brought it into the dealer no codes cannot duplicate. Then a couple of months later CEL VSA while crusing in D5. Got a new trannny from dealer. New trannys displays SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS BEFORE!!!! At the same location!!! WTF??

This only lasts for about 1 sec but still makes me shit bricks, other than that its smooth as glass! The only thing I can think of is TQ locking up and unlock or an ECU related problem. My ECU was changed when the tranny swap was done but still no difference problem still persists dont know where to look anymore!!

acutee

Your first option is to replace the tranny filter. Newer fluid is always better, z1 fluid is good for 15k, anything over than that you will experience the abrupted behavior in the gear shifting. Lack of fluid is number 1 tranny killer; no fluid leads to overheating, then parts start failing.

01tl4tl

MOBB
does it do it if you drive a different route? same miles/time but different roads

russianDude

if filter is clogged, the tranny is done! Changing filter might only prolong the inevitable.

mikejones808

As you may know, the TL has had an extensive problem with its tranny. I dont know that there is any real advice to give because the car has had such a terrible history with that transmission.

01tl4tl

there are band-aids to keep it running along the way,,by keeping selenoids and external filter clean, and changing at least 3 qts of fluid every 15-30 kmiles

Many owners will go 150kmiles with no issues and be totally unaware of any potential problems!, while ziners report more failures since this is a tech help forum

gen3 is having good results with redline racing atf and it eleminates the shudder shift into 2nd and 3rd that many experience,,without it being a clutch problem

tcross

I just paid 3100+ for a new tranny, shop said that the cooling system over heated the tranny. caused piece of metal to break off and stop the flow of fluids. 2003 tl type s

01tl4tl

are you sure they didnt mean weak cooling in the trans caused overheat and part breakage?

were you not covered on the 7.9/109 trans warranty? out of vin range?

tcross

sadly to say i was not covered

01tl4tl

bummer- too bad you didnt know azine then, or somehow qualify for goodwill warranty

pickler

faulty grade logic!? is that section downhill or uphill just by a bit?

also i have an 03 TL no tranny issues ever smooth as silk since day one. except for the annoying grade logic issue which is fixable by using thr sport shift.

tcross

What is the Goodwill?

01tl4tl

goodwill warranty is when acura takes care of part or all of a repair, after limits

It all depends on brand loyalty- customer use of shop for other service in the past and your general attitude

service manager calls local acura rep and pleads your case for assistance-- a decision is made..sometimes its a lot,, sometimes not at all

tcross

damn should have used that message before i paid

Difinity

I know this has been dormant for a while, but this is what's happening to my 01 TL and my friend's 00 TL. Here's what mine is doing:

Last year in the winter I lived at some apartments where the gate was about 120 yards from my garage. In the morning, when it was below 50 degrees (f), I would exit my garage and drive to the gate. When my speed got below 5mph, the car would "pop out of gear". The dash said it was in drive, but when I'd rev the motor, it was clear it was not in gear. I put it in neutral, then back in drive, and it would switch to first gear and I'd be on my way. By the time I got to the light which was another 300 years away, there was no issue.

Through the entire summer, this never happened. All was well with the world.

Now that the temp is back below 50, it's happening again. The gate at these apartments is about 250 years away, so it doesn't always happen and if I drive fast through the lot it warms up a little faster and it usually doesn't happen.

Here's what my observance and testing has produced:
- There is no noticeable mechanical movement when it "pops out of gear".
- It ONLY happens when the temp is below 50 and the engine is cold.
- It only happens when I am below 5mph and NOT accelerating (clutch engaged?).

My car:
2001 Acura TL 3.2 AT (non-TypeS)
278K miles on original transmission
166K miles on engine (replaced one year ago)
Trans was warrantied around 20K for the 5th gear oil pressure plate issue.
Other than that, no noticeable issues with trans. Runs strong and sounds great.


Does anyone have any suggestions of what might be causing it? My guess is a sensor, but don't want to go replacing sensors out of curiosity.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

3.2TLc

It could possibly be that your shift linkage is needing adjusted. Try removing the console and lube things up, with the shifter linkage mechanism underneath.

Difinity

Shift linkage for an automatic transmission? You sure?

3.2TLc

More like checking the micro switch's/solenoids for working properly.
There are actually things like a cable and various mechanisms which can cause problems.

How do you think that moving the shifter makes the tranny engage into a selected gear ?
Take a look !

Eheaney

Hello I have a 01 Acura MDx that is doing the same thing and wanted to know if anyone has found out what the problem was?
Thank You

Yikes

The problem is that during the late 90s/early 2000s Honda automatic transmissions were junk. The designs and quality of materials were god awful. There's nothing you can really do except keep the fluid changed on it and baby the transmission.

Skirmich

The problem relies on Honda updating their 4 Speed units to 5 Speed but using the same casing while doing so. When the end design came in there was a problem with lubrication to the 2nd gear Clutch Pack (Again because the trans was re-using an old casing) this caused the dreaded 5 Speed unit failure that plagued the TL, Accord, MDX, Pilot, Odyssey, And basically every V6 Honda with a 5 Speed Unit between 2000 and 2004 was affected.

In 2004-2005 Honda made a quick fix to their Casing addressing the lack of lubrication but even then there were some failing units.

By 2006 and forth the Case was completely re-designed allowing the issue to be completely and finally fixed.


Hope this quick History Lesson Helps.





Materials were not the problem, In Fact. Honda Autos are one of the strongest Transaxle transmissions in all the Automotive Industry.
Capable of delivering +500whp in Stock Form in their little form factor, Try that with a GM trans and see it BURRRNNNN...
Even the 4 Cyl trans are strong! the issues with them are related to 1 bearing only.

Re-using the old casing was the problem.

JuniorPhan

Kat Rodriguez

02 Acura tl....... I am just experiencing this I almost caused a 15 car accident do you have any answers as to why your car did this?

Chojun

Welcome to the forums. Your transmission is failing. Some people get a little more life out of theirs by changing their fluid with Honda DW-1 fluid (only) and NOT FLUSHING IT (drain and fill 3x with 3 quarts each time). You can also clean out the shift solenoids filters and also change the external spin-on filter (under the battery tray). But if you're getting slipping at all then 'your transmission is warning you that it's about done.

There is not much that can be done outside of rebuilding it. You might have some success driving in D4 around town (slower than 40 MPH) and shifting to D5 when 40 MPH or above. If you find a good mechanic you can swap a BAYA transmission unit into your car which will solve the problem forever ($1200+ for trans and 400-500 for install). Do not pay to have your transmission rebuilt. Good luck.

bbsitum

Happening same to me. Should not start new tread about it I guess.

Stephen Maxwell

2006 TL , This car is is Mint condition and was serviced regularly , Im extremmly colorblind so i have a hard time distinguishing
trany fluid levels , The Trans shifts solid and never "Slips"

Stephen Maxwell

Ok now it slipped into neutral at stoplight , i put it in park and back into D and it engaged , no other issues on way home , is this a shift soliniod ?? PLEASE HELP!!