DogHead

I'm afraid my 2002 3.2TL-S is on its last legs. The check engine light came on, and two mechanics have told me the transmission needs a new torque converter and possibly a whole new transmission. It also needs new engine mounts and shocks and is due for a new timing belt. I'm looking at $4000-5000 of work. The car has 222,000 miles. What would you do?

I bought the car new 10 years ago--two days after 9/11. It is on its third transmission. The first two were replaced under warranty when the car was six months old and again at two years old. I was hoping that my 17-year-old could drive the car until he leaves for college in a year, but I'm not sure it's worth that kind of investment to keep it going. I may shed a tear or two of I have to let it go.

By the way, my wife just got a new 2012 TL Tech. Absolutely gorgeous and a joy to drive.

Mr. Maker

iTrader: (4)

Drive it until it dies. I would not pay that kind of money. You could part it out.

yeedatoy

6 speed swap, mounts and struts will be off anyway so you should just have to fork out the cash for the parts. 5K and you keep the car, it drives like a brand new ride and you don't have to worry about shitty autotragics anymore ;-)

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

That assumes he can do that kind of work. A lot more than 5k labor for a shop to do it.

I think it's time to let it go...

01tl4tl

I agree---
not only is it plain worn out just with what we know,,it can have many hidden issues

This car lived a good long life for you, drive it using SS mode to keep trans working for you a bit longer,,it can force reluctant shifts

The friction disc in the clutches wear out- sending crud material thru the fluid into the torque convertor where it clogs the outlet screens and prevents pressure going thru the system = rebuild trans time + new TC

A good used Honda car will cost less than fixing the TL, be cheaper to insure, and much safer for a young student to be driving. You know how fast the TL is- easy to speed without trying,,easy to crash,,, with tunes blasting thru the bose

current gas prices, must use 91, well over 50 bucks to fill the tank, to get only 300-350 miles from it, doesnt seem realistic

Love my TL,,, but it does not belong in young untrained hands,,,
Kids already get tickets doing 93.. in a 99 saturn!
,,drive my car,,I dont think so

yeedatoy

Should be a no brainer for the right shop. Shops experienced in Honda swaps should have no problem doing one for a reasonable price in a car where everything already bolts up. Cake compared to j swaps in Civics/Tegs.

fsttyms1

100 bucks says a civic J series swap would cost less to have a shop do just because the aftermarket support has already stepped up to the plate for it. That hasnt happened for the TL.

mugenspire

iTrader: (4)

unless you plan to 6 spd swap then id let it go because even if u replace the tranny its going to die again eventually later on down the road.

yeedatoy

Its hard to say...I think the wiring time would be key. Rywire may make a harness for the civic swap but it's pricey. I can't figure the TL swap labor being over $2500. H22/f20b wiring is a nightmare and $1500-2k labor seems to be the norm. Motors are cheap and pop up on CL for 3-400, the Tranny is the most expensive part at near 1k...the rest are just standard junkyard parts. I tried to get an estimate but they wanted me to come talk in person. May look into it for the future.

kidduce

iTrader: (1)

It has served you good. I would think about finding someone to do the timing belt service and ride it til the trann blew.

alexh1266

Eh why bother to put anymore $ into it. If it was done at 105k I'm sure it can last a little longer. The trans could go at anytime. Cost 800-1000 probably to do the tbelt. Might as well save that for the next car.

Although I already feel sorry for the next person who gets the car. Hope they get it for a good price with all those problems needing to be fixed.

yeedatoy

$1000 for a timing belt? Why not just buy the kit yourself for $200 and pay someone to do it on the side...its a 3 hr job not a engine swap. I would shoot myself in the face before I paid someone $1000 to put a belt on and some little metal bolt ons.

kidduce

iTrader: (1)

That's what I'm saying, I had a Honda tech do one for 500 with parts included.

alexh1266

^^ I had mine done for about $500 as well from my bro-in-law honda tech.
I'm just assuming the aveage jo schmo would pay that much at a reputable shop and to use oem parts. But my overall point was, why spend anymore money if you're going to get rid of it and not enjoy it in the long run?

I just spent 1200 on a reman trans installed from my honda dealer with 2yr/24k warranty. Now do you think many other people could get the same kind of deals without a decent connection/hook-up? Highly doubt it, otherwise I'm sure many of the parts that the OP needs fixing would have been fixed by now or maintaned well.

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

My dealership does it for $750, which I always thought was a very fair price. For a dealership.

DOHC TL

If you love the car that much.... You will just have to pay for it to be fixed. I just had my car for 2 yrs and I really enjoy my car that much where i did pay for it to be fixed... I had Transmission Replaced 3rd one New Mid and Front Sub-Frames and Lower Crossmember Links.. it was a bit over 6 grand Which totaled my car for 11 grand... Yes I love my car that much

yeedatoy

Good point, thats basically what I did with my accord. You could spend 30k on a new car 10k on a decent new car, or drop the 10k on the Tl. Swap it, put a beast suspension on it and replace bushings and common wear parts, throw some wheels on it and restore minor damages. Win, Win situation if you love your TL. You get to keep your love but its badder, faster and nicer then before.