MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

It seems like this car has one problem after the next and I have horrible luck, I'm only 20 years old and I pay for my car solely by myself, work 65 hours a week and went to school full time until I dropped out last quarter because I enlisted in the Air Force. Of course, I am still waiting around for a basic date and the more I wait the more things happen to my car. First off about a month ago I hit a deer, not bad right? Deductible was $250 but then I didn't have rent a car so there goes $400 more. Then my tires went flat because being lowered on springs had somehow made the insides of my tires completely bald, there's another $600. Then on top of that I was trying the tranny filter change, stripped a bolt all my fluid went everywhere, had to get it towed to Dover. Ended up being $840 after they told me I needed brakes, my rotor was cracked and some other crap. Did even fix the brakes or rotors. Got the car back it's still leaking something don't know what can't figure it out, probably a seal or something. Meanwhile I am at 109k and still haven't done 105k service because its 2 grand almost, AND on top of all that my transmission is going out and I assume will be shot in the next couple hundred miles, so called aamco and that's another $2,500 to get fixed. Overall, I hate this car I want to drive it into a tree. Thanks for reading.

nismopowerdqg

been there brotha, i got lucky on a lot of prices to fix my stuff. did the s-techs blow your shocks? and did you get an alignment after you lowered it? if not that was likely the cause of your tires going out.

rossv1

Did you get an alignment after you lowered it?

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

No when I got the s-techs I got kyb's to go with him so they have been holding up well, and no I got an alignment when I got these tires but they said one of my bolts was smoothed over in the back or something and they couldn't align it right or something. I give up on this car, from a bystanders viewpoint this car is amazing, when it comes to maintenance and luck, I would rather drive my bicycle.

Tehvine

Sounds like most of that is preventable.

JBONN

You will encounter these problems with any used car, the best way to save $ is to learn how to do it yourself...it takes time but if you start off small and work your way up to the bigger jobs it can be rewarding. The first time I swapped out my '02 MDX transmission filter I didn't have the right tools for the job and ended up having to remove the ABS module to gain access, unfortunately when I reconnected the brake lines one of the threads crossed and stripped the aluminum block so I had to run out and buy a used ABS module (what a PITA that was). Since then I have successfully worked my way up to completing the 105k service on my MDX (last year) and this year I will be doing a 105k service on my TL (and a friends) which should only cost me about $350 in parts per car.

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

If this website would have not turned modding this car into an addiction to which only a crack addict would understand, I probably would have the money to perform these necessary services. I blame this all on you guys, and also I have been running redline, hasn't helped. But I was racing a avenger last week, some kid who wanted to fly up on me. Anyways we were doing WELL above the highway speed limit when I heard my radar detector go off, I slowed down, and he didn't. Lone behold a state trooper on the side and to my avail he was sittin on the side of the road in mere seconds, as I waved when I went by haha. Some laughter to a miserable week at least

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

And I don't have the courage to do the service yet I had enough trouble independently wiring my fogs haha. I bought all or the parts for my service for $346 and got third and fourth gear pressure switches, all new spark plugs, and 9 quarts of new redline oil to put in the transmission once I find money to get it worked on, a friend of mine should be doing the 105k service for about $400 hopefully. It will have to wait though.

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

^came here to say this but now i don't have to.

OP, everything you mentioned (sans the deer) could have been prevented.

this car has got to be one of the easiest and mechanically friendly cars i've ever owned or worked on. lowered your car and tires went bald? your alignment and toe were probably jacked way out of spec. stripped your tranny bolt...? sounds like inexperience to me. rotors cracked? i'm not even going to touch that one.

sounds to me like you are young and inexperienced and can't afford to do simple maintenance on the car. no wonder things are falling apart...your car probably hates you and this is it's way of getting back at you for treating it like shit.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

^A little harsh but probably mostly true.

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

Honesty is always the best policy, but my tires had 40k miles on them before they went bald, I had an alignment done one month after being lowered just not initially because a close friend of mine, way older and experienced, said I would be fine but I did it anyway, the cracked rotor not sure about that but it's only a surface crack and the rotor is slotted and drilled and only like $50 so that's nothing, the bolt was my fault I accept that. I have done all other service for the car myself since I owned it with no problems though, always rotated tires changed filter and oil and even atf with every service and always keep the car 100% spotless, working 65 hours and going to college full time was just too much for me. I may be young and inexperienced, but I'm doing far better then all of my other friends my age. ��

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

Also installed jnc's headlights, custom tails, side markers, and aspec kit all by my lonesome, even went as far as to weld my stage three exhaust and magnaflow mufflers with quad tips by myself. Not to shabby or a young experienced kid

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

If you're that knowledgeable you should know that the third revision of the Acura TLs are very reliable cars.

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

I owned a 2003 f250 lifted 6.0 for three and half a years and never had nearly as many service related problems as I have with this car, tranny problems on a luxury car? I would expect that from a Kia, not an acura.

THEReeM718

iTrader: (2)

Spending money on mods instead of maintenance ?

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

It looks good sitting in my driveway haha

jgj925

Are you a child? How can you blame a forum for your mishappenings? At first I felt bad then you wrote that. This is a Honda vehicle. You obviously did something wrong or you must have really bad luck. Just go american or get a kia and go have fun with that dude.

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

I was kidding about the modding? With out without this forum the modding would have come about anyway? What exactly can you do to cause a transmission to fail? Other then that I don't even have a problem with the car, I took all the preventative maintenance one should to help with the ever failing transmissions and it still wasn't enough, I did my part, if only Honda would have done theirs.

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Although I've been doing the same shit, I've been very lucky with my TL. I've only had to change the oil once since owning and I've replaced the trans fluid with Redline. I'm soon putting a stop to modding and putting away money for the 105k service since I'll hit that in about 10k miles.

Ricci, if you had problems with the car before modding, you should have put it towards maintenance. If you had problems after modding, then oh well.

It is a used car and you should expect the normal wear and tear. Also, this car is known for tranny issues, just because it's a luxury car doesn't mean it has great parts that won't fail.

jgj925

Poor maintenance, being overly rough with gear changing, previous owner(s)

AccordFlex

iTrader: (1)

redlining the car every chance you get wont prolong the life of the transmission. not sure if you missed that memo or not.

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

Poor maintenance not being on my behalf as I did a 3x3 after getting it with redline 65% mixture, and have changed my atf with every oil change. Ill go with the pervious owners, I speed no more than others and often just cruise around, every once in a blue moon ill WOOT, but other then that it's a mere bad transmission build on Hondas part, if it were only my transmission I would take the blame, but I'm one of many.

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

^yeah but you're talking about racing kids on the highway.

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

^ Right

Especially racing a stupid Dodge Avenger

the425th

Maybe you shouldn't beat the shit out of your car.

Sick TLS

iTrader: (11)

maybe i missed it, but doing the 3x3 is normal maintenance, and a lot of time the filter change on the 04-06 transmissions will help, as well as the pressure switches. Might want to look into that to make sure it isnt just the pressure switches for 100-120 instead of blowing 2500 on a rebuild.

Sick TLS

iTrader: (11)

hamilton honda in NJ i believe does the 105k service for like 500 bucks too with oem parts if theyre still running the special.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

for a 20 year old, he actually sounds like he's got a good head on his shoulders and can handle himself pretty well with tools.

I think some of you might have misread his tone.

zachlone

Tranny is one issue but stripping the bolt, bald tires, and hitting the deer could have all been prevented. If you are having problems you should always take of them before modding or at least have some money put back. all cars have their own issues and problems. if they didnt, dealerships and shops wouldnt make any money. just take a deep breath, take a step back, and fix the issues and move on. if the luck continues just sell it and start over with a new vehicle. thats just my

DaeHanMeenGuk

If you want to prove you and your car's worth, take it to the tracks, not the streets. Yes, spirited driving is enjoyable but it should be done responsibly and you most certainly shouldn't be going well over the speed limit. I wish the high mileage TL members would chime in and give a few pointers on car care.

Side question: Were you one if those people who owned lifted trucks just for the sake of driving a lifted truck? Or did the truck actually see offroading? Because in my area, lifted trucks only conquered speed bumps.

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

You don't know if you're coming or going. In the first post you state you didn't get an alignment until you got these new tires and in the second you state you got one a month after you lowered it. Guess what? You start altering factory suspension on any car, you're going to eat tires if you don't correct toe, and slightly less importantly, camber.

And because you hit a deer and didn't have rental insurance that somehow factors into your car being a piece of shit? That's warped logic at its finest. Then you strip a bolt and it's now less reliable than a Ford? Do you think master technicians never strip bolts on cars that cost 3-4x as much as a TL? Expensive 105k service? Research your next potential car purchase a bit more carefully. The documentation of what was required at 105k has been out there for close to ten years. Maybe you can sue the Avenger driver since you probably feel he's responsible for your transmission problems.


I'm done.

This thread belongs in "ramblings".

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

No offense man but everything you mentioned with the exception of the tranny I guess, sounds like it was either self inflicted or a typical wear item. How can you blame all this crap on the car and say you hate it and want to drive it into tree?
-You hit a deer
-Your brakes are worn
-You lowered your car and your tires are shot due to a fucked up alignment.
-You stripped a bolt most likely because you were using the wrong size tool, or wrong tool all together.
-Your transmission is starting to fail with over 100,000 miles of most likely multiple owners, who knows how it was driven or maintained on a iffy to begin with 04-06 tranny.

Sorry to be harsh, but pretty much everything you listed is not the car or manufacturers fault.

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

I already changed the tranny filter and I have the switches now, and if you guys have never raced anyone with your car then that's good for you. I am 20 a young adult with a girlfriend, and yes she likes it when "I go fast" occasionally, so yes I have raced three people. Big woop, that won't lead to my car failing. And I have never had any problems with the car until recently. Leaking fluid and stuff when I kept up on all maintainence, I don't street race all the time but occasionally I like to have fun. I have the switches and fluid at my house but I doubt the switches will fix it and I already have redline in there. And I looked in Hamilton Honda. I think it's off now and my friend who is a certified mechanic is goin to do it for cheaper and right across the street. My transmission will be fixed next week and my 105k should be done next Saturday along with new brakes and rotor and fresh flush and new redline. So thanks for all your input, I didn't post to start a pitty party, ill continue to drive like I do with my beautiful girlfriend occasionally WOOTing and if I pay the price that's on me, only time before I leave for boot camp anyway, was just venting. Know better than to do that though from now on haha

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Shouldn't have started the thread then.

And wtf is "WOOTING"?

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

^it's when you're going fast and you yell out "WOOOOOOOT" real loud to impress your beautiful girlfriend.

DaeHanMeenGuk

Pic Related: It's him and his girlfriend



I think it would've been better if you had your friend help you with some of the maintenance work, rather than doing it alone.

MrRicci206

iTrader: (1)

I have no problems with the brakes, and you asked if I got it aligned after I initially got it lowered, the correct answer is no? It was a month prior and I used to race dirt bikes and four wheelers until they were stolen, building and rebuilding ends and welding since I was 13. Am I better then anyone else at working on my car no, I changed the filter and "stripped/cross threaded" the bolt which didnt allow me to tighten it, the engine was already leaking slightly which I had no association with whatsoever, the tires were worn from 40k and being lowered. I was merely stating it all happened at once, but if you guys were doing better than me at 20 good for you, I make 35k a year have my own car own place live with my girlfriend scored a 94 on my asvab, that puts me far above the average person. And while I picked engineering jobs and computer based jobs for the Air Force including linguistics and contracting I assure you by I am the age of many of you I will be doing just fine. Minor imperfections from car makers often lead to problems I am aware of this, as the egr delete on my 6.0 and failing HPOP just saying I expected more or should I say less from this car. But thanks haha

THEReeM718

iTrader: (2)

So you got the pressure switches and fluid at home but your racing Dodge Avengers? and your girl tells you to drive "fast"? $35k a year is barely making it LOL.

Project 04TL

you should have got a civic.

the425th