TexanAttorney

My transmission on my 04 5AT just died at 71k miles! This got me thinking there's many TLs on here that are way past that mileage on original auto trans.

So, I thought let's track how many trans failures we have and at what mileage.

If your trans has never been replaced I'd like to know that too, now if you bought your car used, you may or may not know if it was replaced.

So post your mileage and if you had a failed auto trans, at what mileage.


Please keep discussion for trans maintenance to the many other great threads that we have already, this is simply a way to poll how many TLs have failed trans and what mileage.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

I really doubt you'll get an accurate statistic of overall transmission failures based on this thread alone. The forum accounts for like 5% of overall acura drivers on the road, and most people who have no problems don't tell people about it.

ZOMGVTEK

While the reliability of the 04 TL AT is below average, miles do not tell the whole story.

When everything is up to temp and just cruising along, torque converter locked, the wear on the AT is near zero. It's really the shifts that matter, and even then, the torque transmitting during the shift, and the shift time that causes the bulk of the wear. It's entirely reasonable one individual could get 300K+ out of the same transmission driving gently at highway speeds. Put an aggressive driver behind the wheel in a busy city with constant stop and go, and you might have to take a zero off the end of that.

Saint91

04 5AT 140,000 and still going!

IIDXholic

iTrader: (5)

06 bought used in 2010 with 90K miles, failure at 130K.

BwhiTL13

04 TL 121k rebuilding the 2nd transmission this vehicle has seen

TexanAttorney

Agreed, but some form of a statistic is better than none We know the issue isn't as prevalent as 2001-2003, but I'd like a better idea on the 3rd gens.

When was the 1st failure. Was the 1st trans rebuild or did you get a remanufactured trans.

Thats great!

BwhiTL13

Previous owner put a used transmission in it that someone welded a crack in the casing from the inside out.No idea when it was done, When it started leaking I had my transmission guy break it down and he is putting new casings, frictions, strainer, and torque converter in.

Scottwax

Pretty sure the transmissions between the Accord and TL are the same (maybe the TL is slightly beefed up?) but they seem to share the same failure rate. That being said, 2004 Accord V6, 149,500 miles, still have the original 5AT. Bought it from my Dad so I know the drive-train is original.

I hate cars

I think it's very important to note which ones had the switches replaced and an aftermarket fluid installed at a reasonable mileage. It would also be good to know those that failed after doing the switches and fluid if they were done before there were any problems or after. We don't need to get into the reasons behind the switches and aftermarket fluid but those two items have saved a lot of transmissions.

As someone said, you can easily go 500,000 miles of pure freeway with very few shifts and have the same wear as 50,000 miles of pure city driving with lots of shifts. In my opinion mileage is not a good way to compare without additional data. I've counted shifts on the 1.5 mile drive to work compared to the 260 mile trip to Vegas and the total number of shifts are very close. It must be noted if the car is a commuter that sees lots of freeway or if it sees more stop and go. The type of driving will have a larger influence then the maintenance.

nokkieny

My transmission has been in the process of failing for the past 20k miles, does that count?

DrTynanol

05 AT, failed at 85k miles like come on...

DrOwNiNgPoOl84

iTrader: (2)

06 @102k, owned since 55k. Switches done @89k, 2 fluid exchanges of at least 3x3 since I've owned. Drives fine (hope didn't jinx)

leo221

04 original owner. 155k no problem.

Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

I think it all depends on the frequency of fluid changes. I bought my last TL at about 93K miles, the tranny crapped out 2 weeks later (started slipping on highway). The fluid in there was as black as old motor oil, probably never changed. I was able to save it for the most part but it was never the same again

flyromeo3

06 TL. 2nd owner. 156k, no problems with transmission

Coins

Torque converter started to whine a week before it gave out @ 96,700
Did a 1x3 at around 85k miles
Never did switches

Threw a P0746 - Pressure Control Solenoid A Performance or Stuck off.
Flashing D-Light as well

cokorote

iTrader: (1)

No one passed the 200k territory with the original transmission?

I hate cars

I know of at least one person on here that passed the 200K mark but it was all freeway driving which isn't that impressive. If you put a new transmission in a car and drove it 200k without stopping, some of the hard parts, namely the gears would have a little wear (but not a lot since load is low compared to acceleration in stop and go), but the clutches would have zero wear on them because there would only be one shift per clutch pack.

My trip to Vegas used to consist of about 20 shifts to get to the freeway and then I would be in 5th gear and lockup for nearly the entire drive. There's one area where I would pull it down into 4th for about 20 miles and one stop light that at a minimum I would have to slow down into 3rd gear for but I didn't have more than 10 shifts over 260 miles of driving and maybe 30 shifts for the whole 280 mile trip. In my 3 mile round trip to work and back I have more shifts than my 280 mile trip to Vegas. I used to try and go the whole trip without coming out of lockup which was impossible because of the hills but by pulling it down into 4th gear it would unlock momentaril and then lock a second or two later for the rest of the drive.

The 1-2 shift gets used the most so as long as traffic is light and I'm not in a hurry, I start off in second gear to avoid the shift. Each clutch pack only has so many shifts in it so the more shifts you can avoid, the longer it's going to last.

Sorry I went off topic again.

'06 here. 3rd set of pressure swtiches. DexIII fluid at 20,000 miles, Type F at 75k (roughly). No failures yet.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

05 TL 172k miles. Original transmission. Z-1 originally now using DW-1. Have changed out the pressure switches once at around 105k. Longest interval for 1x3 was 30k miles. Otherwise, 1x3 every other oil change. 50-50 mix of city/highway.

cokorote

iTrader: (1)

05 with 90k miles, original transmission; started using redline and switches at 40k. 1x3 redline D4 at every oil change 7-8k. I'm due for another pressure switches soon. 70/30 highway/city

Scottwax

Okay, additional information then...ATF was changed on schedule, switched over to DW1 about 20k miles ago, did two drain and fills in one day, third about 5000k miles after that. Original pressure switches. Lots of stop and go traffic in the DFW area, light timing is absolutely horrible, basically you drive light to light. Put 75k miles on my car since I got it used with just under 75k miles in September 2011 so it gets driven a lot.

Checked the fluid last night, pinkish red, smells like ATF should. 149.7k miles now.

Gryphen

04 TL. Owned since 96k. First transmission made it to 239K. currently at 241k. 60% highway, 40% city. I did all those miles in just under 3 years. I honestly did very poor maintenance of my transmission compared to the 19 oil changes I did over that same span.
109k- 3rd and 4th gear switches replaced and 1x3 with Redline Type-F.
111k- 2x3 Redline Type-F
113k- 3x3 Redline Type-F
224k- 3rd and 4th gear switches replaced and 1x3 with Redline Type-F and Redline D4 mix.
227k- 2x3 Redline Type-F and Redline D4 mix
232k- 3x3 Redline Type-F and Redline D4 mix
239k- Dead. Installed used motor/transmission w/115k. Reused the pressure switches from the last transmission. Did 4x3 with Redline Type-F and Redline D4 mix. Added transmission cooler and external filter.

Drewman752

Bought mine at 131k, is a 04, she has 191k now.

No trans work from me, yeah I know i have switches and redline sitting the the garage, since i bought the car.

No previous documentation of work done, she whines like a supercharger, and i get a pretty good stumble/shake at 1.9k-2.2kRPM range while in motion/accelerating.

Im sure the converter is going out, but with that said its been like that for 15k miles and a slight tap on the gas makes it go away.

Oh and i've had the car for 4 years now.

Gryphen what kinda signs did you have? If you remember.

Luketic

04 TL with 162k & still going strong!! She runs like a champ. (Knock on wood)

KungFuWaffle

Bought car at 170k and now at 210k still running!

WillTC

I have a 2007 TL-S on original transmission at almost 160k. A mechanic said that the transmission is still in great shape

nokkieny

Has anyone had a transmission fail slowly? I feel like everyone describes their transmission fail as if it happened one day or within a week. Mine has been hard shifting for 20k miles and I am honestly confused, why hasn't it gone yet. I have done all the suggested maintenance since I started initially having the issues but it hasn't gotten any better (not surprised), nor has it gotten worse. I try not to think to much about it but sometimes I get the itch to try to figure out whats going on

DrTynanol

I would recommend dealing with it asap..mine was failing slowly for about 10k until it completely slipped while i was on the highway, car stopped accelerating, had to pull over and waited till it cooled a bit then drove home

nokkieny

Pretty sure its past the point of no return, 20k miles ago I installed a cooler, inline filter, switches, 3x3 flush and 1x3 flush (redline racing/d4) 2-3 times since, also just did the switches again. Maybe the maintenance I have done is sustaining it, but don't feel like there is anything else I can do.
The weird thing is its not getting worse, possibly a bit better than some point in the past.
Another odd thing is one time I lost first gear and it shifted perfectly, just happened once randomly.

What symptoms did your failing slowly have?

sbstnce

failed at 99k :/

I hate cars

If it's in the process of failing you want 100% Type F fluid. Redline racing works great but in your case I would pick some Type F up from the local auto parts store and save money.

nokkieny

if redline racing and redline racing type f are different I actually used the type F I would say it is 80% of my fluid.

quantum7

99 TL failed at 98k....replaced, and that one failed at 178k

07 TL has 163k with original

lostang

my brother has a '04 with 135k on original tranny. he has never done switches but does change tranny oil every 25k miles.

other brother has a '07 TS (85k) but his is a manual

Timthetoolman

05 TL AT 97,000 miles
Purchased @ 30k miles, maintenance history unknown.
About 50% highway, 30% suburbs (fewer stops), 10% stop & go, 10% city (frequent stops). Driven lightly.

Fluid change:
69k Z1 or DW1 1x3 or 3x3 (not sure)
87k Redline LW, Racing , D4 3x3

Switches at 87k (noticed shudder at 82k & fine after switch change) Thanks IHC!!

Transmission performs perfectly ever since switch and fluid change.

Chad05TL

Currently no problems @ 72k miles and I replaced the switches with redline race fluid(3x3), when the car had about 62k I think. Since then I have done 1 or 2 fluid swaps just 1 time each. And I have 2 more waiting for when I get ready to do it. (another cold front.. and I am currently installing MDX door sills. 2 pics in garage.). I also already did the timing belt since it was older than 7 years. And yes I know people go longer but I did it anyway.

pohljm

Absolutely worthless thread

but I will play along.............2006 AT
69K replacement #1 - Z1 100% warranty
71K replacement #2 - 1K on 3x3 Type F racing. 100% warranty Obvious issue with factory Acura rebuilt transmission. Currently, close to 100K no issues, 33% type F, 66% DW-1. getting to be about time for switches and fluid

I hate cars

Type F and DW-1. That's an interesting combo and I think it's a good one. I almost suggested it in my D6 + Type F thread. DW-1 has insane cold flow properties. Combined with Type F to get the frictional properties up to par I think it would make a great combo.

golfer04

04, Original transmission lost 5th gear and reverse simultaneously @ 106k miles.

Dealer did a fluid change @ 82k when I bought the car (I assume just 3qts), as well as new pressure switches. Then I did a 4x3 with a combo of Type F, LW Racing and D4 over a 5k mile period between 87k and 92k.

Replaced with a remanufactured transmission and at 120k now still with the factory fill. Will pry stick with Honda fluid at 20k intervals with this one.

As a side note, the transmission shop that did the swap told me I most likely did more harm than good changing the fluid at all on the original transmission so late in it's life, and that I probably would have been better off leaving it untouched.