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Comments
1) Only use the Acura trans fluid. Do not use Dextron not even as a temp replacement.
2) If you have not changed the trans fluid then do so. Afterwards you should do a drain and refill of the trans at every engine oil change (6 months).
*NOTE* The drain and refill mentioned above only amounts to 3 qts. It is easy to do. The idea is to keep a constant supply, over time, of fresh fluid coming into the transmission. The system holds more fluid than 3 qts but only 3 come out when you pull the plug. DO NOT have it power flushed. This transmission does not have much of a filter and said filter is not serviceable without the complete tear down of the transmission. A power flush will likely move particles through the system in a way that will cause plugging and blockage! To change the majority of the fluid, Acura suggests drain 3 and add 3 - three times. ie: drain then add then drive five minutes. Then do that again and again to a total of 9 qts. Then continue nd draining the earlier mentioned three qts at each engine oil change. If you are trying to nurse along a damaged transmission then you may need to do the 3x3 two or the full three times based on how it drives. The damaged transmission really cooks the fluid and shortens its life. In this scenario a synthetic such as redline or amsoil may help handle the heat. Shifts will not be as smooth using the sythetics on a "good' transmission. At some point getting it repaired will be cheaper than all that fluid.
3) If you are an aggressive driver then put an oil cooler on the transmission and or stay in D3 while driving that way. Cuts down on the heat generated by 3 to 4 shifting at high HP. Actually the Oil cooler is recommended for regular drivers too...cheap insurance.
A smooth shifting transmission computer with high horsepower engine, small transmission and especially an aggressive driver (but not always) creates a lot of heat. Heat breaks down the fluid. Bad fluid causes damage to transmission and creates even more heat.
I hope this helps someone. I really like my CL and properly cared for it can provide many miles of service.
Be sure to recycle used fluids and oils
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more Acura repair questions
Last week, the speedometer cable started bouncing and sticking on Zero. At the same time, the transmission (I assume) started acting up. It sounded like it was having a hard time changing gears, etc. After driving a while, the problem went away, but ocassionally it would come back and even sometimes when the car was driving fine, the speedometer would "bounce" or stay at zero or read a MPH that was way higher than I knew I was driving.
So, I took the vehicle to a mechanic that services all of my cars. I bought this car used from him about 2 years ago. It had almost 300,000 miles on it, but a new engine had been put in at about 250,000 miles. I have had no problems out of it since. I change the oil about every 3 - 4 thousand miles, but the transmission has never been serviced, because it is one of those "sealed" transmissions that has to go to the dealer.
Considering the minimal investment I have in this vehicle and the fact that (my mechanic just reminded me) it has to go to the dealer to be serviced, what should I do? Is it possible a "service" will fix this problem? What kind of bill am I looking at to have it serviced (by a dealer)? Is there ANY way I can service it myself (with the help of a mechanic that knows what he is doing)?
I am looking for some recommendations. I can't afford to replace it right now. I am trying to decide the "cheapest" solution to get it fixed. (Should I just skip the service and start looking at getting a new or used transmission?)
I would really appreciate any advice anyone can give me on this matter!
Shayne
This has to be an engineering problem from Honda, I have found out several other Acura CL in the area of different vintages, however with the same millage, or their about, came to the same violent halt while on the road. Some with accidents and injuries.
Please be careful in choosing you next vehicle, Honda and Acura are not "safe at any speed" purchase something else.
I have a new experience to relate for those of you who have used Dextron in either a Dodge or an Acura transmission...even with an additive, dextron is bad news. It will heat up and leave varnish in the valve bodies and Solenoids (acura) . I tried something I never thought I would try. Being careful not to overfill..I put 1/2 pint of Sea Foam trans tune in the transmission. 30,000 miles ago, I allowed a shop to put dextron in (w/ additive) and in three months it shifted like crap. I went back to Acura fluid (ZR1?) and later the new synthetic Acura fluid..Changed three times in 30,000 miles..better but still alternated between whiplash and overspeeding shutter...I learned to baby the shift by backing off the gas pedal and I think I prevented some of the wear and tear. Now I wish I had done the sea foam back when all this started. Since using this cleaner it has been a night and day difference and I continue to us a 1/2 pint with the Acura fluid long term. So far it is awesome.
by the time it reached 67K miles. You got off easy! I hope you bought the dealer's extended warranty, or else you're in for a repair to the tune of $3K. Good luck!
There will be no more Honda products in my future.
Jeff
Sorry to hear of your experience - yet another Acura transmission nightmare. At least Acura helped you with the warranty. They didn't give me jack. In any case, I've found that the prior posts in this thread are spot on. I'm on my third transmission on my '98 3.0 CL, and it's been chugging along for about 100K miles now.
To repeat what's been said previously (and you can do this at 5K mile intervals.) Have your transmission fluid DRAINED AND FILLED. DO NOT FLUSH. ONLY USE ACURA TRANSMISSION FLUID - NOTHING ELSE WILL DO. I did this for four 5K mile intervals (four drain-and-fills), and then at recommended owners manual changes after that.
You can make a regular thing of it - 5K miles - rotate your tires, change oil and filter with Castrol Syntec 5W-30 (I use nothing else), and drain/fill your transmission fluid with Acura-only product.
And yes, after this rig dies I'll be making a beeline to my local Infiniti dealer. Good luck -
Jeff
My sister currently owns a 2003 Acura CL with 198K on it. Never a trans problem, never any major issues. She bought it new and has maintained it regularly. I am currently replacing all of the struts and springs, changing all of the fluids and a motor mount and she plans on driving it for another 100K. It still runs and drives like a 30K mileage car.
That being said, I have owned my own shop, managed a Goodyear and worked at several dealerships the last of which was a Honda dealer. Speaking from personal experience, Honda and Acura will take care of their customers and do so 200% better than ANY other manufacturer out there, period!
I have personally seen Honda and Acura replace a transmission with over 150K on the vehicle with NO SERVICE RECORDS! Try that ANYWHERE else and you will just get laughed at and thrown out.
They are the best cars for the money on the market today.
I own a BMW and a GM Truck. They are both great vehicles. Maintenance is the key to longevity.
As a side note to the person who said they were going to trade for a BMW. They are very similar to owning an older Harley. Drive it, fix it, drive it, fix it. Don't take my word for it go oi bimmerfest forum and see for yourself. I love the car and am not looking for another model to replace it, but trust me, you will have to work on it pretty regularly.
So my only question is this - Am I "safer" with a manual tranny CL???
THX.
Funny, I really like the car albeit for the crappy transmission.
Jeff
The key for me has been what others have stated. I drain and fill - not flush, just drain and fill - the transmission fluid every 10,000 miles religiously, no exceptions. I use only Acura-brand transmission fluid - no exceptions. This 10K mileage is not derived from the Acura service manual - it's from people on this thread who have posted valuable messages.
I'm also on my second engine, thanks to oil starvation problems in the 1998 engine that Acura never admitted to. Thanks to folks on this website, I now change my engine oil every 5000 miles with Castrol Syntec 5W-30, full synthetic - no exceptions.
So, keep reading these threads, and don't rely on Acura. Acura has never admitted to any problems, and wouldn't do squat for me when I brought them up to them years ago. They advised to add oil treatment to the oil when I had a clicking noise in the engine. The transmission went out at 62,000 miles - 2K miles over the engine warranty.
I'm driving this car until it dies, and will never purchase a Honda/Acura product again. Thanks to all on this thread for all of your valuable input and suggestions - Good luck GolferBob, we feel your pain.
I have just purchased my first Acura, it is a 3.0 CL 1999. The car is going well even having 127k miles. But i have just a little problem with the check engine light, it would come even if the car has nothing. The first time it appeared i went to the scan and it says "No description available for the code" or something like that. They just turned the light off and went for a few days. Today the check engine light come again. I dont know what's going on with the car, it has nothing in the exhaust tube nor in the engine itself.
Someone has an idea?
Thanks for the time.
Now the tranny problem, IT IS THE PCM/ECU/PGM! Few people know this, you will not find anything about it - dirty little secret!!
I think the 98 and surely the 99s that came from the OH plant had a computer with a bad software program and over time it will destroy the transmission, torque converter et al.
My problem began at 37,500miles, and after a year of being told "It is a normal function", their light bulb went on and I got the already redesigned ECU, but now at 50,800miles and listening to years of whiring and shift clunks (not normal) I may be looking at the torque converter going and that means a tranny rebuilt, too.
This car has been amazing, the fools at Sunnyside Acura did something you NEVER do to a front wheel drive (pre-new ECU), called "shifting the beam" so the poor car has been trying to manage til I can afford to fix their 2nd BIG screw up. They did more, but the 2 issues are on Acura/Honda and greed and the stupid dealership!
The car deserves fixing! In the snow with descent snows on in 3rd gear, I've driven by 4 wheelers (SUVs, etc.) slid off the side of the road in blizzard conditions - I Love My Car!
My wife purchased a 2006 TL for herself and we have had several issues. Mind you, she drives like an old lady for her age. First, the power steering hose needed to be replaced (covered under warranty). Second, the front end (passenger side), suspension needed to be replaced. My daughter was driving the Acura and the front end tire (passenger side), bent completely inward. Thank goodness she was driving in the city and was driving less than 35mph as opposed to on the freeway. The night before my entire family was in the car driving on the freeway. Now, the transmission went and the car only has 92,000 miles! I was driving in the city and the car stopped moving! I immediately turned on the hazard lights since it was apparent the brake lights weren't working! The crazy thing is I never had a check engine light come on to warn me that there was a problem with the car! Called Acura to ask them if I was still covered under warranty and their response was no. So I then asked them if they were going to cover the cost of repair because my car only has 92,000 miles on it. Again, they said no. So I asked them if they would take off the labor charges and I would pay for a new transmission and they still said no! I ended up taking my car to a transmission place and the mechanic told me he has seen many Acura's and Honda's with the same problem. My Acura's Torque Converter was shot and burnt so badly as was my transmission! What the hell! I will never purchase another Acura or Honda! I am actually searching for another car for myself and it's going to be a Toyota! There is definitely a defect in these cars. My family and I could have been killed twice if driving on the freeway! Acura has not heard the last of me!
Thanx P
Honda ATF DW1 vs Honda ATF Z1. for 98 3.0?
Am experiencing intermittent grabbing/slight jerk when moderately acceleration when going from 3rd-4th.. have kept up on fluid drain/fill every 40k or so but used the import multi fluid and maybe a little lucas transmission additive. has only happened 2 or 3 times in a month or so!
appreciate any opinions or recommendations