FaMeRoKz

this is my first time posting here but ive been lurking for a while. i have a 2002 TL with 133000 miles. About 2 weeks ago my transmission started to have problems. I bought the car used about 1 year ago and it was sitting in a garage for the majority of the time. About 2 weeks ago the transmission would just rev in place once i was driving and would not move. After a while the D5 TCS and check engine light would come on. I would turn off the vehicle and i would finish driving doing that over and over.

I decided to look up some info on the problem and found out all this useful information in this forum. I decided to call Acura client services because i had noticed in my carfax that none of the recall work had been done to the vehicle.
The rep had informed me that it had a few open recalls and to bring it in and the work would be done at no charge to me.

The rep had informed me that they would use a boroscope or something to look at the gears inside the transmission and if that was the cause of the problem they would replace my tranny free of charge. So i took it in thinking that since they never dealt with this vehicle that had to be the reason the tranny was messing up.

I just received a call from the service rep saying that they took care of the airbag recall and they are installing the oil jet kit. I asked if that would fix the problem and she told me no, and that her foreman or something had said the tranny had ' internal ' failure. They told me to pick my car up tomorrow.

My question is that the client services rep had told me that if it was messed up they would replace my tranny. They were fully aware of my mileage and he said that didnt matter.

What should be my next step? Im a student and i spent all my money in this vehicle. Thanks for the help.

dannyellis2003

I would call Acura again, if there were problems already, the oil jet wont help. The problem will more than likely come up and you'll be out a transmission. Keep bothering them until they replace the tranny or rebuild it.

FaMeRoKz

thanks thats what i was thinking of doing. its worth a shot. any certain way i should go about it?

dannyellis2003

I haven't personally dealt with the situation yet (knocks on wood), but I dont know if you are just calling the local dealership, if not make sure to call the 800 number for Acura America or whatever and deal with them. Also find out details if it does fail even after the oil jet what will happen.

lumpytl

yea just bug the crap out of acura america cuz it was a recall item and if your tranny is messing up them none of the tcs or abs will work properly hence the lights popping up

01tl4tl

ok for the newer members education on this recall vs warranty
the recall uses a special camera- a boroscope to look inside at excess heat damage to
2nd gear parts
IF that EXCESS heat damage is present, then the trans is ripe for a failure thats NOT related to the main prob we all face--early clutch pack wearout
so acura replaced those specific damaged trans as `warranty`-based on faulty oiling damage to gearshaft

the court case won an extended trans warranty to 7 years + 9 months or 109kmiles.

IF you are a loyal and longtime acura customer they might give you some discount after warranty period

retail on the trans is 4 grand and comes in a new case with better oil passages
and the `recall installed` special oiler to 2nd gear- its moved inside the case on the new units

01tl4tl

if no heat damage was found- you get the kit and on your way
Funny they would bother installing it since they knew trans was failed clutches, but in compliance with the law -- and for it to be there when you get your current trans rebuilt using its own case--
thats costing anywhere from 1500 to 2600 or more depending on where you go

FaMeRoKz

what i dont understand its why install the oil jet kit if the tranny barely works..?
its not like they are doing it as a preventive measure. and what happens if the tranny fails after the install of the kit? im just asking cuz i know thats not gonna fix my problem.

01tl4tl

the RECALL (fed govt mandated) kit was for a specific problem-
it was installed on yoyr trans figuring you will be rebuilding that trans, and the kit is needed for that too

If you had choosen to buy an acura rebuild that day--they wouldn't bother with the kit--old trans going to the rebuilder shop acura uses, and that case will go to recycle, not reuse

what the recall kit does is prevent 2nd gear mainshaft from snapping/breaking at 70 mph and bringing the car to a sudden,,,, and dramatic halt--
especially exciting for the person behind you!

your actual failure is not related in any way to that--no heat issues were found
you have clutch pack wearout--
a very common problem that kills the trans anywhere from 50 -190kmiles...
cant complain if you got well over 100 out of one,, or if you bought a car without using the web for research on problems

start asking local trans shops what their actual experience level is with these tiptronic trans,, and what they charge-high low and average job- out the door price.
it varies with how many parts are burnt beyond use

good luck!
the reason it will drive a little then rest and be ok is the crud from clutches is floating in the TQ where it gets spun out to the filter outlet port screens and clogs them--no fluid flow = no shifting
let it rest and crud settles...get another 15 minutes until it clogs

another option is look in Regions link at top of pages here- then find your area and look for ziner who does rebuilds at home,,there are a few around

01tl4tl

if the 2nd gear shaft breaks after the recall kit--they would warranty it,,but that should not happen once proper oil flow is now going there

01tl4tl

there are recalls on a few other parts like airbag inflator..as long as your car can be dragged into the shop they will take care of recalls

being govt required -they must track and report every VIN affected and what cars are still outstanding = recalls not performed
recalls are always a major safety issue- thats why govt forces/works with makers to assure all cars are taken car of

notice a toyota that had its throttle recall performed- just crashed and killed 2 passengers while going full throttle off the freeway and into embankment at 80+ mph
recalls are supposed to fix safety issues~

FaMeRoKz

thanks for the help guys...i will look into all these options...thanks again man.

01tl4tl

as a brand new owner with no acura service dept history where you spent money with them--`goodwill` is questionable

but to get it started as a request: you must take the car to the dealer
they diagnose as dead and why for 100 dollars
service manager calls acura regional warranty rep and pleads your case, starving student,,whatever it is
Rep decides to help or not
You can appeal to higher ups at corp if that action doesnt get you anywhere

but remember--over 109/114.5 for odometer error cars- they have no obligation to help you by cutting their own profit margin
Brand Loyalty helps, other acuras in family, other cars serviced there etc

FaMeRoKz

well guys just to update....acura refused to fix it ....obviously...well it was worth the shot...and i just took it to a transmission shop around my way...alot of ppl recommended it and the ppl there were nice and they were alot of hondas and acura's inside. I paid 1300...dropped it off friday and got it back monday.....6 month warranty...im just glad i got my car back.

FaMeRoKz

id like to thank all you guys for your help....

M T L T L

I had my transmission replaced a little less than 3 years ago. I dunno what was the specific problem but Acura did fixed it. At the time, my odometer was very very close to 100 000 kms. The 7 years 9 months 109K miles = 174K kms extended warranty must be new if I'm not wrong. I tought it was 5 years 100K kms. So my question is since I'm inside the 7y+9m 109K and if my tranny fails again will I be covered again or was it a 1 time thing ?

01tl4tl

you are still covered = based on USA car standards
7.9/109 came in a few years ago for us as another court ordered extension

On yours: did they really replace it, or you got the recall installed external oil jet kit?
was it done after march 2005? Is there a large bolt on top of trans that says ATF on it?

does canada get the exact same usa trans extended warranty or do you only get 7/100?
Who is our guru up there?
USA extension was from a court case

01tl4tl

ask your dealer or acura canada 1-888 9acura9