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Acura CL Transmission Problems

140 messages,  Last post on Mar 16, 2013 at 9:14 AM

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What is this discussion about? Acura CL, Coupe

Messages Page 12 of 15

#107 of 140 Re: Acura CL 3.0 - TRANSMISSION DISASTER! [stevebri] by mr1999cl30

Dec 18, 2010 (10:32 am)

Replying to: stevebri (Jan 16, 2007 11:07 pm)
OK, for all those who have the 1998-1999 3.0 Acura CL..(and basically anyone with a high performance FWD automatic..). Here are a few tips to preserve what you drive and/or put off a repair until a later date.
 
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

#108 of 140 1999 Acura CL automatic transmission problem by devmarc210

Jan 18, 2011 (9:36 pm)

I was having hard shifting between gears, and there was a strange sound while idling. The Acura dealer said it was probably the transmission. I spent $3,600 at Aamco in April 2010 for a new transmission,and when I got the car back, the hard shifting was still exactly the same. Aamco checked out the car and said it was fine. For 6 months, it got worse and worse, with additional problems of a weird burp forward after I would put on my brakes, and speeding up while coasting on a flat surface. Since I had a 2-year warranty at Aamco, I took it back and said there was definitely still something wrong. They diagnosed it as bad front and rear transmission mounts and said it would cost me $1500, and that this wasn't part of the 2-year warranty because mounts were separate from the transmission. My car is currently getting fixed, but this all seems very suspect to me. Comments?

#109 of 140 Re: Acura in early 2000 by margiedavis

Jan 24, 2011 (8:21 pm)

The automatics in the early 2000's Acura TL/Honda Accord/Odyssey are really junk yet people recommend them away on this board as a good reliable cars. You may find an independent repair shop who can do it much cheaper. When you call they should have an answer for cost, it is a very common repair.
 
____________________
more Acura repair questions

#110 of 140 Report Acura 2.3 CL Trans problem to Acura by scraw33

Feb 21, 2011 (1:04 pm)

There are several models in 1997 to 2001 and possibly others that are having unusual transmission problems with low mileage and regular upkeep. My Acura is a 1999 CL 2.3 136k, I'm the original owner and have had regular maintenance done. The car was babied for it's entire life, looks new inside and out, yet has a transmission that surges at start and stop. While researching the issue it appears Honda dropped the ball on the owners that purchased these vehicles knowing they had problems with these transmissions. The advice I've been given is call Honda Corp at 1-800-382-2384 and report the problem. Make sure you have your VIN # available. The other is to take it to Acura Dealer and have the service tech right up consumer complaint regarding the issue. Possibly they will respond with some sort of solution so that our cars can live longer without paying more for a transmission than the value based on the poor reliability report on resale value.

#111 of 140 My tansmission (speedometer) is acting up. Do I have to go to a dealer?? by shaynej

Mar 21, 2011 (11:55 am)

Replying to: margiedavis (Jan 24, 2011 8:21 pm)
I have a Acura CL, I think it is a 1998 or 1999.
 
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

#113 of 140 Safty Issue by badera

Jun 10, 2011 (8:41 am)

I have a Acura CL with 151,000 miles and the transmission locked up on the car while at speed on a interstate. The car came to an abrupt and violent stop, with out any forward or reverse. Screaming tires on a busy road could have killed my daughter, but by the grace of God, the other vehicles avoided hitting her.
 
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.

#114 of 140 Re: 1998 Acura CL Premium with 32,000 miles Transmission Failure [kathybk] by mp_sweeney

Jul 01, 2011 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: kathybk (Feb 10, 2008 3:39 pm)
Kathy, You are not alone by any means. My 1998 3.0 CL is on its second engine and THIRD transmission. I'm writing this because I finally found this forum and saw the other posts. My first transmission went at 82,000 miles, after whining and hard downshifting out of overdrive. The second one came with a three-year warranty and failed two weeks after it was installed. Now I have 100,000 miles (on the third one) and it's acting up just like the others. The first engine failed at 68,000 miles, after a check engine light and failed emissions inspection. There was a tapping noise on the cam, and after a tear-down, one of the tappets was ground down about 1/8 inch, due to oil starvation. I never missed a 3000 mile oil change or any scheduled maintenance, and even showed Acura an oil analysis over time that came up clean. Now the second engine is showing the same symptoms, although it's lasted longer due to religious SYNTHETIC oil changes. Acura basically blamed me for everything and wouldn't give me a dime. Now I know I'm not alone. THIS MODEL YEAR IS A TOTAL LEMON. The way I've been treated, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA PRODUCT. EVER.

#115 of 140 Re: My tansmission (speedometer) is acting up. Do I have to go to a dealer?? [shaynej] by bulldozer1

Jul 12, 2011 (4:41 am)

Replying to: shaynej (Mar 21, 2011 11:55 am)
Had the same problem. Needed a new speed sensor. My mechanic couldn't find the part, couldn't get his dashboard rebuilder to get the part, ended up getting a scrapyard dashboard gauge module and that fixed it. The repair took $1000 to complete, and my car "lost" 70,000 miles, but it works now.

#116 of 140 Re: Acura CL 3.0 - TRANSMISSION DISASTER! [mr1999cl30] by flylowflyslow

Aug 18, 2011 (6:42 pm)

Replying to: mr1999cl30 (Dec 18, 2010 10:32 am)
Hello Forum..
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.

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