Honda V6 tranny rebuild or new?

[BoredAtWork]

Hi guys,

Running into the famous issue of V6 Accords and TL tranny failures. Out of warranty so I am sh!t out of luck. Can anyone recommend me a good place with experience on Honda transmission re-maufacture replacements or rebuilds?

Also, i heard this is a design flaw? does this mean that it will reoccur?

Any approximation on how much this will cost me?

Thanks

[GabAlmighty]

Originally Posted by BoredAtWork

Any approximation on how much this will cost me?

I can 100% guarantee that if you call some transmission shops they'll give you an estimate.

[fsy82]

Mr. Transmission did an awesome job on my wifes 98 V6 Accord. Call them

[HondaGuy]

When you install the new tranny, go buy a B&M tranny cooler from Lordco.
Increases the longetivity of the tranny and smoother shifting.

Somewhere around $150.
Posted via RS Mobile

[Phil@rise]

It's pretty damn expensive. I sent one of my buddies TL's to tranny shop. Ended up cost 2+k

It's pretty much a design flaw. But I heard during the final years of the warranty (they extended to 7 years) they actually put in completely new design transmission. Before they installed some sort of transmission cooler to help reduce break down, but it still happened frequently enough. If you repair yours now, it'll still technically just be repaired and will probably have the same issue down the road.

[Cman333]

whoops.... that was me ^

[fsy82]

Originally Posted by HondaGuy

When you install the new tranny, go buy a B&M tranny cooler from Lordco.
Increases the longetivity of the tranny and smoother shifting.

Somewhere around $150.
Posted via RS Mobile

Mr. Transmission put that in and also a friction kit as well.

[Mkhun]

^ and i ended up paying $4500.

[skylinergtr]

accurate transmission does honda/acura trans rebuilds i think.

they also have a 3 years warrenty.

i dont know how much help this does, but honda has changed their specifications from using Honda Z1 fluid to fully synthetic Honda DW-1.

[b92]

jst got mine done a month ago..lucky to find this small shop. called everywhere for months getting quotes usually raning 2k-3k. this guy charged me 1850 but only 20k km warranty. took about 2 days to rebuild. its across from icbc newton, called aaa transmission. rebuilt with parts from usa. the ones used in our accords/tls are from mexico they burn really fast thats what he told me. cheapest place i guarantee u'll bump into. nice east indian man been doin it for years.

[77civic1200]

Originally Posted by Phil@rise

It's pretty much a design flaw. But I heard during the final years of the warranty (they extended to 7 years) they actually put in completely new design transmission. Before they installed some sort of transmission cooler to help reduce break down, but it still happened frequently enough. If you repair yours now, it'll still technically just be repaired and will probably have the same issue down the road.

Best info in this thread right here.

If you get it rebuilt, be prepared to do it again, as you are just repairing a flawed design. Or you can spend more money up front and get the Honda re-man tranny, its been re-designed to run cooler and distribute the fluid better to all the clutch packs.

[originalhypa]

Originally Posted by Phil@rise

It's pretty damn expensive. I sent one of my buddies TL's to tranny shop. Ended up cost 2+k

It's pretty much a design flaw. But I heard during the final years of the warranty (they extended to 7 years) they actually put in completely new design transmission. Before they installed some sort of transmission cooler to help reduce break down, but it still happened frequently enough. If you repair yours now, it'll still technically just be repaired and will probably have the same issue down the road.

Same issue with my old Odyssey.
OP, go to Honda and bitch. Imho, it should have been a recall back in the day.
That said, I bitched at Honda and they replaced my tranny for free, 5 years after the warranty expired. That made me happy.

[kouki_monster]

Wow, ive never heard of this before.. what year accord has this problem? My sister is looking for a car so I should tell her to watch out. Sounds like a huge problem from honda =/

[jpark]

^usually 98-2005 honda v6 automatic trannys

[originalhypa]

^
yup.

That said, Honda was really good to me for replacing my old tranny. I bought a 2011 Odyssey because of it. They don't screw up often, but when they do they stand behind their product.

[Dragon-88]

My dads 2000 Odyssey needed a new tranny. Replaced under warranty.
Dads 01 Accord V6 is slipping from first to 2nd. Needs fixing sooner than later
Bro just rebuilt his 03 tl-s tranny $3Gs.

All cars are taken well care of and still have problems. Its just a known issue with their tranny;s.

[wasabisashimi]

got mine rebuild by Accurate transmission on coquitlam 4 yrs ago. No problem since. drove over 120,000km on it already.


I dunno if this is normal and no idea what accurate transmission has done. Mind you that i dont drive like a jackass. I dont floor it and brake heavy making tranny work hard up and down the gear.

Also I do transmission fluid change frequent, sometimes under the suggested interval

[1exotic]

I'll post the place up here later, but we had our V6 Honda Odyssey transmission fixed at some place in surrey for $1500 a few months ago... and the tranny was totally fucked.

[BoredAtWork]

Thanks all for the good info. Keep them coming.

So there seems to be a difference with re manufacture transmissions. I guess only Honda sells that and costs like a bitch I bet?

I understand that the cooler helps, but what's a friction kit?

[originalhypa]

Originally Posted by BoredAtWork

I understand that the cooler helps, but what's a friction kit?

From what my mechanic buddy told me, basically the issue with early Honda trannys is that they didn't run filters, causing crud to get caught up in the transmission itself. They then added filters to the auto revision 2, which caused flow restrictions and increased the heat in the system, thus the reason a cooler was recommended.

Apparently they figured it out a couple years ago.
I hope...

[HondaGuy]

98-02 Accord v6 tranny were made by GM....honda partnered with GM back in the day to design the tranny.

If you take apart the tranny you will find certain parts branded with GM logo.
Posted via RS Mobile

[Cman333]

Originally Posted by Dragon-88

All cars are taken well care of and still have problems. Its just a known issue with their tranny;s.

Yup. The one I got sent out to repair had UNDER 60k on the odo.

That's like 6000km's a year only and still died. Driven by an senior. So he's not harsh on the car.

The TL is generally a reliable car, but some suffered from the automatic transmission issues that affected many Honda/Acura vehicles built in the past decade. Honda extended its warranties and replaced defective transmissions under this extended coverage, but there’s some evidence that many of the replacement units installed before early 2005 often failed again. Redesigned replacement transmissions used after that are said to be better. Read about the transmission here and here.


This issue has been addressed in a Transport Canada recall, as transmission failure can cause the front wheels to lock up and cause a loss of control. The recall prescribes a revision to the gearboxes oil cooling system to prevent heat build-up in the second-gear components, the source of the problem.

All basic transmission question threads will be referred to this sticky and/or merged with the Transmission Failure discussion here: http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106818

Also, please refer to the Transmission Recall Q & A forum on 2G CL (same transmission, different car)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transmission Problems and Questions (more to come with time)

Q: I have heard that the 2000 + model year TL’s have transmission problems. Is there a recall and what are the warning signs?
A: The 2000 to early 2003 model year TL’s have an extended warranty on the transmission. 1999 TL’s have been reported to have minimal problems, however, it is rare. The transmission is now covered up to 100,000 miles or 7 years, and the replaced transmissions are under an Acura replaced parts warranty of 12,000 miles past the mileage at the time of replacement.

From the official Acura Transmission Recall notice:

Common signs of transmission failure are:
• An abnormally loud noise from the transmission.
• Extremely slow or delayed gear engagement, upshifts, or downshifts.
• Abnormal gear slippage during upshifts or downshifts. (Commonly between 2-3 and 3-4 shifts)
• Erratic or excessively harsh shifting.
• Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) leaks.
• While driving, the D5 indicator (possibly also TCS and check engine light) on the instrument panel flashes.

These characteristics are normal; they should not require you to call your Acura dealer:
Quick downshifts. The transmission has a computerized control system called grade logic. When going down a hill, even a light touch of the brake pedal can cause grade logic to downshift to the next lower gear. Downshifting helps to slow the vehicle through engine braking.
Does not always shift through the full range of gears. This can also be caused by the grade logic system keeping the transmission in the optimum gear for different driving conditions.
Mechanical noise when selecting a forward or reverse gear. It's normal to hear a slight mechanical noise when moving the shift lever from one gear to another. This noise can sound abnormally loud if any of the windows are down and you are parked next to a wall or another vehicle.
Vehicle may not hold its position when stopped on an incline in gear (may roll backward when the brake pedal is released). This can occur on most Acura-made vehicles. It is one of the measures used to improve fuel economy.
Hard shifts before the engine warms up. By design, the transmission shifts a little harder when the engine is cold. It returns to smoother shifting when the engine warms up.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Recall Notices:

Safety Recall: CL and TL Automatic Transmission Second Gear Inspection

Dear Acura Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

What is the reason for this notice?

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2001-03 3.2CLs, 2000-03 3.2TLs, and 2004 TLs.
Certain operating conditions can result in heat buildup in the transmission second gear set and may lead to gear tooth chipping. In very rare cases, gear breakage can occur. Gear failure could result in transmission lock-up, and a crash could occur without warning.

What should I do when the transmission fails?

Call any authorized Acura dealer and make an appointment to have your vehicle repaired. For vehicles with less than 15,000 miles, the dealer will install an oil jet kit to provide additional lubrication to the gears. For vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the affected gear for heat discoloration, which indicates possible damage. If heat discoloration exists, the dealer will replace the transmission. If heat discoloration is not found, the dealer will install an oil jet kit. This work will be done free of charge. Please plan to leave your vehicle all day to allow the dealer flexibility in scheduling the inspection and installing the oil jet kit. If transmission replacement is needed, the work will take more than one day.
Who to contact if you experience problems.

If you are not satisfied with the service you receive from your Honda dealer, you may write to:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
Mail Stop 500-2N-7A
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your vehicle, without charge, within a reasonable period of time (60 days from the date you first contact the dealer for a repair appointment), you may submit a complaint to:

Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
Or call the toll-free Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

What to do if you feel this notice is in error:

Our records show that you are the current owner or lessee of a 2001-03 3.2CL, 2000-03 3.2TL, or 2004 TL involved in this campaign. If this is not the case, or the name/address information is not correct, please fill out and return the enclosed, postage-paid Information Change Card. We will then update our records.
If you paid to have the transmission replaced, you may be eligible for reimbursement. Refer to the attached instructions for eligibility requirements and the reimbursement procedure.

Lessor Information:

Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within 10 days.
If you have any questions about this notice, or need assistance with contacting an Acura dealer, please call Acura Client Services at (800) 382-2238, and select menu option #2.

We apologize for any inconvenience this campaign may cause you.
Sincerely,
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Automobile Division

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=566833

[6o4allmotor]

Had the issue of slipping in a 01 tl I changed to fluid and the 3rd and 4th presure switchs as well as the trans fluid filter and the issue almost went away, what did it in was the person kept driving on the trans when he noticed it slipping. If you stilling running that garbage z1 honda fluid change that asap.

[Ludepower]

Rebuilt or used...same thing...it's a ticking time bomb...the luck of the draw.

Thank honda for a shitty design flaw...majority of the models have automatic tranny problems. Just read around and u'll witness countless complaints about it. Prelude, Odyssey, Civic, Accord, etc.

The worst part is...problems arise after your warranty expires. You either beg honda head office or take it up the rear and pay for repairs.

Preventative maintenance is all you can do and prayer.

[BillyBishop]

Even though I'm not the first owner of my CL, I'm going to bring it up with Honda and see how far I can get... I don't want to shell out a few grand to "fix" it.