Two friends with Honda Acura 5spd auto trans have had transmission failure. That is a big number since I don't talk about transmissions unless my friends mention it first. So I don't know if there are others. I hope I am not next. But my ATF looks fairly dark after less than 10,000 mi since the last change. Next vehicle? Not a Honda since their AT's fail so often.
Are all 5-speed Honda/Acura automatics predoomed to a failure???
- Thread starter Dominik
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"I hope this isn't the same AT that they are using in the 06 Accords, which I just bought. One thing I have noticed is that when slowing down, the AT likes to downshift. I mean, you can feel it unlike our 02 Accord. Wonder if that has something to do with it."
Its just engine braking so you don't have to use the brakes as much. My Vue does it too, and I'm glad.
"My advice? Buy a stick. Modern autos just aren't worth the risk. Way too expensive when they fail."
Amen! If I had my say, I wouldn't have an automatic right now.
Its just engine braking so you don't have to use the brakes as much. My Vue does it too, and I'm glad.
"My advice? Buy a stick. Modern autos just aren't worth the risk. Way too expensive when they fail."
Amen! If I had my say, I wouldn't have an automatic right now.
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My advice? Buy a stick. Modern autos just aren't worth the risk. Way too expensive when they fail.
I wish I could buy a car without all the automatic gizmos all through it. I know they are more reliable than they were 20 years ago, but, man, it seems like overkill to me.
OK, back on topic, I just bought a case of Honda Z-1 ATF at the dealership for 3.75 a quart. I'm going to start draining/filling at every oil change, and watch for any discoloration to occur. Once I get past the warranty, I'll probably go to something made by a company such as Amsoil or SF.
OK, back on topic, I just bought a case of Honda Z-1 ATF at the dealership for 3.75 a quart. I'm going to start draining/filling at every oil change, and watch for any discoloration to occur. Once I get past the warranty, I'll probably go to something made by a company such as Amsoil or SF.
Too much clutch energy which burns down the fluid and cooks the clutch pack.
Go easy (as in throttle) on your 2-3 and 4-3 shifts
Go easy (as in throttle) on your 2-3 and 4-3 shifts
"My advice? Buy a stick. Modern autos just aren't worth the risk. Way too expensive when they fail."
I don't think their vans and V6 SUVs are offered with manual trans?
I don't think their vans and V6 SUVs are offered with manual trans?
Okay, it's an old thread . . am looking at a 1998 ACURA 2.3 Coupe with 81,000 miles with light use. No known trans problems, learned about it through my mechanic. Nephew needs a car and am helping sister by doing some homework.
The car has an auto, but ?
The car has an auto, but ?
I feel very fortunate. My 1993 Honda Civic 4 speed auto is on 254,000 original miles with no issues with the tranny. Still shifts where it should. Overdrive locks up when it should. Hey I thought this was normal service for Hondas.
Fluid has been changed fairly regularly. Specs Dextron II but gets Dex III
I have been considering a new Civic however I question their Autos these days. Newer is not always better.
I have been considering a new Civic however I question their Autos these days. Newer is not always better.
We have a 1998 CRV with 120k, no autotrans problems. The prob is specific to the V6 Accords, if the Acura has the same trans, look to see if/when it got the extra oil jet fitment fix onto the fill or drain hole.
I did not hesitate to buy a new-5sp auto Accord, but used cars in manual trans is always better.
I did not hesitate to buy a new-5sp auto Accord, but used cars in manual trans is always better.
AU,
The 98-02 Accords 4-speed AT didn't discriminate between the L4 & V6, carrier bearings have been pinned as the culprit. The 5-speed AT was the one that didn't like the V6.
Is the Acura you are looking at the 5-speed auto?
The 98-02 Accords 4-speed AT didn't discriminate between the L4 & V6, carrier bearings have been pinned as the culprit. The 5-speed AT was the one that didn't like the V6.
Is the Acura you are looking at the 5-speed auto?
yes
i have replaced my tranny once already on the TL
but it was under warrenty
i have replaced my tranny once already on the TL
but it was under warrenty
See that my old thread's been revived. My Acura CL trans still holds ok currently 5,000km on Amsoil Universal ATF shifts rough only when pushed harder, but then under wot 9-out-of-10 smooth.
I recently read that in theese transmissions hard shifts mean shorter clutch engaging times thereby less clutch wear.
What say you? I am quite bamboozeled by this from Acura TL board:
" Road Rage03-09-2006, 7:42 PM
RR, would you please explain this. I'm not a 5AT guy, but this is interesting. Why would a harder shift result in less wear ? I thought the reverse would be true as a hard shift would result in more drive line shock therefore causing more wear.
It has to do with slippage, just as in a flywheel/clutch in the drivetrain. For all intents and purposes, two surfaces "locked" have no wear. So a clutch could last forever. But it is the engaging of the clutch where the friction materials on the clutch and flywheel rub against one another that the wear occurs.
An AT has clutches - lots of them. When they engage "soft", such as to provide a Lexus-like, buttery smooth shift, the surfaces are sliding against one another more than when the shift is "hard". A hard shift results in less frictional and abrasive wear. Try rubbing your palms together quickly - got it?
So all things being equal, the harder the shift, the less the wear. That is the basis for Amsoil's response.
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Xpditor
http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-89064.html
and here's the link
I recently read that in theese transmissions hard shifts mean shorter clutch engaging times thereby less clutch wear.
What say you? I am quite bamboozeled by this from Acura TL board:
" Road Rage03-09-2006, 7:42 PM
RR, would you please explain this. I'm not a 5AT guy, but this is interesting. Why would a harder shift result in less wear ? I thought the reverse would be true as a hard shift would result in more drive line shock therefore causing more wear.
It has to do with slippage, just as in a flywheel/clutch in the drivetrain. For all intents and purposes, two surfaces "locked" have no wear. So a clutch could last forever. But it is the engaging of the clutch where the friction materials on the clutch and flywheel rub against one another that the wear occurs.
An AT has clutches - lots of them. When they engage "soft", such as to provide a Lexus-like, buttery smooth shift, the surfaces are sliding against one another more than when the shift is "hard". A hard shift results in less frictional and abrasive wear. Try rubbing your palms together quickly - got it?
So all things being equal, the harder the shift, the less the wear. That is the basis for Amsoil's response.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xpditor
http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-89064.html
and here's the link
I don't know, but Toyotas shift very smoothly and their automatics tend to last a very long time, even with little or no maintenance.
The jury is still out on whether the updated/revised 5-speed Automatics (2005+) for the 2G TL/CL vehicles will hold up. We've already had a few fail on AcuraZine and had to be rebuilt an independent shop. But they do seem to be a lot better as a whole compared to the original unit.
The jury is still out on whether the updated/revised 5-speed Automatics (2005+) for the 2G TL/CL vehicles will hold up. We've already had a few fail on AcuraZine and had to be rebuilt an independent shop. But they do seem to be a lot better as a whole compared to the original unit.
to extend honda's tranny u have to change ur ATF with Amsoil ATF every 10000 miles
if u haven't changed for a long time i would do a 3 time drain/refill to make sure u replace a lot of new fluid
if u haven't changed for a long time i would do a 3 time drain/refill to make sure u replace a lot of new fluid
Brown fluid is normal for Z1. As I said in the other thread, fluid changes will not extend the life of the unit since the cause of failure is a design issue that is unrelated to fluid changes.
brown and burnt ATF fluid is normal? that means the tranny is always under high heat, it's necessary to change it often due to the heat of the tranny, we all know it's a design issue, but it's still better to change some new fliud for old fluid which break down so much
u can look at some ATF UOA that proves honda z1 sucks even with 10000 miles, my 2nd tranny is a newer design so i have been so far so good, but i still keep the fliud new to make sure it won't fail too soon
No, brown fluid is NORMAL. Many of the newer ATFs will discolor and produce an odd odor but it does NOT indicate a problem. Chrysler's ATF+4 for example, states explicitly in the owner's manual that discolored fluid producing an unusual odor is not indicative of any transmission problem. Honda stated something similar in diagnostic instructions. I posted it on here a while back.
How do you know it sucks? Are you a fluids engineer? What credentials do you have to support your statement(s)?
maybe a more correct statement would be that brown fluid may be normal. I can't remember the month that the Honda Service News told of the discoloration being normal.
"Honda better do something about their A/T (engineering)problems or they will lose a lot of hard earned 'goodwill'"
It's an older problem and an old joke that somone else stated in one these forums; 'Ford makes crummy minivans because the trannys fail, while Honda makes very good minivans that have tranny problems'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Odyssey
Many owners reported transmission problems with their second generation Odyssey, and Honda ended up replacing many transmissions under warranty for free. The 4-speed automatic transmission in 1999 to 2001 models had very serious problems with transmission durability......The five-speed automatic introduced in 2002 was supposed to fix this, but general reliability of the transmission did not improve until 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura_CL
Many owners reported problems with the replacement transmissions as well. Similar transmission-related issues exist in the Honda Accord, Acura MDX as well as the Honda Odyssey......In addition, there was an unrelated transmission recall for safety reasons. One gear tended to overheat, break and cause the transmission to lock up.
It's an older problem and an old joke that somone else stated in one these forums; 'Ford makes crummy minivans because the trannys fail, while Honda makes very good minivans that have tranny problems'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Odyssey
Many owners reported transmission problems with their second generation Odyssey, and Honda ended up replacing many transmissions under warranty for free. The 4-speed automatic transmission in 1999 to 2001 models had very serious problems with transmission durability......The five-speed automatic introduced in 2002 was supposed to fix this, but general reliability of the transmission did not improve until 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura_CL
Many owners reported problems with the replacement transmissions as well. Similar transmission-related issues exist in the Honda Accord, Acura MDX as well as the Honda Odyssey......In addition, there was an unrelated transmission recall for safety reasons. One gear tended to overheat, break and cause the transmission to lock up.
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