Hey everyone,
I know this is a ridiculously long post, but I really need some input ASAP and would really appreciate some input.
I've had a few posts already reading my 99 TL. Last week I was supposed to do some routine maintenance but my friend had a neck injury and we had to reschedule. He was also going to give my car an overall inspection because my 3 month power train warranty was set to expire shortly. Since he couldn't take a look at my car, I decide to make a diagnostic appointment with Acura. I was mostly concerned with my transmission. When it's cold I get a hard shift from 1st to 2nd (which I hear is normal to help get the temp up quicker), but I've been getting some slight slipping between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd to 4th. The RPMs will jump anywhere from 400-700 before engaging the next gear. Once the car warms up, it's not much of an issue. I often get a bang/jerk whenever I lift my foot off the gas pedal. I wanted to know if my tranny was on its way out or not before my warranty expired, hence the appt with Acura.
Acura called me back and told me the transmission is going out and needs replaced. They later called back and told me they no longer service or replace the 99 TL transmissions and that I would need to go to an independent transmission shop to get it repaired. They also told me I need right and rear engine mounts and front brake pads and rotors. I later got an email saying there was a bunch of deferred treatment but they never mentioned anything about that over the phone. (That will be another discussion for another day)
I called AAMCO and had them test drive the car. They drove it when I dropped it off and then after it sat overnight. They said it drove fine when I first dropped it off, but definitely slipped in the morning. They said it's a common sign of failure and needs a rebuild. They called my warranty company and found out they will only cover $950 and AAMCO charges $1450 just to take it apart and put it together (diagnostic). They won't know the total until they open it. They estimated up to $2800. They also said the warranty company sends over an inspector and if they don't consider it a tranny failure I'm liable for the entire cost.
The dealership I brought it from said to take it to him and he'll take out the tranny and send it to his guy and I'd only have to pay what his charges. The dealer won't charge labor for the tranny removal/re-install. He said I might have to come out of pocket $700. I dropped it off, and he called me the next day and said he had 3 people drive my car and nobody found anything wrong with it. He said these old Hondas/Acuras always behave like that until they're warmed up. He didn't think I should do anything and he said he didn't think the warranty inspector would find anything wrong with it, leaving me with a big bill for nothing!
I'm so confused. Would Acura just assume it needs a new tranny based on the year? Would AAMCO opt for the rebuild to get the $? I'm not sure who to believe and the time is running out on my warranty. I basically have to decide by tomorrow if I am going forward with the rebuild or not if I want the $950 from the warranty. I apologize for the lengthy post, but I am in a real bind here.
Are there any reasons, other than needed a tranny rebuild, that my car would be slipping when cold? Should I just go forward with the rebuild and be prepared for them to find nothing wrong, or should I just keep driving it as is? No tranny related CELs.
Thanks!
I know this is a ridiculously long post, but I really need some input ASAP and would really appreciate some input.
I've had a few posts already reading my 99 TL. Last week I was supposed to do some routine maintenance but my friend had a neck injury and we had to reschedule. He was also going to give my car an overall inspection because my 3 month power train warranty was set to expire shortly. Since he couldn't take a look at my car, I decide to make a diagnostic appointment with Acura. I was mostly concerned with my transmission. When it's cold I get a hard shift from 1st to 2nd (which I hear is normal to help get the temp up quicker), but I've been getting some slight slipping between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd to 4th. The RPMs will jump anywhere from 400-700 before engaging the next gear. Once the car warms up, it's not much of an issue. I often get a bang/jerk whenever I lift my foot off the gas pedal. I wanted to know if my tranny was on its way out or not before my warranty expired, hence the appt with Acura.
Acura called me back and told me the transmission is going out and needs replaced. They later called back and told me they no longer service or replace the 99 TL transmissions and that I would need to go to an independent transmission shop to get it repaired. They also told me I need right and rear engine mounts and front brake pads and rotors. I later got an email saying there was a bunch of deferred treatment but they never mentioned anything about that over the phone. (That will be another discussion for another day)
I called AAMCO and had them test drive the car. They drove it when I dropped it off and then after it sat overnight. They said it drove fine when I first dropped it off, but definitely slipped in the morning. They said it's a common sign of failure and needs a rebuild. They called my warranty company and found out they will only cover $950 and AAMCO charges $1450 just to take it apart and put it together (diagnostic). They won't know the total until they open it. They estimated up to $2800. They also said the warranty company sends over an inspector and if they don't consider it a tranny failure I'm liable for the entire cost.
The dealership I brought it from said to take it to him and he'll take out the tranny and send it to his guy and I'd only have to pay what his charges. The dealer won't charge labor for the tranny removal/re-install. He said I might have to come out of pocket $700. I dropped it off, and he called me the next day and said he had 3 people drive my car and nobody found anything wrong with it. He said these old Hondas/Acuras always behave like that until they're warmed up. He didn't think I should do anything and he said he didn't think the warranty inspector would find anything wrong with it, leaving me with a big bill for nothing!
I'm so confused. Would Acura just assume it needs a new tranny based on the year? Would AAMCO opt for the rebuild to get the $? I'm not sure who to believe and the time is running out on my warranty. I basically have to decide by tomorrow if I am going forward with the rebuild or not if I want the $950 from the warranty. I apologize for the lengthy post, but I am in a real bind here.
Are there any reasons, other than needed a tranny rebuild, that my car would be slipping when cold? Should I just go forward with the rebuild and be prepared for them to find nothing wrong, or should I just keep driving it as is? No tranny related CELs.
Thanks!