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Transmission Problems '96-99

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Maverick_RL

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Anyone have a good solution or recommendation for the transmission problems on 96 through 99 RLs? I currently need a 3rd tranny at 50K mi on a '96 RL. The dealer claims all '96-99 RLs have a defect ('00 and up have redesigned tranny) and there is no intent to fix the defect -- just keep replacing them. This works until your RL is out of warranty and you have to pay $4500 for each transmission. The defect causes the tranny to clunk when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear.

The dealer is sure a '00-04 tranny will _not_ fit a '96-99 model. Has anyone tried this? If a rebuilt '96-99 tranny is put in my car, I'm told I could experience the defect again down the road (most likely out-of-warranty again) and would need a 4th tranny.

There's got to be a better solution. Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Wow, as far as I knew the first generation RL's were fairly reliable. I know mine was when I had it at 103k. Now my sister owns it and she is just now complaining of a slight clunk at 136k.

The 2000-2004 Acura transmissions are pure trash. That's why many Honda's that had a V6 from 2000-2004 (RL, TL, Odyssey) had an extended warranty on their transmissions (7 year/100k miles). My 2002 TL-S's transmission died two months after I sold it; it had 116k on it.

Best of luck!
 
#4 ·
i've heard about this from a honda dealer.
they've dealt with that before and told me, there is a way to fix it. you don't need to replace the whole tranny. for me it sounds like replacing the car only because the fuel tank is empty.

they told me, it is necessary to unbolt the tranny oil pan and take out the main valve and the secondary valve body. then you need to take them apart, clean them and reassemble.
if you are not into that, then go for a good shop otherwise you might damage your AT, if something goes wrong.

by the way, the problem occurs, when you ride wrong AT fluids. try to change your AT oil to full synthetic oil. it helps a lot.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks for the info. Looks like TSB 02-004 covers some of that. Definately worth a try.

I wanted to use full synthetic AT fluild too. The dealer always sayes Honda tranny fluid is better. I could never figure out why because they offer Mobil-1 on oil changes for the motor.
 
#7 ·
there is definitely a problem with the 99 AT. for model 2000 they applied some minor changes to the AT.

my car has 100k miles and no problems with AT so far. i assume it depends on how you treat your car.

yes, it's true, that honda recommends to use their own AT fluid, but i don't care as long as the full synthetic oil from Shell is working way better than the stuff from honda. and i'm not the only one with that opinion.
 
#8 ·
RLuke said:
i've heard about this from a honda dealer.
they've dealt with that before and told me, there is a way to fix it. you don't need to replace the whole tranny. for me it sounds like replacing the car only because the fuel tank is empty.

they told me, it is necessary to unbolt the tranny oil pan and take out the main valve and the secondary valve body. then you need to take them apart, clean them and reassemble.
if you are not into that, then go for a good shop otherwise you might damage your AT, if something goes wrong.

by the way, the problem occurs, when you ride wrong AT fluids. try to change your AT oil to full synthetic oil. it helps a lot.
Click to expand...
Don't mean to bring up an old thread, but I'm having this 1-2nd 'clunk' sound also.

I guess I'll have to drop the pan and clean those valves. Is it difficult? Have you done it before? I'm a DIY person, so I think I can do it w/out too many problems. I'm just asking to see how the process goes.
 
#9 ·
no, i'm not through it yet.
no need to do that for the moment, but somewhere in march this year i will do some service to my RL (timing belt, water pump, etc.) and maybe i will clean the valve bodies.

what is very important when starting such a job, try to keep your environment very clean. there should get no impurity into the valve bodies. this might kill your AT.
after cleaning the parts and before assembling lube them with AT fluid.
 
#11 ·
The clunking issue sounds like tranny mounting issue, which tends to break fairly quickly in G2 Legend.

I personally have never owned 96~99 RL, but I had had G2 Legend Auto Sedan and now I have G2 Legend 6sp Coupe. Isn't 96 RL drivetrain similar to G2 Legend?

With G2 Legend Auto, I sometimes had 1st to 2nd clunking, some other times had hard shifting from 3to4 or 4to3. It was like that when I bought the car at 110k miles and it had been like that until I donated the car around 198k miles. Never replaced tranny.... and it was never slipping, but just hard/annoying shifting characteristic.

Oh yeah, with aftermarket synthetic tranny fluid (Valvoline etc etc), it became more prominent. With genuine Honda tranny fluid, such hard shifting was quite reduced. However, despite all such this and that unique "features", I had not much worried about the tranny. And it was running up "strong" and "smooth" and "fast" until it reached almost 200k, then, it was donated to local charity... I do not know who was lucky to get my donated G2 Legend Auto sedan...

Hope your RL does not have tranny issue, hope it is just some unique "feature" of RL?
 
#12 ·
wrong, the 2000RL tranny has those problems also.i have had the same problem twice.the valve body was repaired by ferman acura and one year later it had to be replaced again because the clunk when shifting from 1 to 2 came back.luck was on my side since i had an extended warranty.it cost $600 plus, both times and the second time they charged for it even though it was less than a year after the first repair.:nono:
 
#13 ·
it is easier to replace the whole valve body (or bodies, cause there two of them), but it is not necessary. not the bodies are the problem, but the solenoids in there. also sometimes a good cleaning might help too.
 
#19 ·
My transmission shifts like SHIT! It does the same scratching sound from 1st to 2nd. Acura and a few other places all said the same thing i need a to rebuild or buy a new transmission. $3000 to rebuild and $5500 for a new one. So what i do now is let off the gas right before it shifts from 1st to 2nd and it doesn't make any sound. I would like to fix it but i cannot afford that ridiculous price and i mostly do highway driving so i'm out of first gear anyway.
 
#20 ·
read my post fews lines ahead ^.
you don't need to replace the whole AT. that is bullcrap. all you need is either to clean the valve bodies or to replace the shifting solenoids, which are mounted on the primary valve body of the AT. they cost around 70 bucks each.
 
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RL_Guy
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