I am going to look at a 2005 Acura TL this afternoon. It only has 42k miles on it, one owner and looks pretty clean. I know the automatic transmission is a sore spot on these (which this one is), anything else that I need to look for?
05 Acura TL - What to watch out for?
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Hopefully "the Critic" responds, as he was a moderator on an acura enthusiast board.
You're right about the transmission though, but you are getting close to the years in which they largely solved the issues. I just don't remember what year it was.
You're right about the transmission though, but you are getting close to the years in which they largely solved the issues. I just don't remember what year it was.
Those who do their research on Honda transmissions and specific models and years will find out that yes, there were issues. However, not ALL Honda's have bad transmissions.
I had a 06 and I have a 08. In certain 2004 models they issued a TSB and had the 3rd gear oiler installed on the transmission filler hole to address the transmission issue. 2005 and on they permanently installed it. So i wouldn't worry too much about the transmission. I would just drain and refill it 3 times if it was mine though. One thing to look out for is the engine mounts. A lot of 04 and 05 are having engine mounts that are wearing and cracking prematurely. Check to see if there ok. Other than that, its a great car.
My mother in law had a near flawless '04 (automatic). She liked it so much, she traded it on a 2010 model. I think she had 80k miles or better on the '04.
No known issues that I am aware of. The 07+ models do have a better transmission, as it is a 4-shaft unit. But the 04-06 transmissions have been holding up fine, despite what the acurazine guys say. Some people have preemptively replaced the 3rd gear pressure switches and claim significant improvements in transmission performance and reliability, but I am skeptical.
Just remember that you will need to perform a complete timing belt service at around 105k on this car. I personally believe the 04-08 TL and TL-S are one of the best cars that Honda has ever built.
Just remember that you will need to perform a complete timing belt service at around 105k on this car. I personally believe the 04-08 TL and TL-S are one of the best cars that Honda has ever built.
In addition to the transmission, I'd say you should rotate your tires frequently due to a large V6 + FWD making it wears out the front tires much faster than the rear.
Timing belt isn't that much to worry about, for a V6 the labor is probably a $300-400 job on top of about $150 parts, every 90k-105k or so. If you are going to take the risk of the transmission anyways, what's another $500? You'll probably have to replace the serpentine belt or the water pump on a car with timing chain and spend half as much anyways.
Timing belt isn't that much to worry about, for a V6 the labor is probably a $300-400 job on top of about $150 parts, every 90k-105k or so. If you are going to take the risk of the transmission anyways, what's another $500? You'll probably have to replace the serpentine belt or the water pump on a car with timing chain and spend half as much anyways.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
In addition to the transmission, I'd say you should rotate your tires frequently due to a large V6 + FWD making it wears out the front tires much faster than the rear.
Timing belt isn't that much to worry about, for a V6 the labor is probably a $300-400 job on top of about $150 parts, every 90k-105k or so. If you are going to take the risk of the transmission anyways, what's another $500? You'll probably have to replace the serpentine belt or the water pump on a car with timing chain and spend half as much anyways.
I still think the risk of a transmission failure on a newer TL is no greater than the risk of ANY late model V6 FWD car experiencing a transmission failure.
Personally I'm rather unconvinced that transmissions will last past 150k when paired with large engines like that.
In addition to the transmission, I'd say you should rotate your tires frequently due to a large V6 + FWD making it wears out the front tires much faster than the rear.
Timing belt isn't that much to worry about, for a V6 the labor is probably a $300-400 job on top of about $150 parts, every 90k-105k or so. If you are going to take the risk of the transmission anyways, what's another $500? You'll probably have to replace the serpentine belt or the water pump on a car with timing chain and spend half as much anyways.
I still think the risk of a transmission failure on a newer TL is no greater than the risk of ANY late model V6 FWD car experiencing a transmission failure.
Personally I'm rather unconvinced that transmissions will last past 150k when paired with large engines like that.
If that transmission is the same as the 7th gen Accord and it already has the 3rd gear lube problem fixed at the factory, you should be good to go. There were some problems on the Accords with the HVAC console, might want to check in on that.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
I still think the risk of a transmission failure on a newer TL is no greater than the risk of ANY late model V6 FWD car experiencing a transmission failure.
Personally I'm rather unconvinced that transmissions will last past 150k when paired with large engines like that.
Nope, Nissan CVT is horribly unreliable (friend had one that died at 90k). GM and Toyota has been fine. Ford/Mazda, Chrysler, Honda, BMW, VW, Volvo were horrible at least up until recently.
I still think the risk of a transmission failure on a newer TL is no greater than the risk of ANY late model V6 FWD car experiencing a transmission failure.
Personally I'm rather unconvinced that transmissions will last past 150k when paired with large engines like that.
Nope, Nissan CVT is horribly unreliable (friend had one that died at 90k). GM and Toyota has been fine. Ford/Mazda, Chrysler, Honda, BMW, VW, Volvo were horrible at least up until recently.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Nope, Nissan CVT is horribly unreliable (friend had one that died at 90k). GM and Toyota has been fine.
What are you basing that on? One friend who had a Nissan CVT die at 90k? I sure hope not, as one data point is near meaningless.
Nissan has had some CVT failures, but not an alarming number, and nowhere as many as the infamous Honda V6 5-speed automatics from the 2000-2003 era.
Most of the issues were with the Muranos, and a number of the CVT failures were not due to the CVT itself, but rather due to the transfer case failing which caused the CVT to failure eventually due to leaks.
Nope, Nissan CVT is horribly unreliable (friend had one that died at 90k). GM and Toyota has been fine.
What are you basing that on? One friend who had a Nissan CVT die at 90k? I sure hope not, as one data point is near meaningless.
Nissan has had some CVT failures, but not an alarming number, and nowhere as many as the infamous Honda V6 5-speed automatics from the 2000-2003 era.
Most of the issues were with the Muranos, and a number of the CVT failures were not due to the CVT itself, but rather due to the transfer case failing which caused the CVT to failure eventually due to leaks.
I believe Nissan also did no charge transmission replacements up to 100 or 120k. A buddy got his done no questions asked on an early murano with 100k.
The people selling Acura's do not seem to be flexible on price. We looked at a few '08 TL's and TL-S's that we really liked, but for a minimal price difference had a wide selection of CPO low mileage well optioned BMW 5 series and Mercedes E350's to choose from with good warranties. The BMW and Mercedes dealers were willing to drop 5k plus and in some cases (ours) $8,500 off asking price for a two year old car with full maintenance history and 20k miles that looks like it just came off the showroom. Acura guys would not budge more than $500 on cars with 50k.
We don't expect the same reliability, but the BMW is so much more solid as a family car at an Acura or accord price point. We will just make a point to sell it before the 100k warranty expires in 2014.
The people selling Acura's do not seem to be flexible on price. We looked at a few '08 TL's and TL-S's that we really liked, but for a minimal price difference had a wide selection of CPO low mileage well optioned BMW 5 series and Mercedes E350's to choose from with good warranties. The BMW and Mercedes dealers were willing to drop 5k plus and in some cases (ours) $8,500 off asking price for a two year old car with full maintenance history and 20k miles that looks like it just came off the showroom. Acura guys would not budge more than $500 on cars with 50k.
We don't expect the same reliability, but the BMW is so much more solid as a family car at an Acura or accord price point. We will just make a point to sell it before the 100k warranty expires in 2014.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
What are you basing that on? One friend who had a Nissan CVT die at 90k? I sure hope not, as one data point is near meaningless.
Nissan has had some CVT failures, but not an alarming number, and nowhere as many as the infamous Honda V6 5-speed automatics from the 2000-2003 era.
Most of the issues were with the Muranos, and a number of the CVT failures were not due to the CVT itself, but rather due to the transfer case failing which caused the CVT to failure eventually due to leaks.
I was bashing based on my years back in the hybrid car research (late 90s) and the belt based CVT Jatco (Nissan) transmission. It is fundamentally fragile as soon as it slipped, and it is very picky about the pulley pressure that drives the belt.
It works fine in a constant torque environment. If you put any shock load on it, it won't handle it well like a gear based transmission. Transfer case issue on a gear based transmission will not be that big of a deal as long as the gear can mesh together. On a belt/pulley based CVT, a crack in the transfer case means the pressure isn't the same anymore, and then the belt slip, and then the failure.
BTW, Honda V6 auto transmissions are junk too, not just Nissan.
What are you basing that on? One friend who had a Nissan CVT die at 90k? I sure hope not, as one data point is near meaningless.
Nissan has had some CVT failures, but not an alarming number, and nowhere as many as the infamous Honda V6 5-speed automatics from the 2000-2003 era.
Most of the issues were with the Muranos, and a number of the CVT failures were not due to the CVT itself, but rather due to the transfer case failing which caused the CVT to failure eventually due to leaks.
I was bashing based on my years back in the hybrid car research (late 90s) and the belt based CVT Jatco (Nissan) transmission. It is fundamentally fragile as soon as it slipped, and it is very picky about the pulley pressure that drives the belt.
It works fine in a constant torque environment. If you put any shock load on it, it won't handle it well like a gear based transmission. Transfer case issue on a gear based transmission will not be that big of a deal as long as the gear can mesh together. On a belt/pulley based CVT, a crack in the transfer case means the pressure isn't the same anymore, and then the belt slip, and then the failure.
BTW, Honda V6 auto transmissions are junk too, not just Nissan.
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