| Warzau |
| Agreed, I'm not going to kiss Acura's ass and say they are perfect, nowadays no car is perfect from the factory. But the fact they are doing something is better than nothing. |
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| evoge |
quote:
Originally posted by Warzau
Agreed, I'm not going to kiss Acura's ass and say they are perfect, nowadays no car is perfect from the factory. But the fact they are doing something is better than nothing.
Worth saying twice. |
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| Warzau |
| LOL damn Comcast with their lag, now thats a company to ***** about. Lets reduce your speed but still charge you the same price. A year later we raise them back up to the original speed and claim " we double your speed for the same price" |
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| bb123 |
Tim:
Hey, reasonable minds can differ. Time will tell if I'm wrong - I truly hope I am and that the transmission in my '03 MDX is better than that in my '02 MDX.
We are in agreement that more than 6 transmissions have failed. My comment was directed to renov8r's suggestion that only six transmissions have failed and that Acura was trying to get out in front. I just disagree with him on these particular points. The "catastrophic" language in American Honda'a press release was, in my opinion, designed to leave one with the impression that only six transmissions have failed nationwide leading to the recall.
As far as what do I suggest American Honda do, it's simple: Extend the transmission warranty on all MDXs to 7 yrs./100,000 miles. If they are not prone to premature failure, it's free good publicity for Honda/Acura.
I wasn't suggesting there is a "conspiracy," just that American Honda is acting like many other automakers would when faced with a problem such as this transmission problem. My wife and I owned nothing but Honda products from 1989-2002 (7 in all) and because they were so reliable, I expected more from Honda. |
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| juanricos |
A draft of the Service Bulletin for the transmission recall is available from my website at:
http://www.smokinsales.com/HApdfs/a04-021.pdf
It is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
It is 458 KB (469,689 bytes).
Tim (hondacuraworld) sent it to me.
It is for the Odyssey and Pilot which is really what I wanted since I own a Odyssey. If Tim sends me the one for the MDX i'll host that one as well.
It contains the inspection procedure and the oil jet installation procedure.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.smokinsales.com/odypic/ODX.jpg
Acura ODX (Not real!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Odyssey
2002 Evergreen Pearl EX-L
Purchased 3/18/2002.
Owned 773 days.
69776 miles to date.
------------------------------
90.27 avg miles driven per day.
2791.04 avg miles driven per month.
34888 avg miles driven per year.
------------------------------
30224 miles remaining on HondaCare 7/100 Warranty.
59 months remaining on HondaCare 7/100 Warranty. Yeah Right. :) |
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| socalJD |
quote:
Originally posted by hondacuraworld
. . . Is there an isue? Yes. But I think that people talking of coverups and conspiracy theories are off base on this. . .
Hmmm, interesting discussion forming here. We'll see just how well AHMC/Acura steps up to the plate - you folks recall that my cousin's '01 X dropped the tranny at 77k miles, since she was out of warranty due to miles, she had to take a $6k hit on the trade in due to the tranny, to get into a new '03. If AHMC is true to their word, they should wholeheartedly reimburse my cousin for ALL the costs associated to that tranny blowing up - especially since she stayed loyal to the brand and bought another MDX. Jury is out on this one - we shall soon see . . . |
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| hammermdx |
I have an appointment this Monday morning for the oil jet kit to be installed. I only have 13,500 miles so I should be in good shape. My service advisor was curious how I even knew about the recall, I gave him the url for this site. Will let you all know how it goes.
ps: The reason they agreed to do it before I got the letter is because I have to head to Vermont to pick up my daughter and all her stuff a week from Saturday. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
I have an appoitment this Monday morning for the oil jet kit to be installed. I only have 13,500 miles so I should be in good shape. My service advisor was curios how I even knew about the recall, I gave him the url for this site. Will let you all know how it goes.
ps: The reason they agreed to do it before I got the letter is beacuse I have to head to Vermont to pick up my daughter and all her stuff a week from Saturday.
Probably lucky they already have all the stuff they need to do the job. |
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| jsolo18 |
| I spoke to Acura client services several times over the last three days. The response I received from their very polite representative was about as sincere and believable as Johnny Cochran when explaining away the presence of blood in OJ's Bronco. She was very clear that Acura would only repair second gear damage, and if any other kind of transmission problem is found, I would be on my own (since my warranty expired 9,000 miles ago). It is of no consequence that the transmission has been failing for over one year. Again, this is not a quality organization dedicated to backing up their "premium"vehicles. One would think an automatic transmission should last at least 100,000 miles. I am amazed at those Honda apologists who have a need to defend a company bereft of integrity. This was my seventh Honda vehicle. Make no mistake, a company like Honda does not issue a recall because 6 transmissions have failed. As a matter of fact an Acura dealer I visited indicated there were many transmission problems with the MDX. I believe this is the tip of the iceberg, and they are merely attempting damage control. |
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| srpbep |
The question about the trannies continues to be difficult. Since I have been on the forum, there have been continuous discussions regarding the tranny:
Do they break frequently?
--or--
Is it only a "rare" occurence?
jsolo18 (see post above) relates that a dealer stated that:
... an Acura dealer I visited indicated there were many transmission problems with the MDX.
I believe that where there is smoke there is fire. Translated, I believe that there are issues, I just don't know how bad.
To exacerbate this for me, my tranny did cook its ATF in the 1st 8,000 miles (really looked/smelled bad). Acura did a tripple flush and said they would monitor it (per Techline). It's still running but ???? |
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| Rob |
I was gonna lay low...but I just can't resist. So pay attention everyone.
I TOLD YOU SO!!!
I seem to remember an actual Acura mechanic telling you all that the transmission was a weak point and what happened? Everyone got defensive and tried to discredit that person. "Oh that only happens to the TL." "I've never heard of an MDX with a transmission failure" and the famous last words "Only time will tell." Well, the time has passed, and looks like Honda has yet another flawed transmission design on their hands That's too bad. I hope you all enjoy your MDXs otherwise.
Rob |
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| jsolo18 |
| My dealer service department's response to my "cooked" ATF was that I clearly must have abused my vehicle in some way. When I pointed out that the ATF in my 6 other Honda vehicles and 2 Lexus cars never had sludge in the first two years of use, they were unimpressed. It is this petty "let's- blame- the- consumer- if- we- can- mentality" that will ultimately cause Honda to lose market share. Consumers of upscale products expect upscale service, not "you- must- have- done- something- wrong- to- cause- this- probem" attitude. I'll be taking my future automotive needs elsewhere. |
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| DaleB |
jsolo:
I don't know what you did to document your on-going problem. You say it has been 'faliing' for a year. So I take it you must have had symptoms over 9000 miles ago while it was still under warranty.
If these were documented with service visits, I would suspect you would have some recourse. How you would obtain that, I am not quite sure.
If you just came onto the problem recently, while out of warranty, I can understand your frustration and bitterness. Yes, a transmisison that is properly serviced should last 100,000 miles. But at the same time I think it would be a bit much to expect Acura to honor yours and everyone else in the same boat. Unless that boat is getting very big, then maybe they SHOULD be addressing this more globally.
Rob? Is that you? Or a reference to RobSJ.
If it is the famous or infamous Rob..of acura service fame, it is good to see you again. Some will not have the same opinion, and I don't really care.
Many overeacted to his warnings, I personally took them with a grain of salt, but also an open mind. If it fails, it fails. I will have it fixed under warranty, and based on another recent group of failures, I am more convinced extending my warranty is a smart thing to do at some point. It does seems to be a weak aspect of this vehicle. Unfortunately, any data we have is still too sketchy to put real numbers together. |
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| Rob |
Yeah, it's the real Rob. The asshole is back in town.
I just saw the bulletin issued today. Now that there is a factory agknowledgement that the transmissions are prone to fail, you can bet there will be a helluva lot more replacements by trigger happy dealers. The slightest thing out of the ordinary, and they'll replace it. Got a code P0720? Screw the triple flush...they'll jerk it. "Cust states, trans makes noise @ 80mph" They will just check the fluid, see if it's nice and toasty brown...and sure....they heard a noise, that one gets a tranny too. So many TL/CL transmissions got replaced because the factory more or less just bent over and took it. After the first few months, it got so common that techs don't have to jump through any hoops or cut any red tape to get a transmission approved. And the dealers loved it becuase they got to bill AHM about $3k for the claim. The bulletin....04-013 I think, is an inspection...but I'm pretty sure that dealers are going to use it to claim as many $4500 warranty claims for replacement transmissions as they can. |
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| srpbep |
Rob,
Appears that Honda is worried too!! The dealers have to photograph the gear and send it in along with the vehicle VIN. You can bet your sweet &^% that Honda is gonna inspect every tranny that comes back. If the "picture shows the gear was bad" but the tranny is "not bad" (e,.g. doesn't match the picture), I suspect that Honda is gonna be giving the dealers a little hell.
If Honda denies a replacement and later the tranny fails and someone gets hurt, Honda had better hope that the picture doesn't show that the tranny should have been replaced. This is a lawyer's dream -- the mfg provides the critical evidence that incriminates the mfg -- guess self incrimination is allowed!!! |
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| Rob |
quote:
Originally posted by srpbep
The dealers have to photograph the gear and send it in along with the vehicle VIN. You can bet your sweet &^% that Honda is gonna inspect every tranny that comes back. If the "picture shows the gear was bad" but the tranny is "not bad" (e,.g. doesn't match the picture), I suspect that Honda is gonna be giving the dealers a little hell.
Just like the TL and CL...getting a replacement claimed under warranty will be an "absolutely make sure" kinda thing for the first few months. But after they see soooooooo many come back, they'll just throw their hands up and say, "yup, here's another one...whatever."
I don't need to take pictures of anything to know if a transmission is gonna die. The color of the fluid will tell the tale. And any particles if the tech decides to check the drain with a strainer will be an automatic decision I bet. |
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| deltajetfixer |
quote:
Originally posted by Rob
Yeah, it's the real Rob. The asshole is back in town.
Welcome Back, Rob!
:cool: |
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| jj_mdx |
quote:
Originally posted by Rob
I don't need to take pictures of anything to know if a transmission is gonna die. The color of the fluid will tell the tale. And any particles if the tech decides to check the drain with a strainer will be an automatic decision I bet.
welcome back, rob... could you please elaborate a little bit more on the fluid color thing? i'm not a mechanic, but if i take out the dipstick of ATF and take a look at the color, what should i expect to see if the trans if failing...? |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by jj_mdx
welcome back, rob... could you please elaborate a little bit more on the fluid color thing? i'm not a mechanic, but if i take out the dipstick of ATF and take a look at the color, what should i expect to see if the trans if failing...?
It should be bright red and no evidence of a burnt smell. |
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| Rob |
Not everyone knows what burned fluid smells like, so just go by the color.
Fresh ATF-Z1 is nice and pink with a slight purplish "pearl" effect to it.
If you check it and it starts looking a nice crimson/deep purple color, you're on the cusp of burned.
Any brownish hue to it...the transmission got burned, plain and simple no ifs ands or buts.
And of course, any particles of debris on the sample you take from the dipstick is a pretty bad sign. |
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| hhwc |
Toyota has put in a sizable ATF cooler in this vehicle (and it is STANDARD). It looks like a mini radiator. Honda should take note and do the same.
I may be getting out of the MDX while it is still worth some money and the word on the transmissions has not gotten around. |
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| hammermdx |
I just came back from picking up my X after having the tranny recall done. They took pictures even though I only have 13, 675 miles since I was the first one they did.
The pictures were perfect and my tranny fluid was pristine. They put in the oil jet pump and all went well. Attached is the invoice. |
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| Warzau |
Thanks hammer were you able to view the pictures, and compare them youself. I am going to request this myself when I get the notice.
Since you are the first, I am now going to make a simple poll in regards to the tranny recall. |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by Warzau
Thanks hammer were you able to view the pictures, and compare them youself. I am going to request this myself when I get the notice.
Since you are the first, I am now going to make a simple poll in regards to the tranny recall.
I asked, begged, and offered mula, but no they wouldn't let me see the pictures. |
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| xfactor |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
I asked, begged, and offered mula, but no they wouldn't let me see the pictures.
What was the reason they offered? :confused: |
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| hammermdx |
| They said they weren't sure if they could be shared, I wasn't too worried about since my mileage was so low, if it was higher, I would have pressed harder. I was very happy they did the work before I had to make the trip up to Vermont to pick up my daughter. |
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| rvehock |
| Were you notified via mail about the recall? I have a 2001 MDX and I have yet to get anything in the mail, I thought that Acura was sending recall notices to the oldest MDX's first (2001)? |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by hhwc
Toyota has put in a sizable ATF cooler in this vehicle (and it is STANDARD). It looks like a mini radiator. Honda should take note and do the same.
I may be getting out of the MDX while it is still worth some money and the word on the transmissions has not gotten around.
Can't argue w/Toyota quality, that's for sure.
I've got 26K on my '02 X and plan on keeping it, even w/this recall thing. Anybody else plan on movin' on to something else? |
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| Rob |
I'm surprised they took pictures with that mileage. Maybe they did it just to go through the entire procedure to train their techs?
The notices won't be mailed out till later this month from what I hear.
Also from what I hear, Honda is going to be very stingy with replacing the trannies. The pictures, if the tech feels the gear is too discolored, are to be sent to the central tech help hub where they will make the call as to if the vehicle just gets a oil jet kit or a replacement transmission. So don't jump the gun and go hammer your dealer for a replacement just because of the recall. The decision is out of their hands, for the moment. But I figure once Honda sees a bunch of replacements are mandatory, they really won't be too picky about it anymore and just let the dealers fire at will. |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by Rob
I'm surprised they took pictures with that mileage. Maybe they did it just to go through the entire procedure to train their techs?
The notices won't be mailed out till later this month from what I hear.
Also from what I hear, Honda is going to be very stingy with replacing the trannies. The pictures, if the tech feels the gear is too discolored, are to be sent to the central tech help hub where they will make the call as to if the vehicle just gets a oil jet kit or a replacement transmission. So don't jump the gun and go hammer your dealer for a replacement just because of the recall. The decision is out of their hands, for the moment. But I figure once Honda sees a bunch of replacements are mandatory, they really won't be too picky about it anymore and just let the dealers fire at will.
I was surprised too, but the foreman told me they wanted to give the camera a dry run....figured it couldn't hurt. |
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| dfroim |
Hi,
cleaning up recently my e-mail I came across my friend's pretty old mail about online petition "Fix Honda/Acura's customer service and solve the transmission crisis!" at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/acura/
In light of the current recall I looked at this differently(I guess I just did not pay enough attention back then and quickly forgot).
Interestingly, having here a lot of threads about tranny's problems, it seems that petition was not discussed here(at least I could not quickly find any mentioning), even though one post signing petition suggested that it was "with support of www.acuramdx.org"(#717).
Anyway, going through all the pages did not find a lot of MDX owners(about 5). Even Pilots' were more, I believe. |
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| hammermdx |
I just completed a 9 hour round trip drive up to Vermont and back to get my daughters stuff from college. It might be in my head, but since having the recall done earlier this week, the tranny seems to be shifting a lot smoother and the responsiveness has also improved.
Like I said this might all be in my head, much like the feeling you get after using Zanio and thinking the X goes faster! |
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| ssMDX01 |
| I just heard that Honda Pilots that have a J instead of a 1 in the vin # will not be in the recall for the transmission, does anyone know about this. |
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| Oh_My_Baby |
quote:
Originally posted by dfroim
Hi,
cleaning up recently my e-mail I came across my friend's pretty old mail about online petition "Fix Honda/Acura's customer service and solve the transmission crisis!" at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/acura/
In light of the current recall I looked at this differently(I guess I just did not pay enough attention back then and quickly forgot).
Interestingly, having here a lot of threads about tranny's problems, it seems that petition was not discussed here(at least I could not quickly find any mentioning), even though one post signing petition suggested that it was "with support of www.acuramdx.org"(#717).
Anyway, going through all the pages did not find a lot of MDX owners(about 5). Even Pilots' were more, I believe.
Petition is not needed. If anyone knows the top Acura designers' Email, let all all us know. We then send "en masse" to them saying that if they are deaf or not. We're going to trade MDX for quieter SUV, Lexus, perhaps. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by ssMDX01
I just heard that Honda Pilots that have a J instead of a 1 in the vin # will not be in the recall for the transmission, does anyone know about this.
Just a SWAG, but I do know from earlier Hondas I've owned, those that had a J in the VIN were made in Japan, and those with a 1 in the VIN were made in USA or Canada. Maybe that helps explain the difference, I don't know :8: Maybe Tim can verify. |
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| peanutbutter |
quote:
Originally posted by Oh_My_Baby
Petition is not needed. If anyone knows the top Acura designers' Email, let all all us know. We then send "en masse" to them saying that if they are deaf or not. We're going to trade MDX for quieter SUV, Lexus, perhaps.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but no automobile maker is perfect, not even Lexus.
The Lexus RX330 is can be quite a noisy beast. I had one as my loaner and it wasn't very quiet. The engine sound was not very refined, and the seating wasn't very comfortable either. Of course, I was coming out of a LS430, which is a totally different beast.
In addition, the previous generation RX300 also suffered from the dreaded Toyota "oil sludging" problem. Lexus did step up to the plate however, and later back all of the affected engines with a 8 year unlimited mileage warranty... |
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| Oh_My_Baby |
| Yep, at least Lexus is willing to address the problem head on and goes extra mile to restore the owner's trust of its brand. Whereas, Acura turns deaf to the owner's problem at first and then later admits with a flimsy response (see the latest TSB regarding to the brake thunk and tranny hum) |
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| wmquan |
Whoa, let's not give Toyota/Lexus too much credit for responding "head on" to the engine sludge problem.
There were reports of sludge problems for well over a year. It may have been over two. Internet forums started having reports of the issue.
Toyota/Lexus's response was to ignore the issue at first. Then their next response was that it was the fault of owners not maintaining their engines properly. Namely not getting their oil changed at correct intervals.
There were cases when owners produced receipts showing they did get oil changes from Jiffy Lube. The official response was to ignore those claims. The unofficial response was the claim that changing the oil outside of a dealership left the owner open to getting a "fake oil change," where the Jiffy Lube doesn't really change the oil!
Over time, there was enough groundswell that it made some newspapers. Finally, Toyota/Lexus extended the warranty.
I still think that Lexus is more responsive than Acura, true. But they're not saints. |
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| jsolo18 |
Got my new transmission after a year of riding around with a broken one. Acura did not fail to make a bad situation worse by fighting with the dealer about whether it needs a transmission or not. After a protracted fight Acura did the right thing and the car works. This is not the way to treat families on their 7th (and last) Honda product.
I think an appology and bottle of champagne ala Lexus is the way to go... but what do I know, I don't build cars, I only buy them. |
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| Pauls MDX |
| Picked mine up today and they had installed the oil jet kit, they tranny was still good considering it was replaced 15,000 miles ago. Also they were nice enough to replace the side molding with the 2004 style for free considering my old one was peeling and like the way it looks! |
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| Pauls MDX |
| How do you refill the transmission after the oil jet kit is installed? It seems as if the kit blocks the tranny oil fill hole? Are you supposed to fill thru the dipstick? Thats going to be a nightmare! |
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| srpbep |
| Am I the only one, have an EARLY 2002 and have NOT received a recall notification !!!! |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by srpbep
Am I the only one, have an EARLY 2002 and have NOT received a recall notification !!!!
Probably no urgency, but if you call or go by your dealer they will run your VIN on their system and tell you instanstly. |
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| raygamma |
get this...i went for some engine noise problem and asked about the recall..."why, yes there is ..we'll have the mechanic inspect and install a jet kit"..
turns out the noise was "something loose in the exhaust manifold pipe" and they ordered me one...
here's the funny:...my transmission started to slip(after the jet install)...guess it was too late...i only had 39,000 miles... |
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| Tawny |
I had my recall service done last Saturday, one week ago, and was told the transmission was fine but that the oil jet kit had been installed. This Saturday, one week later, my transmission began to slip. From a stop it seemed that the transmission shifted from first to second, back into first, into neutral and back into first. CRAZY. I didn't drive the vehicle again until I drove it to the dealership on Monday morning. By the time I got there the engine light was on and the D% light was blinking. The dealer reset the codes for the lights and tells me that they couldn't find anything wrong but they would look at it again on Tuesday. Anyone else with this problem, and what was the solution?
Thank you. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by raygamma
guess it was too late...i only had 39,000 miles...
Not too late, likely a different problem.. the recall does not relate to a problem that involves slipping as a symptom. |
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| Tawny |
I realize that the recall doesn't address a slippage problem. My concern, like that of raygama, is that our slippage problem occurred directly after having the oil jet kit involved.
I am wondering if raygama had his slippage problem resolved following the oil jet kit installation. Currently, my MDX is still at the dealership.
DaleB: Do you have any other information regarding transmission slippage or have you knowledge of any other individual with a like problem?
Thank you. |
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| Pauls MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by Tawny
I realize that the recall doesn't address a slippage problem. My concern, like that of raygama, is that our slippage problem occurred directly after having the oil jet kit involved.
I am wondering if raygama had his slippage problem resolved following the oil jet kit installation. Currently, my MDX is still at the dealership.
DaleB: Do you have any other information regarding transmission slippage or have you knowledge of any other individual with a like problem?
Thank you.
If your slippage is happening while in gear, especially around 30-40 mph, it probably is the tranny on it's way out. Mine did it once in a while until it slipped almost all the time in 3rd gear. I really noticed after comming off the highway on a 10-25 mile stretch at above 55 mph. Mine never slipped off the line but always at the 3rd gear. Hope this helps. Sounds like the dealer will now have to put in a remanufactured unit from Acura and then re-install the oil jet kit, like they did to mine. |
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| Tawny |
| Thanks for the reply, Paul. Any other information from anyone with similar problem is greatly appreciated! |
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| HARDROCK |
quote:
Originally posted by srpbep
Am I the only one, have an EARLY 2002 and have NOT received a recall notification !!!!
No. I've yet to receive mine. Build date 10/01. |
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| Warzau |
| Still waiting on moi |
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| superdave |
| I've had my letter for a bit now (at least 1 month) and I have a late 2002 model. Haven't had any tranny problems so far but I'm hoping they dont give me a hard time for having the hitch installed but not the tranny or power steering coolers |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by superdave
I've had my letter for a bit now (at least 1 month) and I have a late 2002 model. Haven't had any tranny problems so far but I'm hoping they dont give me a hard time for having the hitch installed but not the tranny or power steering coolers
Interesting...since the recall is for a 'heat' related problem, they could imply not having the coolers when pulling loads exacerbated the problem, if in fact they found heat damage during the inspection.
But they would have a hard time proving you were a factor at all, even they do detect overheating.
They still have to follow the direction of the recall instructions. I doubt the dealership will have the imagination or will to do anything else. Chances are you will end up with the kit, like most of us, and as part of the result a somewhat cooler running tranny. |
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| superdave |
| Well I'll find out on Tuesday (scheduled appt) and see if they give me any grief over the hitch even though I only use it for a bike rack. :rolleyes: |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by superdave
Well I'll find out on Tuesday (scheduled appt) and see if they give me any grief over the hitch even though I only use it for a bike rack. :rolleyes:
I have a Hidden Hitch w/o the coolers and only use it for a bike rack too, and my dealer did the oil jet kiy install without any questions about the hitch. You should be fine. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. |
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| bb123 |
I don't think the tranny cooler makes all that much of a difference. It is not exactly what I'd call an impressive bit of engineering.
I had a dealer-installed tranny cooler, PS cooler, never towed more than 2,800-3,000 lbs. of boat, gear and trailer, and my transmission failed anyway.:rolleyes: |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by bb123
I don't think the tranny cooler makes all that much of a difference. It is not exactly what I'd call an impressive bit of engineering.
I had a dealer-installed tranny cooler, PS cooler, never towed more than 2,800-3,000 lbs. of boat, gear and trailer, and my transmission failed anyway.:rolleyes:
A cooler will make a good transmission last longer, not make a good transmission out of one bad one. I believe they fail regardless (in most cases) even with it a HD cooler.
Of course, it might have failed LATER with superior cooling, like maybe when the warranty was expired. |
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| HARDROCK |
Took my '02 Touring/Nav in today for an oil change at 33K. About to head out on a 2,500 mile road trip and I'm trying to get everything ready. As I was paying the bill ($27), I asked the service writer when should I be getting my notice about the transmission recall. He stated that the letters were being mailed from Honda Corporate but if I had the time, he would have it done now (said it took about 3 hours to do the inspections and install the jet, provided no other problems are detected). When I told him could I do it after I get back from my road trip, he strongly suggested I get done BEFORE. I have an appointment scheduled for Monday...
Is the moral of this story don't wait for the "official" recall letter from Honda - just take the X into the dealer for ASAP? |
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| Warzau |
| Welp yours truely finally got the letter. So Im going to call for a appoint tomorow and ask for a TL as a loaner. |
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| Pauls MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by HARDROCK
Took my '02 Touring/Nav in today for an oil change at 33K. About to head out on a 2,500 mile road trip and I'm trying to get everything ready. As I was paying the bill ($27), I asked the service writer when should I be getting my notice about the transmission recall. He stated that the letters were being mailed from Honda Corporate but if I had the time, he would have it done now (said it took about 3 hours to do the inspections and install the jet, provided no other problems are detected). When I told him could I do it after I get back from my road trip, he strongly suggested I get done BEFORE. I have an appointment scheduled for Monday...
Is the moral of this story don't wait for the "official" recall letter from Honda - just take the X into the dealer for ASAP?
I would definitely bring in and not wait for the "RECALL LETTER". They dealer can tell by your Vin number if it affects you. The sooner you get the fluid to flow properly, the safer you are from damaging the unit and having to replace with a Remanufacturered unit. That's my personal opinion. |
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| cmjcrj700pilot |
| The link has expired. Did anyone save the article? |
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| HARDROCK |
| Was at the dealer at 7am when they opened and they were done within an hour. They performed the inspection and installed the kit. Only funny thing was they didn't give me any paperwork afterwards, saying they didn't want to keep me waiting and that they would send it to me in the mail :confused: ? I have a copy of the work authorization for now and will keep my eye on the mailbox. |
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| HARDROCK |
| Got a copy of the service paperwork from the dealer today saying that they did the transmission inspection and installed the jet kit. By coincidence, also got the recall letter from Honda at the same time.... |
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| rschwartz38 |
Greetings Fellow MDX'ers.
I was experiencing slippage in my 2002 MDX w/42k MIles. Took it into the dealer for something else and simply mentioned the issue. My service tech. insisted on me leaving it for a week.
They gave me a loaner and returned the car a week later. The Tranny was leaking overnight so I've brought it back. I'm sure they will repair this thing accurately and while it is not overly pleasing that they've replaced the transmission I'm glad that Acura is standing behind this vehicle.
Once repaired I'm confident the car will run for ever.
Overall...I"m thrilled with this thing. Now I'm off to the accessory store. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by rschwartz38
Greetings Fellow MDX'ers.
I was experiencing slippage in my 2002 MDX w/42k MIles. Took it into the dealer for something else and simply mentioned the issue. My service tech. insisted on me leaving it for a week.
They gave me a loaner and returned the car a week later. The Tranny was leaking overnight so I've brought it back. I'm sure they will repair this thing accurately and while it is not overly pleasing that they've replaced the transmission I'm glad that Acura is standing behind this vehicle.
Once repaired I'm confident the car will run for ever.
Overall...I"m thrilled with this thing. Now I'm off to the accessory store.
Good for you and good attitude. If you plan on hanging on to it, you might consider getting an extended warranty. Hondacuraworld has good prices.
Sounds like your dealer is also very responsive. |
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| rschwartz38 |
Not that its an advertisment vehicle but you're right. This dealer is very responsive...has an amazing customer relations rep. in the serviced department.
Since Drop-off this AM the car's leaking seal on the new transmission, replaced under the recall, is now repaired and the car is again ready. THey're very good at...
Rosenthal Acura, - Gaithersburg, MD |
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| maureen |
| We brought our 2001 mdx in when we received the transmission recall notice. They found nothing wrong but installed the oil kit required. Within a week the transmission went. After a week of negotiating with the dealer (Smithtown Acura), acura replaced the transmission at Acura's expense. Smithtown Acura really did work with us fixed the problem..so we thought. We since relocated to Illinois and at about 12,000 miles after the transmission had been replaced, my mdx started to have the same issues only worse. At 1500 rpms it started bucking and the vtm lock started switching itself on and off. The malfunction light went on and we tried to turn off the vtm lock by pressing the buttion...it did nothing. We called the dealer who told us not to drive the truck in because the transmission could lock at 50 mph causing an accident but that we had to have the truck towed at our possible expense. So far, we are not too impressed with the way this dealer is handling the situation but will keep you posted. |
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| bpang1 |
Hi Folks,
Sorry to bring a thread back from the dead but I was wondering if the actions taken by Honda really did fix the transmission problem that I've been reading about on this site.
I'm in the market for either an MDX or a Lexus RX and this is a huge concern to me.
Any insight would be useful. Basically, tell me if the problem is solved or if it is an ongoing problem.
Thanks so much in advance!
Blake |
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| maureen |
Hi Blake,
From what I understand, Honda has fixed the problem. Only the 2001 and 2002 MDX's had the transmission problem. Other than the Transmission issue, we have been extremely happy with our MDX. In fact, we are in the process of buying another one. I highly recommend the MDX. Good luck.
Maureen |
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| m2pc |
Also,
the 2006 comes with a 6 year 70,000 mile warranty on the drive train. |
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| Pauls MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by bpang1
Hi Folks,
Sorry to bring a thread back from the dead but I was wondering if the actions taken by Honda really did fix the transmission problem that I've been reading about on this site.
I'm in the market for either an MDX or a Lexus RX and this is a huge concern to me.
Any insight would be useful. Basically, tell me if the problem is solved or if it is an ongoing problem.
Thanks so much in advance!
Blake
At this point they have fixed the issue with the newer models. I believe the 2001-2003 or 2002 had the same tranny. It was redesigned with a different driveshaft? I sure someone on the forums knows the exact fix and year that they have done. Overall an excellent car and I'm at 94,000 and it runs like the day I had picked it up. I was annoyed with dealer treatment after original warranty expires. Other than that the vehicle is excellent and the best for the money out there, the size and power is perfect. Highly reccommend to anyone. |
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| bpang1 |
Thanks for the responses!
Actually, to clarify, I am looking to get a 2001 to 2003 so that's what really worried me.
I'm looking for one with less than 50K miles and will probably drive the thing about 20-30K before I trade it in.
Do you all think that I would potentially have this problem and if so will Acura take care of me since it is a proven mess up on their part?
I figure if anything I will bring the car to an Acura dealership to get the tranny looked at and have the jets installed if they haven't already done so.
P.S. How long will Acura cover this transmission problem? Did they add any years to the 2001-2003 warranties? |
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| m2pc |
| If you get a CPO then I think it comes with a pretty good warranty. If your looking for lower mileage, I would think that you would have a higher probability in finding a lower mileage 03' than the others. |
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| DougC |
The Dealer installed the transmission jet kit on my 2001 X at @ 41K, in June of 2004. Now that I'm out of warranty and doing more of my own maintenance, I've been searching for that illusive transmission drain plug. Between the shop manual, my own observations, and this thread, I've concluded that the transmission jet was installed into the fill bolt, so the only choice for DIY'rs is to refill thru the dip stick. Is that correct???
My fluid level is fine, and I think the color is OK too (though I haven't drained it yet). There seems to be a bit of grease (?) on the underneath side of the trans; near the drain plug but getting darker as you go further towards the rear of the car. I suppose I could spray it off and watch to see if it comes back? I'd prefer to start doing my own trans changes, but is this worth taking back to the dealer (no warranty) for a "triple flush" and check? |
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| pianoman41 |
quote:
Originally posted by DougC
Between the shop manual, my own observations, and this thread, I've concluded that the transmission jet was installed into the fill bolt, so the only choice for DIY'rs is to refill thru the dip stick. Is that correct???
You can fill it through the dipstick but you can also remove the bolt on top of the fill plug (10MM I believe) and remove the jet kit tube and fill it through the fill hole as before. Just make sure you put everything back the way you take it out. |
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| jayman121 |
Does anyone know if the 2003 MDX tranny is covered by the recall? I read that many 2001 and 2002 models have been replaced by Acura during the recall. How can I find out?
Thanks. |
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| jayman121 |
Is the updated tranny that Acura put into the 2003 MDX models the same in the 2004 and newer models?
Do the 2003 and newer trannies have less problems than the '01 and '02 models. Thanks. jayman121 |
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| fernaldj |
| From what I understand, the updated 2003 MDX tranny has the fixes the 2004/05 models have. We debated on buying another MDX when the tranny on our 01 started failing. I personally decided to stay away from the 03 models, just to be safe. We ended up keeping the 01 because Acura stepped up and offered assistance on the tranny replacement. |
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