| CalAndHisMDX |
Quick history:
2003 Black MDX, 48K purchased from luxury (non-Acura) dealer 3/26. In service date of Cct 02 (out of factory warranty). One owner lease vehicle. Rejected the dealer's GE backed extended "warranty". Made my decision based on opinions on Edmunds (did not know about this site).
1. D5 light started flashing intermittently day after purchase.
2. Googled to this forum and my hair stood on end. OMG! I need a new tranny!
3. Took it to 3 different shops who all said "no code being stored - keep driving".
4. Finally Acura dealership kept if for a day and got a code. P0873 - "Short in 4th gear transmission fluid pressure switch". They said there are as many as 50 different codes that can cause the D5 light to blink. Also several mechanics said the switch could have been damaged when the selling dealer pressure cleaned the engine, etc. Every mechanic I talked to at the different shops said all their customer's that have them just love the MDX and they have never seen a bad tranny in anything above the 02 level.
5. $200 later I am happy as a clam (trying to get selling dealer to pay for this), but still rattled by the whole experience.
6. Pondering the "extended warranty" :rolleyes: thing. Factory warranty is out so no go with their extension. Thinking maybe Warranty Direct although I know everyone here tends to discourage these service plans. Would just put some money aside expect for this whole idea of "replace the whole transmission" for like 5K......:eek:
What is this? Since when do they replace a whole transmission instead of repairing it!!!?? This seems crazy! I called several tranny shops and they all said they can do an MDX tranny and they have done them before. Most said in the 2 - 2.5K range with a 3 year warranty. They all chuckled when I mentioned the dealers replacing the whole transmission.
I wanted to post all this so the next guy that comes here like me has at least has one positive outcome from the infamous blinking D5.
Thanks and would appreciate any opinions for feedback. |
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| dj-mdx2 |
| Glad it worked out. Try Tim at hondacuraworld.com for an Acura warranty. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by dj-mdx2
Glad it worked out. Try Tim at hondacuraworld.com for an Acura warranty.
He's out of factory warranty so he's not eligible for AcuraCare. On a 2003, I'd pass on the extended warranty. Acura replaces the whole tranny because their techs are not transmission specialists. It is probably cheaper for them to replace the whole thing. All they do is take a bad tranny that has been sent back and replace the internal components. They likey do this very efficiently and have some in stock ready to ship out since there were so many required. I doubt $5K is Acura's cost for the tranny - it's likely cost after profit is added. |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
Thanks for the advice. Wish I could call Tim :D
Sounds like I should bank my warranty money and take her to a tranny shop if I did end up with a transmission issue.
One thing I left out:
I am planning on towing a small trailer (no more than 1000 lbs loaded) with this vehicle on occasion using the factory tow package. Usually less than 50 miles, but once a year or so 500 miles. If the vehicle can't stand up to that then I've made a poor decision and may be trading for a 4Runner :( |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by CalAndHisMDX
Thanks for the advice. Wish I could call Tim :D
Sounds like I should bank my warranty money and take her to a tranny shop if I did end up with a transmission issue.
One thing I left out:
I am planning on towing a small trailer (no more than 1000 lbs loaded) with this vehicle on occasion using the factory tow package. Usually less than 50 miles, but once a year or so 500 miles. If the vehicle can't stand up to that then I've made a poor decision and may be trading for a 4Runner :(
The 2001/2002 model years have a high transmission failure rate - CR gives them a much worse than average rating. The tranny was redesigned in 2003 and the CR rating is better than average. I wouldn't worry about light infrequent towing if you have the coolers in place. |
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| shootist |
About that $200 you spent-
If the light came on the day after you purchased it, I believe that the seller reset the code without fixing anything. That could be considered a fraudulent buisness practice by your state's DMV or Attorney General, much like putting sawdust in a bad tranny in the days of old.
You may want to ask the seller to pay the money.
By the way, there is no correlation between towing, maintenance, or driving habits, and the failures of the 01/ 02 transmissions. You have an 03, which is the new design which lasted through 2006.. |
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| ROTORRAY |
"If the light came on the day after you purchased it, I believe that the seller reset the code without fixing anything. That could be considered a fraudulent buisness practice by your state's DMV or Attorney General, much like putting sawdust in a bad tranny in the days of old. You may want to ask the seller to pay the money"
I think you'd have a hard time PROVING fraud. Could just be a coincidence. You can complain about anything but proving any fraud in this case would be difficult, if not impossible. What evidence do you have? The light came on the day after you bought it? So....how is that evidence of fraud? Of course you could ask the seller to pay but if you were asking me I don't think you'd want to wait around until I stopped laughing. |
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| shootist |
quote:
Originally posted by ROTORRAY
[BI think you'd have a hard time PROVING fraud. . [/B]
I'd agree if it was a bicycle that was being sold. But many states impose a mandatory warranty on used car sales specifically because of all the bad sales practices in the industry's past. |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
Thanks for pointing that out. I actually called my attorney while the MDX was at the Acura shop. He said if it was new car it would be a different story but in NC you don't have any real protection for out of warranty used cars (he has an '02 MDX :D).
The dealership where I purchased it is one of those places that sells all "high end" late model used cars (mostly BMW, Land Rover, etc). They indicated they will "take care of it" and actually called the Acura dealership to try to help out. So I'll see how that pans out. To give them the benefit of the doubt...it went stopped flashing for several days after the first time it came on, so it was very intermittent. Of course I also have the goofed up steering wheel audio control thing too :rolleyes:. which is also intermittent :3: |
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| ROTORRAY |
..I sold a car in California (don't say it...I know) I ALWAYS had the purchaser sign a statement that the car/truck/whatever was sold "as is with no warranty either expressed or implied." I don't know what the new owner will do to the car/whatever once he drives it away from me. All I know is I took care of it while I owned it, and I sold it believing that it would provide him satisfactory service. He always has the option of having a mechanic check it out at his expense. I would not object to that. Other than that it's on him.....
If you can get the owner of a used car being sold to provide a warranty you are surely living in fairy land. Maybe some states provide some type of protection I'm not aware of but generally it's "let the buyer beware." |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by ROTORRAY
..I sold a car in California (don't say it...I know) I ALWAYS had the purchaser sign a statement that the car/truck/whatever was sold "as is with no warranty either expressed or implied." I don't know what the new owner will do to the car/whatever once he drives it away from me. All I know is I took care of it while I owned it, and I sold it believing that it would provide him satisfactory service. He always has the option of having a mechanic check it out at his expense. I would not object to that. Other than that it's on him.....
If you can get the owner of a used car being sold to provide a warranty you are surely living in fairy land. Maybe some states provide some type of protection I'm not aware of but generally it's "let the buyer beware."
In MA:
If you buy a used vehicle from a dealer as Cal did, the dealer must provide a warranty that varies from 30 to 90 days depending on the age/mileage.
When you buy a used car you have 7 days to get it registered. If it fails safety or emissions inspections and the cost to fix it is more than 10% of the purchase price, then you get to cancel the sale. This applies to a private party and dealer sale.
Finally, if you can prove fraud - for example, finding attempted repair documentation from your local dealer, that hasn't fixed the problem - you can sue.
This cancels out any documents that say "as is". The way to get around it is to sell for parts/salvage only - but no buyer in their right mind will who intends to drive the vehicle daily would sign away their rights unless the price was exceptionally low. |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
quote:
Originally posted by ROTORRAY
If you can get the owner of a used car being sold to provide a warranty you are surely living in fairy land. Maybe some states provide some type of protection I'm not aware of but generally it's "let the buyer beware."
If this was a private seller then I would just let it go. But since it came from a dealer of high end automobiles and supposedly went through a "169 point inspection" I think they should cover it for good will purposes. If they decide not to, well I would not be able to recommend them to anyone. Either way I still like the vehicle. |
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| shootist |
quote:
Originally posted by CalAndHisMDX
. Either way I still like the vehicle.
We often get lost in our complaints, and forget that it's a heck of a nice vehicle. My 03 MDX followed a Jeep Grand Cherokee. What an improvement! |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
quote:
Originally posted by shootist
We often get lost in our complaints, and forget that it's a heck of a nice vehicle. My 03 MDX followed a Jeep Grand Cherokee. What an improvement!
Yea man. It drives like butter. I spent a lot of time driving and researching other vehicles before purchasing this. You are so right. I went from a 01 Mitsubushi Gallant to this...WOW :2: |
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