| ts8169 |
I was just wondering if anyone has had their failed MDX transmission repaired or rebuilt at a shop that specializes in 4WD transmissions. My thinking is that a shop like this would have more expertise and diagnostic tools than a dealer would have. All the dealers seem to do (based on posts) is replace the whole tranny, regardless of the problem with it. Seems wasteful for ..... say.... 1 chewed up gear. Now, I'm speaking aside from the free replacements. At some point our 01/02's will have too many miles and we'll be looking for other options.
01'MDX Base, 85K, Original tranny, Torq conv @ 68K, oil jet @42K. |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
Hey ts8169,
I haven't had my transmission replaced by I do have a little insight on your question. You can read my post here (if you haven't already):
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...&threadid=28191
I won't repeat myself but IMHO if you need a new tranny and are not under warranty a tranny speciality shop would be the place to go. Several of the places I talked to were very comfortable fixing the MDX tranny and had a chuckle about the dealership just ripping them out and putting in a new one. Most offered at least a 1 year warranty at no cost and others much longer for an extra couple hundred dollars. All said they had serious techies who know how to fix these things while the dealer does not have that kind of expertise or time.
My 2 cents.
Good luck to you. |
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| ts8169 |
Thank you for your insite. I bought my well kept MDX a number of months ago and found this site shortly thereafter. I couldn't be happier w/ my X although reading these tranny stories makes me VERY uneasy. I feel better knowing what my options will be. A $5K bill is not one of them.
I recently discovered that I have a transmission specialist only a few blocks from my house. Their adds say they work on Acura tranny's, are experts w/4WD, and provide a 36 month / 36K mile guarantee on all their work. I feel much better knowing you had tranny techs say they felt comfortable working on the X's and their chuckle with dealers pulling the whole thing. In any case, while I'm not having any problems now, at least I know I have options if I do. My biggest fear is the 100K mile mark which I'll hit within 2 years. I drive my cars upwards of 150K-200,000 miles so to have to trade in my X @ 100K for a 4Runner (out of fear) will not be an easy decision. |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
I think you are in about he same frame of mind I was a week after I purchased my MDX. I couldn't believe that people we're dropping out entire trannys and having them replaced at $5-6K a pop (all under warranty of course). That is why I called the tranny shops and found they can work on these things. Rough estimates ranged between $1500-2500. Sounds like a lot but you have to figure that's about 4 lease payments on a 2007 MDX :2:
I also drive my vehicles till they drop. I love this vehicle, it drives like a dream. Almost bought a 4 runner instead but I'm glad I didn't. I think u will not be disappointed. Sounds like you got what you need right up the street.
Cheers! :) |
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| BaldEagle |
quote:
Originally posted by CalAndHisMDX
...... trannys and having them replaced at $5-6K a pop (all under warranty of course). That is why I called the tranny shops and found they can work on these things. Rough estimates ranged between $1500-2500. Sounds like a lot but ........
I could be wrong but when Acura changes out a transmission they put in a reman (rebuilt) one, not a new transmission. I also have heard they charge about 5K. How can the shop do it for 1/3 of the amount of Acura? Probably the same reason you can get an oil change for $30 at other shops and $150 at Acura. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by BaldEagle
I could be wrong but when Acura changes out a transmission they put in a reman (rebuilt) one, not a new transmission. I also have heard they charge about 5K. How can the shop do it for 1/3 of the amount of Acura? Probably the same reason you can get an oil change for $30 at other shops and $150 at Acura.
Because the shop identifies the damaged part and only replaces that part (or gets one from a used tranny). So you have mainly labor charges. I'd rather have one rebuilt to new specs if it is being covered under warranty. Acura techs may not be the best tranny troubleshooters but they have done enough replacements to be experts at it. |
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| hondacuraworld |
quote:
Originally posted by BaldEagle
I could be wrong but when Acura changes out a transmission they put in a reman (rebuilt) one, not a new transmission. I also have heard they charge about 5K. How can the shop do it for 1/3 of the amount of Acura?
Markup, the cost of shipping a transmission across the country twice, and the expenses associated with a Honda reman facility. |
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| ts8169 |
quote:
Originally posted by JL_SS
Because the shop identifies the damaged part and only replaces that part (or gets one from a used tranny). So you have mainly labor charges. I'd rather have one rebuilt to new specs if it is being covered under warranty.
I agree that if Acura were to offer a rebuilt tranny (they are rebuilds) at no cost, I'd take it, no question. However, I doubt that Acura rebuilds their trannys any differently than a private transmission specialist would. I'm not speaking from experience or anything, but I can't imagine the Acura rebuilds have different engineering specs than the original ones they're replacing. Unless they can pop in the redesigned 2003+ tranny. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by ts8169
I agree that if Acura were to offer a rebuilt tranny (they are rebuilds) at no cost, I'd take it, no question. However, I doubt that Acura rebuilds their trannys any differently than a private transmission specialist would. I'm not speaking from experience or anything, but I can't imagine the Acura rebuilds have different engineering specs than the original ones they're replacing. Unless they can pop in the redesigned 2003+ tranny.
My understanding is that Acura rebuilds the entire tranny to new specs - it may be going into a vehicle with very few miles on it. Where the tranny shop is just going to pull and replace the problem part, leaving all the other components as they were. |
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| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by JL_SS
My understanding is that Acura rebuilds the entire tranny to new specs
If that's the case, why are there so many rebuilt ones failing as well? I am still confused as to what Acura is really doing here. Are there really new specs? Or are they just fixing it to original specs and crossing their fingers? |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt
If that's the case, why are there so many rebuilt ones failing as well? I am still confused as to what Acura is really doing here. Are there really new specs? Or are they just fixing it to original specs and crossing their fingers?
Acura is rebuilding it to the same lousy design with the fixes that didn't work - that's why it fails again. But if you have a 90K tranny with other worn components, the replacement tranny will be rebuilt to new tranny specs - at least that is what I was told. The tranny shop is going to leave your other worn components and only replace the failed part. That's one of the reasons it is significantly cheaper. Both may still fail again, but if I'm not paying I'd rather have the one that was rebuilt to new tranny specs. |
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| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by JL_SS
Acura is rebuilding it to the same lousy design with the fixes that didn't work - that's why it fails again. But if you have a 90K tranny with other worn components, the replacement tranny will be rebuilt to new tranny specs - at least that is what I was told. The tranny shop is going to leave your other worn components and only replace the failed part. That's one of the reasons it is significantly cheaper. Both may still fail again, but if I'm not paying I'd rather have the one that was rebuilt to new tranny specs.
I guess it would depend on the parts the tranny shop uses. I know some of the TL folks are getting kevlar clutch packs (or something like that) for their transmissions. A significantly improved product that may, in this case, fix the problem. If the tranny would go south on my TL (and i don't plan to keep it past the warranty), I would get it fixed and sell it right away. $.02. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt
I guess it would depend on the parts the tranny shop uses. I know some of the TL folks are getting kevlar clutch packs (or something like that) for their transmissions. A significantly improved product that may, in this case, fix the problem. If the tranny would go south on my TL (and i don't plan to keep it past the warranty), I would get it fixed and sell it right away. $.02.
Well, then that probably raises the price of the rebuild and certainly wouldn't be covered by Acura. I agree though, if I had one of the bad trannies, I'd fix it as cheaply as possible and then trade it. No sense in keeping a ticking time bomb that has already exploded once............ |
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| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by JL_SS
Well, then that probably raises the price of the rebuild and certainly wouldn't be covered by Acura.
Agreed. This solution is more for people who are out of warranty and/or are sick of getting the transmission "fixed" every other year. I would definitely have the dealer fix this if it was inside the warranty. Outside the warranty, I would look at all of my options and really consider a $4-5K outlay. |
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| Parkit |
Called a local transmission repair place and was told that they had rebuilt an 01 MDX here in Salem. They also said that an advisor they use (Portland) for rebuilds said that they needed to take the entire transmission apart due to all the nooks and cranny's in the case that might have something dislodge and block the pump intake.
The advisor was very adamant about this being done and since the gear set is located in the front of the tranny case the cost was $3500.
They also said if the transmission were going out the fluid would be brown. So maybe a good idea to check the coloration on the dip stick before a long road trip. |
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