| Supercharger |
Well, add me to the list of MDX transmission victims. MDX started revving into neutral occasional then finally THREW AN "INCORRECT GEAR RATIO" code.
I have 91k on the odometer.
Brought it to my local Cottman tranny shop who had done my other cars tranny and did an excellent job. The tear down revealed a completely fried third gear clutch and a damaged spring. Thank GOD I bought a warranty!:2:
The warranty company would only approve $1900 for the repair, stating that they could source a local used tranny with 55k on it to be installed. The total bill for my tranny to be rebuilt would be $2400 which included a new torque converter. I asked what sense that made as if the used tranny failed they would be paying to repair that one to. After hearing the BS about a "like parts" clause in my contract, I talked with the tranny guy and we split the difference. It cost me $250 out of pocket to Cottman. Cottman does not do alignments so I will also have to pay about $80 for a 4 wheel alignment tommorow that would not have been covered under warranty anyway. All told it will cost me around $330 for the whole job so I can't complain too much.
BTW, Cottman told me honda uses a proprietary friction material on their clutches that wears faster than most. It is this 'Honda" friction material that makes the use of Honda Z1 tranny fluid nescessary. They used a Borg-Warner rebuild kit that has much more durable friction plates, so hopefully this rebuild will be the last.
If you are out of warranty and have a tranny issue that the dealer won't work with you in, take it to a good tranny shop and let them put the superior aftermarket rebuild kit in. It will cost less than a dealer rebuilt unit and likely last a lot longer too.. |
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| polyian |
Standard answer with those 3rd party warranty companies...but it sounds like you will do OK with the help of the shop you use.
I'm curious as to why is a wheel alignment require with a transmission change? |
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| Supercharger |
quote:
Originally posted by polyian
Standard answer with those 3rd party warranty companies...but it sounds like you will do OK with the help of the shop you use.
I'm curious as to why is a wheel alignment require with a transmission change?
Anytime the tranny comes out you will need an aligment as you are disconnecting tie rod ends and such and basically obliterate the settings of the last alignment. You can get pretty close if you marked the thread before disassembly, enough to get you to an alignment rack to have done properly. With our tires costing close to $200 a tire, a proper alignment is well worth the money. |
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| polyian |
| Thanks Supercharger....Good explanation and a good reminder of why to get an alignment after buying a new set of tires$$$ |
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| synergest1 |
quote:
Originally posted by Supercharger
Well, add me to the list of MDX transmission victims. MDX started revving into neutral occasional then finally THREW AN "INCORRECT GEAR RATIO" code.
I have 91k on the odometer.
Brought it to my local Cottman tranny shop who had done my other cars tranny and did an excellent job. The tear down revealed a completely fried third gear clutch and a damaged spring. Thank GOD I bought a warranty!:2:
The warranty company would only approve $1900 for the repair, stating that they could source a local used tranny with 55k on it to be installed. The total bill for my tranny to be rebuilt would be $2400 which included a new torque converter. I asked what sense that made as if the used tranny failed they would be paying to repair that one to. After hearing the BS about a "like parts" clause in my contract, I talked with the tranny guy and we split the difference. It cost me $250 out of pocket to Cottman. Cottman does not do alignments so I will also have to pay about $80 for a 4 wheel alignment tommorow that would not have been covered under warranty anyway. All told it will cost me around $330 for the whole job so I can't complain too much.
BTW, Cottman told me honda uses a proprietary friction material on their clutches that wears faster than most. It is this 'Honda" friction material that makes the use of Honda Z1 tranny fluid nescessary. They used a Borg-Warner rebuild kit that has much more durable friction plates, so hopefully this rebuild will be the last.
If you are out of warranty and have a tranny issue that the dealer won't work with you in, take it to a good tranny shop and let them put the superior aftermarket rebuild kit in. It will cost less than a dealer rebuilt unit and likely last a lot longer too..
Had the fluid ever been changed? |
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| midnightMDX |
| You got a good deal on the trans. That warranty is worth every penny. |
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| Supercharger |
quote:
Originally posted by midnightMDX
You got a good deal on the trans. That warranty is worth every penny.
It sure is. I paid $1200 for a no deductable 48k/48 month warranty and have needed a rear main seal replaced last October and now the tranny rebuild. At ths point the it has cost the warranty company almost $3000 to fix my MDX. It was a very good investment for me. I bought that warranty over concerns about the tranny BTW.
It will be costing them even more soon, as my AC compressor clutch is getting very noisy.
As for whether the tranny fluid had been changed: Yes
I bought the truck with 63K on it and immediately did a 3X flush and have done a 1x flush with every oil change. The fluid that came out on my intitial 3x flush was dark, so I doubt the previous owner had it changed.
FWIW, I have had many other cars that the original trans lasted well over 100K. Cottman did my 1998 Buick Regal GS (supercharged) tranny rebuild last year. That Regal had 165k on the odometer. I had a 1992 Chevy Cavalier station wagon that I used for a service vehicle(I'm a Field Service Tech) and its tranny lasted to 190K before reverse went.
Maybe Honda should ask GM how to make a long lasting tranny :D |
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| Supercharger |
Almost forgot.....
Got the MDX back yesterday and gave it a shakedown run. It shifts beautifully and I have more torque now going to the wheels for sure due to having no slippage. From my xperience with my Regal, I expect to see better gas mileage too.
Mike and the crew at Cottman did another AWESOME job. He is the ONLY shop that still manages to do the job right the first time. I should have brought the MDX to him for the rear main seal instead of letting the HACKS at Everhart Honda butcher my ride. It took them SIX visits to get my MDX right again. They even released my truck back to me initially with NO MOTOR MOUNT FASTENERS ON IT. The simply forgot to bolt the motor in. They also missed a bolt in my rack unit. Cottman asked me who had the tranny out last because they found evem MORE missing bolts!!!!!!!!!! Do NOT bring ANYTHING to Everhart Honda in Statesville, NC They are THE WORST, MOST INCOMPETENT service department I have ever dealt with to the point of being dangerous
Anyone in the Charlotte area would do well to call Cottman for there tranny issues. He is in Mooresville. 704-662-9688 |
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| polyian |
| If you can get all that information in writing (service records and statements from Cottman) I would suggest you call Acura Corporate and ask them who you can send it to. You may get something out of it but better than that you may save someone else's life. That dealer needs to get dragged on the carpet by Acura and explain these screw ups. These are not just oversights, these incompetences create a danger putting the vehicle on the road in that condition. |
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| oilchange |
quote:
tear down revealed a completely fried third gear clutch and a damaged spring.
The third gear clutch is usually what fails in these units. Welcome to the club.quote:
It cost me $250 out of pocket to Cottman... All told it will cost me around $330...
That is lower cost repair than most owners get without a warranty. You did well.
quote:
BTW, Cottman told me honda uses a proprietary friction material on their clutches that wears faster than most.
Honda bad. quote:
It is this 'Honda" friction material that makes the use of Honda Z1 tranny fluid nescessary. They used a Borg-Warner rebuild kit that has much more durable friction plates, so hopefully this rebuild will be the last.
I hope it is correct that the rebuild could be more durable. Another question is if Borg Warner clutches are different, is some ATF not Z1 better for a Borg Warner clutch in a rebuild? Z1 certainly did not give outstanding results here or in many other Honda cars. |
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| Supercharger |
I asked the same question to Cottma and he said he still follows the manufacters recommendation.
8 Quarts of fresh Z-1 went into my tranny.
I don't beleive there is anything wrong with Z-1... except being expensive. Hondas tranny issues stem from faulty designs for lubrication. Those third gear packs are not getting enough fluid on them. I STRONGLY suggest anyone who has a tranny rebuilt/replaced get an aftermarket transmission cooler. I am researching which one I'm going to have Cottman install. They make some pretty efficient plate style coolers that should lower trans temps signifcantly and make life a little easier for our clutch plates. |
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