Honda Car Forum

My 2000 Acura TL 3.2 has had very little service done ; all by me. The car
runs "flawless" and has'nt been at the dealer or anywhere for service after
I bought it new (excepting for changing tires as noted below).

This is all I have done so far:

(A) Changed the oil + filter every 3,500 miles or so (4K probably once or
twice !!).

(B) Changed the air filter @ 30K

(C) Changed the coolant with Prestone 50% / 50% mix @ 30K

(D) Changed the fuel filter @ 30K

(E) Rotated the tires myself around 30K and just replaced all (4) sets with
the car approaching 60 K (got like 59.6K). The tire place did a (4) wheel
alignment as well.

I am about to do what I did at 30K for the 60K service & this time change
the transmission oil.

The manual indicates that no major service needs to be performed until 105K
miles, which is when you change the timing belt, adjust valves etc.

Anyone have any feedback. This is the BEST CAR I have ever owned (I have
owned (3) Honda Accords, (1) Acura Legend etc. and they all needed a little
more service than this car). I can't believe how good this car runs at 60K,
it seems to be 98% as good as new.

Thanks for your interest.

Vinnie
=======

Prestone? Read your owner's manual very carefully.
"vinniemak" <vinniemak@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:AmoSa.17677$7O.2438@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> My 2000 Acura TL 3.2 has had very little service done ; all by me. The
car
> runs "flawless" and has'nt been at the dealer or anywhere for service
after
> I bought it new (excepting for changing tires as noted below).
>
> This is all I have done so far:
>
> (A) Changed the oil + filter every 3,500 miles or so (4K probably once or
> twice !!).
>
> (B) Changed the air filter @ 30K
>
> (C) Changed the coolant with Prestone 50% / 50% mix @ 30K
>
> (D) Changed the fuel filter @ 30K
>
> (E) Rotated the tires myself around 30K and just replaced all (4) sets
with
> the car approaching 60 K (got like 59.6K). The tire place did a (4) wheel
> alignment as well.
>
> I am about to do what I did at 30K for the 60K service & this time change
> the transmission oil.
>
> The manual indicates that no major service needs to be performed until
105K
> miles, which is when you change the timing belt, adjust valves etc.
>
> Anyone have any feedback. This is the BEST CAR I have ever owned (I have
> owned (3) Honda Accords, (1) Acura Legend etc. and they all needed a
little
> more service than this car). I can't believe how good this car runs at
60K,
> it seems to be 98% as good as new.
>
> Thanks for your interest.
>
> Vinnie
> =======
>
>

Prestone isn't evil to Hondas. I've seen DEALERSHIPS that used it. Most
don't anymore, because there are things in the prestone that aren't good for
Hondas (or any car with aluminum parts) over time. But any car that I have
seen REGULARLY maintained did fine with prestone. It's the people that
aren't good about service that should really worry.

"Mikey" <%noospaam)mikling@eol.ca> wrote in message
news:E8xSa.5141$hv1.4116@nntp-post.primus.ca...
> Prestone? Read your owner's manual very carefully.
> "vinniemak" <vinniemak@netzero.net> wrote in message
> news:AmoSa.17677$7O.2438@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> > My 2000 Acura TL 3.2 has had very little service done ; all by me. The
> car
> > runs "flawless" and has'nt been at the dealer or anywhere for service
> after
> > I bought it new (excepting for changing tires as noted below).
> >
> > This is all I have done so far:
> >
> > (A) Changed the oil + filter every 3,500 miles or so (4K probably once
or
> > twice !!).
> >
> > (B) Changed the air filter @ 30K
> >
> > (C) Changed the coolant with Prestone 50% / 50% mix @ 30K
> >
> > (D) Changed the fuel filter @ 30K
> >
> > (E) Rotated the tires myself around 30K and just replaced all (4) sets
> with
> > the car approaching 60 K (got like 59.6K). The tire place did a (4)
wheel
> > alignment as well.
> >
> > I am about to do what I did at 30K for the 60K service & this time
change
> > the transmission oil.
> >
> > The manual indicates that no major service needs to be performed until
> 105K
> > miles, which is when you change the timing belt, adjust valves etc.
> >
> > Anyone have any feedback. This is the BEST CAR I have ever owned (I
have
> > owned (3) Honda Accords, (1) Acura Legend etc. and they all needed a
> little
> > more service than this car). I can't believe how good this car runs at
> 60K,
> > it seems to be 98% as good as new.
> >
> > Thanks for your interest.
> >
> > Vinnie
> > =======
> >
> >
>
>

"vinniemak" <vinniemak@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:AmoSa.17677$7O.2438@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> My 2000 Acura TL 3.2 has had very little service done ; all by me. The
car
> runs "flawless" and has'nt been at the dealer or anywhere for service
after
> I bought it new (excepting for changing tires as noted below).
>
> This is all I have done so far:
>
> (A) Changed the oil + filter every 3,500 miles or so (4K probably once or
> twice !!).
>
> (B) Changed the air filter @ 30K
>
> (C) Changed the coolant with Prestone 50% / 50% mix @ 30K
>
> (D) Changed the fuel filter @ 30K
>
> (E) Rotated the tires myself around 30K and just replaced all (4) sets
with
> the car approaching 60 K (got like 59.6K). The tire place did a (4) wheel
> alignment as well.
>
> I am about to do what I did at 30K for the 60K service & this time change
> the transmission oil.
>
> The manual indicates that no major service needs to be performed until
105K
> miles, which is when you change the timing belt, adjust valves etc.
>
> Anyone have any feedback. This is the BEST CAR I have ever owned (I have
> owned (3) Honda Accords, (1) Acura Legend etc. and they all needed a
little
> more service than this car). I can't believe how good this car runs at
60K,
> it seems to be 98% as good as new.
>
> Thanks for your interest.
>
> Vinnie
> =======
>
What about the cabin filter behind the glove box?

No, I haven't changed the cabin filter behind the glove box. Is it easy to
get to??

By the way, I did not use Prestone to change the coolant. It was an Acura
coolant that cost like $ 20 bucks. I said Prestone, because of the color.

Also someone mentioned disastrous transmission failures on the TL. Is this
true?? I don't "BEAT UP" my car, but someone emailed me to indicate that
there were many failures of TL & CL transmissions and sent me an email
address to the CL forum.

I have added transmission fluid to keep it filled to the top of the fill
marker from time to time.




"Xavier" <mdnblaster@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:HICH7J.838@news.boeing.com...
>
> "vinniemak" <vinniemak@netzero.net> wrote in message
> news:AmoSa.17677$7O.2438@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> > My 2000 Acura TL 3.2 has had very little service done ; all by me. The
> car
> > runs "flawless" and has'nt been at the dealer or anywhere for service
> after
> > I bought it new (excepting for changing tires as noted below).
> >
> > This is all I have done so far:
> >
> > (A) Changed the oil + filter every 3,500 miles or so (4K probably once
or
> > twice !!).
> >
> > (B) Changed the air filter @ 30K
> >
> > (C) Changed the coolant with Prestone 50% / 50% mix @ 30K
> >
> > (D) Changed the fuel filter @ 30K
> >
> > (E) Rotated the tires myself around 30K and just replaced all (4) sets
> with
> > the car approaching 60 K (got like 59.6K). The tire place did a (4)
wheel
> > alignment as well.
> >
> > I am about to do what I did at 30K for the 60K service & this time
change
> > the transmission oil.
> >
> > The manual indicates that no major service needs to be performed until
> 105K
> > miles, which is when you change the timing belt, adjust valves etc.
> >
> > Anyone have any feedback. This is the BEST CAR I have ever owned (I
have
> > owned (3) Honda Accords, (1) Acura Legend etc. and they all needed a
> little
> > more service than this car). I can't believe how good this car runs at
> 60K,
> > it seems to be 98% as good as new.
> >
> > Thanks for your interest.
> >
> > Vinnie
> > =======
> >
> What about the cabin filter behind the glove box?
>
>

I am going to set up my "first" Acura appointment and will post more on what
they say about the tranny and replacements etc. The 60K I have on the car
went flawlessly well.

Thanks for all your posts.

Vinnie
==========

"Curtis Newton" <cnewton@remove-me.akamail.com> wrote in message
news1fmhv8bdh99pgrjbs40n6u5kkk5vkjafc@4ax.com...
>
> >By the way, I did not use Prestone to change the coolant. It was an
Acura
> >coolant that cost like $ 20 bucks. I said Prestone, because of the color.
> >
>
> Excellent!!!
>
> >Also someone mentioned disastrous transmission failures on the TL. Is
this
> >true?? I don't "BEAT UP" my car, but someone emailed me to indicate that
> >there were many failures of TL & CL transmissions and sent me an email
> >address to the CL forum.
> >
>
>
> My neighbors TL tranny failed at 43,000 miles.......Acura replaced
> with no questions and provided a rental.
>
> -
> --
> Curtis Newton
> cnewton@remove-me.akaMail.com
> http://surf.to/cnewton
> <delete remove-me. to respond to email>
> ICQ: 4899169

"Curtis Newton" <cnewton@remove-me.akamail.com> wrote in message
news1fmhv8bdh99pgrjbs40n6u5kkk5vkjafc@4ax.com...
>
> >By the way, I did not use Prestone to change the coolant. It was an
Acura
> >coolant that cost like $ 20 bucks. I said Prestone, because of the color.
> >
>
> Excellent!!!
>
> >Also someone mentioned disastrous transmission failures on the TL. Is
this
> >true?? I don't "BEAT UP" my car, but someone emailed me to indicate that
> >there were many failures of TL & CL transmissions and sent me an email
> >address to the CL forum.
> >
>
>
> My neighbors TL tranny failed at 43,000 miles.......Acura replaced
> with no questions and provided a rental.
>
> -
> --
> Curtis Newton
> cnewton@remove-me.akaMail.com
> http://surf.to/cnewton
> <delete remove-me. to respond to email>
> ICQ: 4899169

Flush and fill of the transmissions is recommended more often that other
cars (25K-30K). Problem tranny cars do have a 100K warranty -if you have
one of the cars you should of received a notice on this warranty extension.

acuraworld.com and acura-cl.com both have how-to's on this. It is easy to
do from what I've heard.

"Xavier" <mdnblaster@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:HICqsy.DnK@news.boeing.com...
>
> "Curtis Newton" <cnewton@remove-me.akamail.com> wrote in message
> news1fmhv8bdh99pgrjbs40n6u5kkk5vkjafc@4ax.com...
> >
> > >By the way, I did not use Prestone to change the coolant. It was an
> Acura
> > >coolant that cost like $ 20 bucks. I said Prestone, because of the
color.
> > >
> >
> > Excellent!!!
> >
> > >Also someone mentioned disastrous transmission failures on the TL. Is
> this
> > >true?? I don't "BEAT UP" my car, but someone emailed me to indicate
that
> > >there were many failures of TL & CL transmissions and sent me an email
> > >address to the CL forum.
> > >
> >
> >
> > My neighbors TL tranny failed at 43,000 miles.......Acura replaced
> > with no questions and provided a rental.
> >
> > -
> > --
> > Curtis Newton
> > cnewton@remove-me.akaMail.com
> > http://surf.to/cnewton
> > <delete remove-me. to respond to email>
> > ICQ: 4899169
>
> Flush and fill of the transmissions is recommended more often that other
> cars (25K-30K). Problem tranny cars do have a 100K warranty -if you have
> one of the cars you should of received a notice on this warranty
extension.
>
> acuraworld.com and acura-cl.com both have how-to's on this. It is easy to
> do from what I've heard.
>
>

It's not so much about getting a tranny replaced, but the hassle of getting
to the dealer, wasting time away from work while going to the dealer etc.
Buying Acuras & Hondas over the year has spoilt me as I don't have to bother
going to dealers much about major problems. It's one less headache I have
in life. Also, with my company laying off so many people, my work load has
quadrupled, meaning I have even less time than before to take my car to a
dealer during normal business hours. For that reason, I service my own
cars, time permitting, usually on the weekends. Hell, if I wanted
problematic cars, I'd own a Chrysler or a FORD and be bitchin' everyday
about some problem or the other. Mind you, I have NO PROBLEMS with the 2000
TL 3.2 so far - it is just the FEAR that my tranny might fail, because a few
hundred trannys have been changed on the TL and CL cars. Thanks for reading
!!!

How about a refresh of the brake fluid ad AC cabin filter ?


"vinniemak" <vinniemak@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:AmoSa.17677$7O.2438@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> My 2000 Acura TL 3.2 has had very little service done ; all by me. The
car
> runs "flawless" and has'nt been at the dealer or anywhere for service
after
> I bought it new (excepting for changing tires as noted below).
>
> This is all I have done so far:
>
> (A) Changed the oil + filter every 3,500 miles or so (4K probably once or
> twice !!).
>
> (B) Changed the air filter @ 30K
>
> (C) Changed the coolant with Prestone 50% / 50% mix @ 30K
>
> (D) Changed the fuel filter @ 30K
>
> (E) Rotated the tires myself around 30K and just replaced all (4) sets
with
> the car approaching 60 K (got like 59.6K). The tire place did a (4) wheel
> alignment as well.
>
> I am about to do what I did at 30K for the 60K service & this time change
> the transmission oil.
>
> The manual indicates that no major service needs to be performed until
105K
> miles, which is when you change the timing belt, adjust valves etc.
>
> Anyone have any feedback. This is the BEST CAR I have ever owned (I have
> owned (3) Honda Accords, (1) Acura Legend etc. and they all needed a
little
> more service than this car). I can't believe how good this car runs at
60K,
> it seems to be 98% as good as new.
>
> Thanks for your interest.
>
> Vinnie
> =======
>
>

You should have gotten a letter from Acura by now extending the warranty on
the transmission to 100,000 miles. The local Acura dealer service guy tells
me it is a foregone conclusion that the transmission will fail, the only
question is when. The third gear clutches disintegrate and the pieces clog
the fluid passageways.

The transmission fluid should have been changed at each 30,000 miles. It is
not difficult to do yourself - there is a drain plug. You don't have to
open it up as there is no filter.

The brake fluid at 36,000. The anti-freeze at 45,000 and then each 30,000
after that. (all this from the maintenance schedule that came with my 2000
TL).

On 7/20/03 6:02 PM, in article KbFSa.10434$0F4.6531@nwrdny02.gnilink.net,
"vinniemak" <vinniemak@netzero.net> wrote:

> No, I haven't changed the cabin filter behind the glove box. Is it easy to
> get to??
>
> By the way, I did not use Prestone to change the coolant. It was an Acura
> coolant that cost like $ 20 bucks. I said Prestone, because of the color.
>
> Also someone mentioned disastrous transmission failures on the TL. Is this
> true?? I don't "BEAT UP" my car, but someone emailed me to indicate that
> there were many failures of TL & CL transmissions and sent me an email
> address to the CL forum.
>
> I have added transmission fluid to keep it filled to the top of the fill
> marker from time to time.
>
>
>
>
> "Xavier" <mdnblaster@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:HICH7J.838@news.boeing.com...
>>
>> "vinniemak" <vinniemak@netzero.net> wrote in message
>> news:AmoSa.17677$7O.2438@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
>>> My 2000 Acura TL 3.2 has had very little service done ; all by me. The
>> car
>>> runs "flawless" and has'nt been at the dealer or anywhere for service
>> after
>>> I bought it new (excepting for changing tires as noted below).
>>>
>>> This is all I have done so far:
>>>
>>> (A) Changed the oil + filter every 3,500 miles or so (4K probably once
> or
>>> twice !!).
>>>
>>> (B) Changed the air filter @ 30K
>>>
>>> (C) Changed the coolant with Prestone 50% / 50% mix @ 30K
>>>
>>> (D) Changed the fuel filter @ 30K
>>>
>>> (E) Rotated the tires myself around 30K and just replaced all (4) sets
>> with
>>> the car approaching 60 K (got like 59.6K). The tire place did a (4)
> wheel
>>> alignment as well.
>>>
>>> I am about to do what I did at 30K for the 60K service & this time
> change
>>> the transmission oil.
>>>
>>> The manual indicates that no major service needs to be performed until
>> 105K
>>> miles, which is when you change the timing belt, adjust valves etc.
>>>
>>> Anyone have any feedback. This is the BEST CAR I have ever owned (I
> have
>>> owned (3) Honda Accords, (1) Acura Legend etc. and they all needed a
>> little
>>> more service than this car). I can't believe how good this car runs at
>> 60K,
>>> it seems to be 98% as good as new.
>>>
>>> Thanks for your interest.
>>>
>>> Vinnie
>>> =======
>>>
>> What about the cabin filter behind the glove box?
>>
>>
>
>