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04-06 Trans/TC Failure Thread

159K views 577 replies 132 participants last post by  StruckGold 
#1 ·
The 01-02 trans has always been a topic. It seems like the trans/TC issues have sprung up on a few of the 2004-2006 models. I'd like to track these issues. I'll adapt this thread as it progresses to make it as useful as possible. If anything needs to be added or changed, please let me know. This is here to help everyone.

Symptoms - lugging/vibration/rumble strip feeling when driving from between 35-45mph.
Resolution - Torque Converter replacement/ trans replacement. **NEW** PCM Update for 05-06 MDX.

***NOTES***

10/18/2010 - A few members have received a letter from Acura recalling certain 05-06 MDXS for a PCM Update to correct the judder.
http://www.mdxers.org/forums/73-200...pdate-lock-up-clutch-function.html#post472187
For the majority, this fixes the issue.


A few members have reported that driving in D4 around town and shifting up to D5 for highway use eliminated the shuddering. This only conceals/avoids the issue, but it works. In D4 it keeps the transmission from dipping too low in the rpms, which causes the lugging.

5 members have had a 2nd replacement. 3 members have updated their report with no issues thus far.






If you have issues, please complete this form,
List model year.
Date/Mileage of failure.
Current mileage.
Symptoms.
Corrective action.
Current status of trans. How does it feel?
And cost, if any or $0.
Warranty, if you received one.

For all others who have had zero issues and have logged greater than 60k miles.
Please put "NO FAILURE"
List year.
Current mileage.
Maintanence.
Current status of trans. How does it feel?

Total failures = 65 **This number is only the ones who had trans/TC replacement.

2004 = 17
flynn(45k)
qinyf (45k)
bone324(50k)
jowardb(55k)
nymdx04(56k)
sharpee2(63k)
aflygirl(67k)
MDXfin(71k)
lland(72k)
wilmaflintstone(83k)
kggs(84k)
KansasCityMDXer(92k)
jreidg3(95k)
nickstl77(96k)
VirginiaDream(99k)
blkblkblk04MDX (103k)
newtotheroad(138k)

2005 = 37
kooltacos(35k)
JCastro(39k)
RN7676(42k)
jwkall (44k)
shbtopdog(44k)
anfang_ja(45k)(63k)
shishmee (45k)
rgp2005mdx(47k)
1stTimeSUV( 47k)
mdxflexspeed (48k)
acuramdxman (48k)
joysbox (49k)
maohaohan (49k)
dc78_mdx(49k)
henryleung(53k)
Mommamobile (53k)
krnl4life (53k)
arparp(55k)
2nd MDX (56k)
Ibjamn(56k)
gramagy(60k)
dr33m(61k)
tony123(63k)
shankoot(65k)
rdmelton(66k)
skelley3(67k)
ranchuk(76k)
markd75(79k)
pianoman41 (80k)
jordanp17(80k)
mikeinde(81k)
ryan43110(82k)
JeannetteC(93k)
IllinoisREI(99k)
Socct L(99k)
JCagle24(108k)
ckamps(130k)

2006 = 11
willie_z(15k)
kkauto(31k)
yot(37k)
rasMDX(52k)
praXis(55k)
dwhornik(60k)
CrappyMDXTC(66k)
TraderAlex(67k)
spring1(67k)
zoinks(68k)
rotzy(95k)

PCM update Fixed issue= 10 ***This number represents symptoms and PCM update fixed their issue.
Tygger (06)54k
daveog(06)97k
hokiefyd 05 56k
carguy07 06 ??
molarface 05 58k
shaqdeez ???
pianoman41 05 130k?
jean d 05 ???
Wish4MDX 05 69k
Scott L 05 99k

PCM update. Still issues. = 4
hds504(05-73k) PCM update 12-16-10 115k, still low lugging.
crappyMDX 06 PCM update - still growling from a stop
JeannetteC 06 PCM update - still lugging slightly. replace TC.
cmui78 06 92k PCM Update - still lugging slightly.

No symptoms - PCM updated. = 6
CDLVancouver 05 137k
2MDX4Now(06)85k
MDXAnyone(06)69k
clos8(05)?
DWF 05 61k
SBM MDX 06 ???

Watch list - exhibiting symptoms
cardfan930 (05-50k)
eubromdx(04-66k)
njmdx73(05-57k)
thebicman(?)
rod1105(04-70k)
pendu(?)
jazztbone(57k)
RallyD(60k)
asher454(06-81k)
snookums(04)-100k now 125k
dc1225(06)71k

Updates after Trans/TC replacement.
NO ISSUES
RN7676 (42k) 7-29-10 21k
acuramdxman (48k) 6-09-10 30k
pianoman41 (80k) 1-25-11 60k PCM Update made it feel smoother.

ISSUES
Anfang_ja(45k) 02-02-10 20k TC needs replacing again.
skelley3(67k) 8-10-10 6k TC needs replacing again.
tony123(63k) 11-28-10 12k TC needs replacing again.
mikeinde(111k)9-5-10 30k TC needs replacing again
ranchuk(76k)12-14-10 22k TC needs replacing again.
zoinks(101k)10-11-10 29k issue at 95k... pending action.
kooltacos(30k)12-16-10 25k rumbling again. PCM update made it worse.
bone324(50k) 2-21-11 27k tran replaced again.
lland(72k) 4-15-11 16k TC replaced again
 
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#363 ·
Ohh ok, that does make sense, i'll keep driving in D4 around town and see if that helps. Thanks for the help Midnight :29: I'll give an update after the appointment at the dealer next week.
 
#367 ·
I double-checked my records that my Independent faxed over to me today. The tranny fluid was changed at 60k. My dealer asked me if I had changed the tranny fluid at 45k with my independent. I had not and I told them that. My last dealer service was at 37k. I missed the 45k and picked up my independent at 60k. I will fax over the maintenance records from my independent tomorrow. We'll see what happens. Admittedly, then, I was 15k late on a tranny fluid change. Doutbful that such led to a tranny failure 22k later.

As for the 50/50 split, I have done a lot of research on folks with an '03 MDX tranny failure that were out of warranty. I have also read opinions on different sites outside of here. Nowhere did I find where a similarly situated owner was reimbursed 100% of the replacement cost. The best I could find was 90%. Most were at the 50/50 level. The initial deal that I have been offered appears to be par-for-the-course for a 7 year old MDX that is long since out of warranty. I have seen folks disqualified for a cost-share program where they are not the original owners or had high mileage vehicles, e.g., 130k+.

Take it FWIW. :rolleyes:
 
#368 ·
List model year. 2006
Date/Mileage of failure. 55k ish
Current mileage. 66k
Symptoms. driving 30-45mph with very light throttle, intermittent chugging sound like it was missing on one cylinder, rpm's pick up a couple hundred due to slippage each time. Worse when cold, not as noticeable when warmed up.
Corrective action. Reading this site and then going to start calling dealers
Current status of trans. How does it feel? Trans seems to work fine except for TC problem.
And cost, if any or $0.
Warranty, if you received one. Was certified used so assuming warranty will cover it.
 
#539 ·
List model year. 2006
Date/Mileage of failure. 55k ish
Current mileage. 66k
Symptoms. driving 30-45mph with very light throttle, intermittent chugging sound like it was missing on one cylinder, rpm's pick up a couple hundred due to slippage each time. Worse when cold, not as noticeable when warmed up.
Corrective action. Reading this site and then going to start calling dealers
Current status of trans. How does it feel? Trans seems to work fine except for TC problem.
And cost, if any or $0.
Warranty, if you received one. Was certified used so assuming warranty will cover it.
It's doing it again on the new converter. I haven't extensively tested it but I felt it and my wife said it was doing it as well. Gonna do spark plugs first and then see if their latest program fixes it. Anyone have any luck getting them to replace one that had already had an issue and been replaced under warranty? There is an out of warranty "goodwill consideration" section on the service bulletin, hoping they come good on it or I will be a bit frustrated.
 
#372 ·
Hi everyone - new member here... So I have it - the dreaded Torque Converter rumble on my 2004 MDX. Lucky I guess - 125,000 miles. but still, this isn't a Chrysler after all. (I can say that, since I put 3 trannys in my Town & Country, and bought an Acura so I wouldn't have those problems again)

I did a 3x fluid change and it helped for about 25k miles.

Questions:
1) Is it worth doing another fluid replacment?
2) Driving in in D4 locally seems to be fine. Can I drive it like this for another 50K miles? Or am I sure to have a catastrophic failure that will leave it dead?

I have no intention (at the moment) of fixing it, unless it explodes. Just trying to find out the likelyhood of that happening.

Thanks to all of you that have unfortunate great experience with this.

JIm
 
#376 ·
no update just a question, i had my tc replaced still going fine btw, but recently my radiatar went and i got antifreeze in the tranny fluid and tranny fluid in the radiater. brought it to dealer to get tranny problem fixed, but it isnt that bad because i didnt drive long before i noticed it not shifting right.its still shifts hard into gear when it diwnshifts in 2nd gear but acura pretty much said the problems not bad enough to get fix. my question is how do i mess up my tranny more to get it fixed without going nuts. oh and btw they dont know there was antifreeze in my tranny or else they prolly wouldnt of tried to fix it.
 
#383 ·
I noticed mine beginning to go out about 4 months ago and so far it has not gotten any worse. I was hoping to put off any possible repair until summer because i'm so busy with classes. (knock on wood)
 
#382 ·
PCM Update For Lock-Up Clutch Function

My 05 MDX had the TC replaced in 2009, the vibration has been reduced significantly since. But I still noticed a small vibration from the transmission when I drive slowly and I haven't got the time to complain to the dealership again. Today, I've received a letter from Acura saying that there is a "PCM Update For Lock-Up Clutch Function" which should minimize the vibration. I am looking forward to take it in for the software update and I will post the result afterwards.
 
#384 ·
My 05 MDX had the TC replaced in 2009, the vibration has been reduced significantly since. But I still noticed a small vibration from the transmission when I drive slowly and I haven't got the time to complain to the dealership again. Today, I've received a letter from Acura saying that there is a "PCM Update For Lock-Up Clutch Function" which should minimize the vibration. I am looking forward to take it in for the software update and I will post the result afterwards.
Good info. Whats your mileage now?
 
#388 ·
Add another 05 to the list

Year: 2005
Miles: 61k

just got it back from the dealer yesterday. they replaced the TC and did the PCM update. they said that they put in new stabilizer bars as well since there was some play with the old. we bought this CPO a couple of years back and i'm glad that we did get the extended warranty. everything was covered!
 
#390 ·
'06 symptoms question

My '06 X has just under 45,000 miles.

I have noticed two transmission symptoms that am curious about. When traveling at about 40 mph the tachometer will show approx 2000 rpm, however it will drop about 100 to 200 rpm and then return. If I do not push on the accelerator any more and continue to run at the same speed, it will continue to alternate between the two engine speeds. I can also hear the pitch of the engine change as this occurs. It is fairly consistent in this.

The other is that I heard the rumble strip noise once last week while on a trip. It occurred when I was backing up after restarting the vehicle at a rest stop. Just once and have not heard it again.

Should I be concerned?
 
#392 ·
List model year. 2005
Date/Mileage of failure: 80,000
Current mileage. 86,000
Symptoms. grinding type noise at 30-45 mph intermittent rumble strip feeling
Corrective action. Replace Torque Converter
Current status of trans. How does it feel? All better
And cost, if any or $300.00 under warranty, $2800 if it wasn't
Warranty, if you received one. Extended Warranty
 
#394 ·
05 MDX 71k
TC replaced at 60k
I just got this MDX 2 weeks ago. Started out driving in D5, was noticing the rumble strip, around 20-35mph though and not so much at higher speeds like others...I started using D4 out of instinct, cuz it seemed like it was having trouble knowing when to downshift from 5th gear. Every since I went to D4, I've only noticed the rumble once or twice...Seems to be making a difference.
 
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