Here is the maintenance minder schedule for the 2015 TLX. The “3” sub-item calls for the transmission fluid replacement. Having said that, it does talk about changing it sooner depending on driving conditions. I’ll attach a screenshot for reference.

http://owners.acura.com/service-maintenance/minder?year=2015&model=TLX#mid^UB2F5FKNW

 

Yes, I'd seen that the other day. Hence, the "3" maintenance minder would show up when the transmission fluid ought to be changed, right (putting aside this question of changing sooner depending on driving conditions)? Or is that not a maintenance minder that is triggered (as the other ones are, e.g., B 1)? This is exactly the question I'm trying to better understand.

 

The owner's manual implies that you WILL see a notification when a transmission fluid change is due. So you never saw a notification when you approached 30K miles?

 

That really is the very point.. There was no notification, merely the B1 service minder. As I sat in the waiting room they said that I should get the transmission fluid change, as I'd hit 33K miles. I was surprised that it would be required or suggested so early, and also had never seen the maintenance minder for transmission fluid change. And then was charged $399 (which, after checking around afterwards, was very high even for an Acura dealer, another dealer in the area quoted me $250). I challenged this whole thing a few days after and they refunded me the $399 but the general manager tried to give me some song and dance about how it wasn't a bad idea to have the fluid changed, that the maintenance minder can't always be trusted, and that $399 was less than other dealers in the area. Obviously he checked with another dealer than I. This is what makes me hate dealing with car dealers altogether, sales or service.

 

Well they did the right thing by refunding you... but not sure why you MM didn't come on with the next oil change due for the tranny. IMHO it would be normal to change the trany fluid every 30K for standard driving.

What does seem high is the $399. Last time I had it done in our MDX with a dealership it was $150

 

I think 30k is too soon to mess with the transmission. What else did they do besides draining and replacing the fluid? Reminds me of the BMW maintenance program that my 525 was on in the past. Maintenance hogs.

 

I think the price is so high with the 9 speed because they use the new ATF 3.x fluid which the MSRP is $36.16 per quart. (3.5 quarts used at change)
In comparison the 8 speed DCT uses the new ATF 2.x which retails for $9.53 per quart. (4.3 quarts used at change)
The old regular Acura/Honda automatic fluid is ATF-DW1 which is $8.30 per quart. (Usually 3 quarts used at change)
There is also one for the CVT but I don't know anything about those.

 

I also thought that 30K was much too early for the first transmission fluid change. Another dealer I called (the day after) basically said "unless the maintenance minder light came on for a "3" service, or if you'd been having transmission issues, you should not have had the fluid replaced that early. Usually it's (the first transmission fluid replacement) done at 60K, maybe 50K, and THEN every 30K thereafter. This is what has really made me angry. This is the third Acura I've bought from this dealer, always had the cars serviced there, and now I feel that there's no way I can trust them again. Not only was their service far more expensive than elsewhere, it was also not needed. So while I think that refunding my money was the right "general manager trying to fix a problem with one customer" thing to do, I also think that any customer who brings their Acura in for service needs to be more careful and less trusting. Caveat emptor. I'm never going back there. Still love my Acura, hate my dealer.

 

I think there are many ideas around if/when to replace transmission fluid. I have had many cars that I have never replaced the fluid, or tranny flush. I think 30k is ridiculous. Talk with a transmission place and ask them. Some people say you should rarely replace as when you flush, the seatings can dry out. What about filter? flush? I am not sure what I would do, but definitely not at 30. Maybe 100.

 

At 30K seemed odd when they suggested it that day, and with further research I can see that it was absolutely not the right thing for them to suggest. Thanks for your comment, further underscores the outrage I'm feeling toward my local Acura dealer service department.

 

Was that for an AWD MDX (responding to TLXVA)?

 

Most Honda/Acura dealerships push for a 30K mile transmission fluid change even though it's not what the Maintenance Minder says because it's an easy task that they can charge a ton of money for.

 

Is this fluid change (done whenever) something one can trust to a competent and honorable transmission shop?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Hey guys, can we see some examples of how much people paid for transmission fluid change?

I have the 9 speed and I am being charged around $530 tax in for the fluid change alone...

 

Since the TLX removed the transmission fluid dipstick (from the TL generations), doing the change has turned into a money maker for the dealers. I always do my trans fluid myself on my 3G TL b/c the dealer wants way too much for the same skill set as changing oil. Granted that the fluid cost more, but not that much more. Now doing the transmission fluid change is more of a pain to do yourself, but if even moderately capable with a wrench it is worth your time. $530 is robbery, and even $300 is too much for what it involves. Do a search on this (or other Acura forums) for a DYI on the TLX.....many people do their own even without the dipstick....or find a private shop to do the work.

As far as the frequency, I think that it is a CYA move on the part of Acura. Since the transmission failures in the 1999 - 2006 TL, Acura has gone to a very low mileage recommendation on fluid exchange. I think that I did my first at around 60,000 miles, and then every 30,000 or so after that....just a 3 x 3, and even that is probably more than necessary. But I keep my cars for a long time and put on about 30k per year. My current 07 has 270000 miles on the original transmission with no problems.

 

Typical of the stealers... my Previous car, Nissan Murano had a CVT... there was NO time listed for a fluid change... what is suppose to happen the stealer was to test the fluid and based on that result if the value is over a certain number change it, otherwise no change is needed. I can't tell you how many times the stealer told me to change it every 15 or 30K miles. When I asked about the "number" I always got a look.... I ended up replacing the fluid the first time at 100,000 miles and even then a reliable dealer told me I didn't need to but I couldn't get myself to go beyond 100K.

Sadly most stealers are the same... I agree $500 for a change is off the charts. I will wait until the maintenance minder tells me to change it.

 

To correct my last post, It's actually 550 or so before tax... so I'm looking at over 600 bucks for a transmission fluid change alone :|

The 8 speed fluid change is much cheaper, around 150 before tax. I looked into buying the fluid myself and getting a local shop that I trust to do it. I can get the ATF 3.1 fluid for 55 bucks a quart and I would need 5 bottles (goddamn this stuff is expensive). Since I'm not planning to hold onto the car forever, I figured getting things done at the dealer and having it recorded there would help with resale, but I'm still debating.

 

Have not had it done yet on the TLX my our stealer charged us $230 for a tranamission fluid + $130 for a diff. fluid change on a MDX.

 

digging to see,

looks like it's the real deal. I just had a lovely A136 code (the TOTAL ! )

called the deal, he almost felt sorry for me that i had the ZF9... he literally told me, all other trans oil change are like 200$ CAD... but this one ? 600$CAD (ya thanks Quebec for the extra tax).

I already hated this god **** transmission... i hate it even more now.

 

I believe every 30k miles is ideal, and you needn't wait to be reminded. It's plain old regular maintenance. Now if you really want to confirm or deny this, actually open the hood and put your hand on the transmission dipstick and pull it out. Eyeball it; it should be a pink color and translucent, If it's dark and smells burnt you waited too long. I know this is terribly inconvenient but it's infallible. I'm also having a hard time with $399 for an AT drain & fill. Find an independent shop with a good reputation (Yelp), it'll be way less.

 

...Eyeball it; it should be a pink color and translucent, If it's dark and smells burnt you waited too long. I know this is terribly inconvenient but it's infallible...

Can you clarify what you mean by its "infallible"?

 

The ZF9 fluid is dark green (Type 3) and there is no dipstick. You have to drain it and refill it from the bottom of the car using a time-consuming procedure (drain, refill, run the engine until it warms up, check level and top off, etc).

 

I did atf drain and refill on my 2.4 DCT at 36k miles. My old fluid came off dark and dirty, but smelled the same as new type 2. I think 30k is a good time to do it, if you want your trany to last. Here is a picture of dirty magnetic drain plug. I wish they had installed external filter, like on my 05 TL

 

Just out of curiosity was the maintenance minder calling for a DCT fluid change?

 

Maintenance minder didn't call for atf change yet. But I bought this car with 30k miles, and I don't have any previous records. I don't think any one touched drain and fill plugs. Fill plug had some paint mark on it. Acura type 2 atf is around $10 a quart. If you are changing your engine oil yourself it's only adds few more steps to it.

 

Took our recently purchased 2015 TLX in for service (42k miles). They also recommended the trans fluid flush (every 30k) for 9-speed. I too thought it seemed a little early, but they said the fluid was discolored, so I agreed. Our dealer charges $299.

 

I have gotten quotes around the 450 mark from all the dealers around me, how are you guys getting 299, are you not doing the transfer cases with it?

 

I have a 2016 TLX. So I seen that the recommended service schedule says 30,000 yet I go to the dealership and tell the service rep my service is due and he tells me it’s 50,000. Maybe the interval changed at some point after testing and learning more about the ZF 9 speed. I thought 30,000 is too soon for a service!