[nats007]

Good Morning All,

I recently picked up a 2000 Acura 3.2TL for a good deal and so far and pretty happy with the purchase. I bought it with 169K on it and the transmission recently replaced.

The car has been serviced directly with Acura from the orignal owner. I do not take my vehicles in and usually do all the work myself, so I'm looking for some pointers I may miss with this car.

Looking to do a tune up and so far have the following on the list:
1) New Plugs
2) New Brakes (rotors depending on condition)
3) Oil change (5w-30 seems to be the right weight oil)
4) Double check serpentine belt condition
5) Reattach the 3.2TL emblem that came off duirng washing it


Completed the following:
1) Replaced cabin filters
2) Replaced rearview mirror (previous one lok like it exploded)
3) Replaced hood dampers (both were blown)
4) Inspected all belts and air filter and they to be in great condition
5) Fixed arm rest lock


Some other minor things to do:
1) Get a spare (currently have my RSX-S spare in the back)
2) Re-tint the car
3) Complete interior/exterior detail (previous owner had kids spills all kinds of stuff in it)
4) Replace trunk lid :uhh: Its sitting in the garage casue it does not look good at all.

Anything else I need to be weary of??? I've own several hondas and acuras and know my way around them quite well. The only unfamiliarity is the auto transmission as I'm used to manual. Thanks in advance for any pointers.

 

[nats007]

update... just ordered the following:

New ceramic pads (front and rear)
NGK Iridium IX spark plugs
New wipers (figured why not)
Oil change stuff (Valvoline NextGen Max 5W-30 and PureOne oil filter)

Should be complete with this maintenance service over the weekend.

 

[C25A1guy]

Very nice!

 

[Wildcat Rudy]

Any word on the timing belt? The dealer we got ours from could not find any records of a timing belt change (normally done at 105k miles), so I am probably going to do it in July or August just to play it safe. A $30 belt is cheaper than a $2000 engine.

 

[nats007]

Very nice!

Thanks man! I completed all except for the spark plugs. Turns out that they were replaced arounf 150K, so I'll hold off on installing them until later on. I noticed that you have an 02 Acura RSX and I have one as well.

I'm in the process of installing a JRSC :boink: Any mods to yours?

 

[nats007]

Any word on the timing belt? The dealer we got ours from could not find any records of a timing belt change (normally done at 105k miles), so I am probably going to do it in July or August just to play it safe. A $30 belt is cheaper than a $2000 engine.

Sup man... I actually checked my belt and all was good with it, so I did not change it. I then found the service records for the car and saw that it was changed around 130K, so that confirmed my inspection. If you can't find records, I'll recommend getting it changed.

 

[C25A1guy]

Thanks man! I completed all except for the spark plugs. Turns out that they were replaced arounf 150K, so I'll hold off on installing them until later on. I noticed that you have an 02 Acura RSX and I have one as well.

I'm in the process of installing a JRSC :boink: Any mods to yours?

Well, mine's a time attack race car. Mods are as follows (this is on a K20A3 engine):
Port/Polish head
NGK Iridium IX plugs
AEM CAI
Custom race header (1.75" primary, 2" secondary, 3" collector)
Custom 3" exhaust
Buddy Club valve springs
Buddy Club retainers
Skunk2 intake manifold
Skunk2 70mm throttle body
3-qt Accusump
Hondata K-Pro
ACT flywheel
Exedy stage 1 clutch
RSX Type S transmission
Wavetrac LSD
4.8 final drive
Buddy Club short shifter
Neuspeed strut bar
Apexi N1 Pro coilovers
Eibach ERS springs (600lb/in front, 850lb/in rear)
Neuspeed X-Brace
J's Racing tie rods
D3 Design rear chassis brace
Type R rear strut bar
Type R rear sway bar
Custom endlinks
Custom heim joint bushings
TL Type S brake master cylinder
Stoptech slotted rotors
Ferodo DS3000 pads
Stoptech brake lines
brake ducts
3-row aluminum radiator
Koyo rad cap
custom front splitter (Home Depot fiberboard FTW!)
APR GTC-200 wing
VIS Racing CF hood
Autopower roll cage
Sparco Evo 2 seat
Sparco 6-pt harness
Splash short hub
NRG quick release
Autometer oil pressure gauge
Autometer oil temp gauge
Autometer water temp gauge
Racing Hart CP-035 forged wheels 16x7
225/50-16 Toyo RA1
5Zigen FN01R Becketts forged wheels 17x8.5
255/40-17 Kumho V710
Buddy Club QF forged wheels 17x7.5
225/45-17 Falken Azenis RT-615K

I think that's pretty much all the big things.

 

[youraway]

Bought a 2000 TL with 24K miles many years ago. Have always had it dealer serviced, yes paid a little more, but worth it. Replaced serpentine belt and water pump at 100K by dealer. All our work has been done either at Tim Smith, Fort Walton Beach Florida, or Concord Acura, CA. Both service departments are excellent. When I bought the 2000 it was Certified Pre-Owned and the warranted was phenomenal. They kept everything perfect and warranted. Just bought a 2006 TL yesterday with 70K, got a super price from a friend who's wife passed. Sure wish it was Certified. I will get dealer to go over it next week, but both vehicles are in showroom condition. I love my Acura's.

 

[nats007]

Well, mine's a time attack race car. Mods are as follows (this is on a K20A3 engine):
Port/Polish head
NGK Iridium IX plugs
AEM CAI
Custom race header (1.75" primary, 2" secondary, 3" collector)
Custom 3" exhaust
Buddy Club valve springs
Buddy Club retainers
Skunk2 intake manifold
Skunk2 70mm throttle body
3-qt Accusump
Hondata K-Pro
ACT flywheel
Exedy stage 1 clutch
RSX Type S transmission
Wavetrac LSD
4.8 final drive
Buddy Club short shifter
Neuspeed strut bar
Apexi N1 Pro coilovers
Eibach ERS springs (600lb/in front, 850lb/in rear)
Neuspeed X-Brace
J's Racing tie rods
D3 Design rear chassis brace
Type R rear strut bar
Type R rear sway bar
Custom endlinks
Custom heim joint bushings
TL Type S brake master cylinder
Stoptech slotted rotors
Ferodo DS3000 pads
Stoptech brake lines
brake ducts
3-row aluminum radiator
Koyo rad cap
custom front splitter (Home Depot fiberboard FTW!)
APR GTC-200 wing
VIS Racing CF hood
Autopower roll cage
Sparco Evo 2 seat
Sparco 6-pt harness
Splash short hub
NRG quick release
Autometer oil pressure gauge
Autometer oil temp gauge
Autometer water temp gauge
Racing Hart CP-035 forged wheels 16x7
225/50-16 Toyo RA1
5Zigen FN01R Becketts forged wheels 17x8.5
255/40-17 Kumho V710
Buddy Club QF forged wheels 17x7.5
225/45-17 Falken Azenis RT-615K

I think that's pretty much all the big things.

Sick setup man especially for K20A3!!!!

 

[nats007]

Bought a 2000 TL with 24K miles many years ago. Have always had it dealer serviced, yes paid a little more, but worth it. Replaced serpentine belt and water pump at 100K by dealer. All our work has been done either at Tim Smith, Fort Walton Beach Florida, or Concord Acura, CA. Both service departments are excellent. When I bought the 2000 it was Certified Pre-Owned and the warranted was phenomenal. They kept everything perfect and warranted. Just bought a 2006 TL yesterday with 70K, got a super price from a friend who's wife passed. Sure wish it was Certified. I will get dealer to go over it next week, but both vehicles are in showroom condition. I love my Acura's.

Definitely good to know! I've always been a Honda/Acura guy and doubt I'll personally own anything outside of Honda or Acura. I need to get my vehicles to showroom quality though :lol:

 

[C25A1guy]

Sick setup man especially for K20A3!!!!

I also have a K24A4 engine on standby for when this engine kicks the dust.

 

[nats007]

Ok... it's been a while, but the TL has been rock solid for the most part. Recently, my wife's TL has had the TCS and check engine light coming on and going off. It usually happens when the gas tank is under half. I went to get the codes read today during lunch, but filled up the tank and the lights are off now.

With that, I've been researching and it could be a number of things: EGR valve, Fuel Pressure Regulator, Oxygen sensor, and bad transmission (hope its not this). The transmission was replaced around 103K or 130K (can't remember exactly) from the Acura dealer and I know have 180K, so about 50K or 80K on this current transmission.

My last oil change (in Aug), I was informed that there was some transmission fluid on the tranny, so there may be a small leak. Anyone can provide any additional pointers to diagnose if its common to have some trans fluid on the bottom of the transmission?
Also, since the light comes on when my fuel is low, I'm leaning towards the FPR being the cause for the check engine/TCS light. I'll attempt to get the codes read and keep this thread updated.

 

[nats007]

Check engine light fixed. Got the error codes and out was a bad oxygen sensor and ect sensor. Replaced both this morning along with a new air filter. I think i need to do a transmission fluid change on it next

 

[nats007]

Sup peeps... The TL is still going strong and just hit over 200,000 miles on it. Since my last update, I replaced the radiator and radiator fan assembly (motor was shot). No more overheating issues.

Now I starting to reserach transmissions. The car still drives fine, but during low acceleration the car sputters through the gears. From what I've read, this is not a good sign, so trying to determine if I should swap to a manual or jsut get a rebuilt auto.

 

[nats007]

Turns out transmission is still fine after an inspection last week. What needs to be fixed is the following:

oil leak from the rear cylinder head (going to change gaskets) and rear main seal. Going to knock out the gaskets first and clean it up to see if that resolved the issue.

Along with that, going to clean out the EGR and intake manifold from carbon buildup

 

[Rorey]

I have a 2000 Acura 3.2TL.
Jut changed my rotors and brake pads and got my engine shampooed. While driving home my car shut off. the Tcs ad the check engine lights came on. i restart engine, tcs light goes off, i rev the car a bit, light comes back on and car shuts off again....

 

[nats007]

I have a 2000 Acura 3.2TL.
Jut changed my rotors and brake pads and got my engine shampooed. While driving home my car shut off. the Tcs ad the check engine lights came on. i restart engine, tcs light goes off, i rev the car a bit, light comes back on and car shuts off again....

Did you shampoo the engine or someone else? Sounds like something electriacal got wet that wasn't suppose to be or hopefully no water was sucked into the engine through the intake. Can the car drive at all?