I love these videos. This is exactly how I buy my cars. Cheap cars that need work and I fix them up myself and drive them until I decide I want a different car. I've learned all my mechanic skills based on your videos and other UA-cam mechanics and by just taking a chance and doing it.
Same bought a 2004 Grand Am I love Pontiac so I decided to get this car as a second car. I put so much money into it and everyone kept telling me I wasted my money but the way I look at it is if you love it and don’t mind putting money into it then what’s the issue. The car is far from being perfect it’s almost 20 years old but she runs and drives with no issues no warning lights no codes in the computer dosnt burn oil or coolant transmission shifts are perfect engine has no knocking sounds really silent the only issues in the car are cosmetic issues the things that make it look nice. I did the brakes suspension changed all fluids fixed a mirror fixed the window regulators new tensioner and engine belt new headlights and fog lights new filters new idle control valve and mass air flow cleaned the throttle body. And the biggest purchase other then the suspension was new tires. The only thing left id like too do is maybe some window tint and new paint job but that can all wait until I have more spare cash.
Also though remember if you buy a $4000 car used, you're likely to run into a lot of the same issues you dealt with anyway. (Brakes, tires, suspension).
@@ozc3731 Ya, I think most people are good about changing oil and even some other standard service, but having deferred maintenance on suspension seems like it would be super common (shocks, sway bar bushings, control arms, etc). That could easily be $2000 if you don't do it yourself.
@@neilquinn I look at a lot of Lexus ES300s in the 2000 year range and they go from 700 to 2000. The cheapest ones need a bit TLC! And it's the same price of the more pricey ones doing all required maintenance. Damn you slapped me with some lifehacks.
@@ozc3731 Ha ya. I recently sold an old Subaru but am looking for a cheap/older Lexus IS350 myself. People ask a lot for these old cars, like $6000 for an '06 with 140k miles. In my head that could easily be a $7-8k car which doesn't make sense to me for a 14 year old car with that many miles.
Acuras V6 engines require timing belt. water pump change at 100,000 , Spark plugs at 105,000 and Valve adjustment. If you buy one with over 100,000 miles and the seller can't prove these items have been done call a good Honda mechanic and find what they charge to do these and take that into consideration when you make an offer. Unless you are like Eric and can do yourself.
I just bought an 07 and she is clean! new timing belt, power steering pump new Michelins. I am second owner and have all service records etc Inspected for $4200.00. awesome car!
bro way back in the day when you were rolling around on the ground working on hondas was when I started working on my own cars. at this point I can do any job by myself and you were the inspiration for it. saved me all kinds of $$$. really is a rewarding feeling when you get the job done right and the feeling of being self-reliant is even better. thanks man.
I couldn't agree more. I've done all of the repairs/maintenance on my '98 CRV from the moment I drove it off the dealer's lot back in March' 98. It now has 302,600 miles on the odometer and I haven't had a car payment in over twenty years. My auto trans finally died eighteen months ago at the 298,600 mark and I had never tackled a trans replacement so I was worried that the old girl was gonna be put out to pasture which made me very sad. I followed the replacement procedure on the Honda Resource YT channel and I was able to install a used(with 181K miles) AT without too much trouble. The old girl has been back on the road and I couldn't be happier. The first gen CRV's are reliable as hell if maintained properly so I'm in no hurry to replace mine.
Love the series Eric. I have an 08 TL that I love and work on myself. Most dependable car I have ever had. Your expertise is invaluable to me and I appreciate all the hard work you put into these videos. I look forward to the rest of this series. 👍🏻
Also these videos have been incredibly helpful, I am about to do my spark plugs today and it's very nice to have a high quality walk through on my vehicle from someone who knows what they are doing, thank you.
5:04 100% correct. Only 2004-2006 had replaceable external auto trans filter while 07-08 has a different transmission with internal filter. Also, those with Acura TL, prolonging your transmission further by replacing pressure switches.as preventive maintence
Thien Phan Hi Thein, I have an 08 and I have been thinking about doing the trans fluid change and pressure switches. If im not mistaken, there are 3 switches on the 07-08 and only 2 on the 06-07. Can u confirm that is correct?
Damon J that is correct. 07-08 has 3 switches. I used acurazine for location. Make sure everything is OEM. And purchase the items accurately, these are electronic parts that cannot to refunded if opened. acurazine.com/forums/third-generation-tl-2004-2008-93/110-b-diy-guide-replacing-3rd-4th-gear-pressure-switch-3g-tl-2007-2008-a-840630/
Eric, I agree with you regarding the looks of a used car, I don’t mind having a few dents, dings and scratches on a used vehicle because I wouldn’t feel so bad if I or my wife accidently added an extra flaw or two on it. I just protect it from rusting and naturally keep up the maintenance on it.
I have had my Acura TL 06 14 years now. I love the way it drives. The issues I have had was the parasitic drain due HFL, Battery kept dying. Oil leaks that were from engine oil pan. 2 Cracked dashboard and replaced one. Except for a few minor things I plan on keeping the car. Just some very minor paint chipping and dings.
Rambo I replace the Evap and gas cap with oem unit. Cel never went away. Took it to 3 shops. They couldn’t figure it out ended up selling it. Had 220k mint. In NY we have inspections.
Michael Broski that’s odd. I replaced my purge valve with this one. rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F392125483956 It immediately removed that annoying warning.
Nice! People have to remember that doing all this work basically ensures the car is going to last a long time and won't require major services for a while.
I have a 2008 TL with almost 200k miles on it. I've bought it at 55k and have loved it for many years - it's a sporty sedan that is stealthy and loves to go fast. If you want both bluetooth audio and phone, you can get a bluetooth to Aux port adapter from Amazon for around $25 and bypass the Acura system entirely. Then you can charge the phone from the front power jack and just use bluetooth for all audio and phone functions without the big cable going all the way to your console. Thanks for all you do Eric! Great series - I learned a lot about my car I never knew before.
07-08 3rd gen TLs and 09-11 4th gen TLs had the transmission filter INSIDE the bellhousing behind the torque converter. 04-6 had them on the rear of the transmission case like Eric pointed out and 12-14 TLs have an inline filter running through of the ATF cooler lines.
Eric I don’t care what anybody says you are the best UA-camr there is. You put out helpful content for us fools that drive the older cars and want to keep them going. I myself have a 1999 TL and I find it very fun to drive. It has most of the original 225 horse still going strong. It looks like shit but drives like a fine piece of machinery. Thank you for what you do. Thank you much.
Dude I remember your old videos and taught me a lot on my first car (Honda civic) back in the early 2010s and now I got an acura tl same model and color lol glad I reconnected to your channel again
I have a 2006 Acura TL that I bought with 73k miles in 2010. It now has 263k miles. This car has done me well. Keeping it until it stops working. Besides replacing things like the PS pump, alternator, and starter throughout its life, I did have an axle snap on me randomly one day. I also had the passenger side motor mount go a few years ago. My passenger side LCA bushing is shot too. I drive this car 60 miles/day, drove out to Colorado and up Pike's Peak and back to Ohio. Drove out Maryland and back. Dozens of trips from Ohio to Kentucky.
Love the vids, I purchase a 99 Accord and 97 Corolla! Got em both for a total of 3600 and only need a valve cover and fluid change on the Corolla. The accord needed rear calipers, tires, e brake, instrument cluster, knock sensor, and fluids change. I'm happy with the purchase as beaters and the accord used to learn to drive manual.
I’ve got an Acura TL, but the Honda reliability with the car isn’t holding up to its name, it’s got 150k miles and the alignment was off once I bought the car and it’s back to normal again, have put $1500 in this car already and more things keep on breaking, will never buy another old high mileage car again
@@ericthecarguy I guess I have been out of the loop. I was working too many hours the past 2 years. One thing I have noticed though is I see etcg1 videos way more often then the etcg ones.
It really is more about the confidence you can have in your vehicle when you have done all the work on it using the right parts. The money savings aspect is secondary to me...
Eric, there is a small pass through notch in the upper armrest pocket area (closest to your elbow) down to the lower armrest pocket area. From the upper pocket there is also a pass-through notch that allows wires to exit toward the cup-holders.
Hey Eric you can also put the playlist in a card in top right of the screen as a pop up you can also even put the playlist as a option on a end screen at the end of video as your suggested videos you can add up to 4 different videos or playlist on the end screens not sure if you knew that just trying to help
On the light for the gas cap, I have a 2006 Acura TL, and it was the evap purge valve on the engine. I tried an aftermarket, that didn't work, so I put in the OEM part, and light went away. I also replaced the front bumper cover, fixed a couple dents and painted it satin black. It turned out pretty good. I have never painted a car, and I just did it on the street early in the morning.
1. I’ve heard that on Acuras and Hondas, you have to take off the transmission in order to access the filter. And the only way for the seat memory to work is if you have the stock keyless fob. Pick one up on eBay and program it and you should be fine
I like it more than the Element😊, good buy. I found a 1992 Lexus ES300, with 117k original miles. Old lady garage queen. I paid $650.00, and spent almost $$400.00, battery, radiator, fluids, iridium plugs and like a new car, cheap registration, insurance.
I remember the commercials for this car that was on tv and it was at the time a tech wonder magical car, (maybe to just me) lol. But yes good video it is a matter of weighing the balance of good bargain against money pit unhappy. Or more work and trouble than it's worth. Absolutely much better to do the work yourself if you can or if you have money to burn. But I did something similar on my truck with 4x4, talked the seller (private owner) down from 2,300 to 1,500 as I pointed out many things that needed repair which all were true. Then I did all the repairs myself spending about 600 bucks under so for me this was a good deal. That was about 5 years ago and the truck still runs great. Thanks for the video Eric!
@@ericthecarguy Super! I had a similar issue. Thought it was the door switch but found the blown fuse. I do believe it was an issue on 04-06 TLs. They had probably corrected that before your year. But anyhow, you da Man. Love your vids.
Fun fact: no need to cut the console out at 7:55 to make a path for the wires. There is a small path that leads to the upper part of the arm rest then a small path that leads out the front of the left side of it. 😊
I love buying used cars and did the same thing you did I did this to a Mercury mountaineer 4.6 still running strong did everything you did but except I did the timing chain of course but I still saved more than I spent on parts putting them on myself
ive done essentially all of those things except timing and plugs- which came new with the car. mine was 6mt and was $5k with 136k miles. i have 170k now. replaced 02 sensors , suspension, tires, brakes incl calipers, mid muffler delete
Never really been a "car guy", but a few days ago I found this channel and some 8 year old video about you taking an engine apart. Liked it very much! The reason I searched for one, was because I started to feel a bit odd: I drive an A6 in real life and as a hobby I've been building these plastic car kits - and I know nothing about how cars actually work.. And so, not really knowing what the plastic engine parts were that I've been assembling. Decided to enlighten myself - now a subber as your content here is very interesting.
Eric, your comments about the cost being prohibitive to most folks even if they do it themselves goes along with the logic that "garsh, all those parts cost more than the car". What people don't realize (and I'm sure you do) is that, sure, you can go finance something newer and not have to spend that much on the maintenance, but a monthly payment comes along with it. That $4k you spent on that car comes out to about 8 months of a nice car's monthly payment. But you might not have to do anything else to that car even approaching that cost for a long time. You're saving so much money with that car that it just makes sense. I spent a little over $2k refurbishing a '91 Accord and I've gotten 15k miles out of it and just had to replace a power steering hose (original hose). Over that same span of time I spent $12k on my other car's payments. I traded it in and now the Accord is my daily :)
That may be true, but every used car is unique, and you can't expect them all to work out like this one did. Even if you're doing your own work, you can get in pretty deep. Thanks for the comment.
As a fellow TL owner, I recommend to drivers looking to accelerate on the highway that they downshift using the sport-shift feature instead of mashing the gas. Your automatic transmission will thank you.
I really enjoyed this series of videos. I bought a 07 TL Type S with 188k for $1700 about the same time you started posting your videos. The car was a dealer trade that needed some work so I managed to buy it before they wholesaled it. Me being a tech I managed to get it sorted for $2500 with parts and the car all together. Luckily the t-belt and water pump were done at 160k. The car makes for a great winter beater/daily and keeps miles off my lease. P.S the loose gas cap light was caused by a fault purge valve on my TL.
Eric, I don't think the car " IS UGLY AT ALL " & I'm a Jeep, Chevy, Subaru guy. The front ( to me ) LOOKS LIKE HYPER SPEED WHEN TRAVELING IN SPACE FROM THE MOVIES, ALL THE STARS GOING BY QUICKLY, LOL. As long as the frame. underneath is NOT RUSTED TO HELL, I'm fine with the dents, dings & some body rust which is pretty easy to fix. The car sounds GREAT & IT'S A V6 WITH SOME POWER, PLUS GOOD GAS MILEAGE. LOVE THE ALL BLACK CAR LOOK WITH STEEL WHEELS.
While I would do the same as you myself, I think this is a bit of a "worst case scenario" in terms of costs. You really went all out on the fixes and I think that a lot of people would be happy enough just fixing the bare essentials on a car in this price range, especially when it comes to the bluetooth and the tire costs. Really liked this series a lot though.
I disagree. I think bare minimum for this car included the tires, rear shocks, ps pump, timing belt/water pump + thermostat, vc gasket, full service. You could save maybe 1500 by not getting winter tires + steelies and the hands free link. However, looking at the parts, I don’t really think Eric got a good price on the parts. It seems quite expensive for just those parts. Ps pump- reman - 200 Water pump timing belt kit - 350 maybe Oil- 30 Filter- 10 ATF - 30 Coolant - 30 (buy a concentrate of peak blue and a gallon of distilled water) Thermostat - 50 oe 15 aftermarket Rear shocks - 260 Vc gasket - 30 Michelins - 650 About 1800 after tax.
Thanks Eric, please I really want you if possible to talk about people just go with a car mileage as the only indication how the car is reliable or about to die. We do have cars overseas from 70's and even 60's and still working no major problems
Hey Eric as others may have mentioned the Evap Purge Valve will be your fix for the gas cap light coming on. Check out service bulletin 09-056 ;) From one Acura tech to another! Love how you brought this thing back to life. Also if you have any future oil leak issues in this thing check the upper part of the oil pump, just under the water pump area. Very common place to have oil leaks at. We do the gasket in there and reseal everything many times. Now time to enjoy the car. Oh and freakin love the type R....so jealous.
Exactly what fixed my same issue on my 07 TypeS a few year ago. Got one from Napa when I worked there. Funny thing is the one I took off was a Denso unit made in Mexico and the replacement Denso from Napa was made in Japan!
@Mark I used to have the " tighten gas cap" light come on in my 07 TL but it stopped for a long time. I never paid any attention to it as it didn't throw a code/ses light. What was the fix per the TSB?
@Mark I guess I been lucky cause it's not come one now for probably over a year. But what did happen recently is the digital clock jumped time by an hour and I thought it was related to DST and would correct itself in the spring, but it's off now more than an hour. Went on line to read it's happening to all Honda older cars and has to do with Honda needing to somehow update their software/satellite signal. Just seems like something all the time these days.
The good thing about getting a used car an updating it is that at the end of the day you know in detail the condition of it, so if you invest the right amount of money to pay as much as you would for a better condition one you would be fine.
I've been looking at a Acura 08 for my next vehicle . Eric thank you so much for all these videos because I'm thinking of getting one in 2months keep up the great work Godspeed
I love mine. Bought it new in 2006 with the automatic and Nav Package. Has new Koni shocks and struts. Handsfree Link died. It only has 80k miles and hasn't needed anything but tires, fluids, filters and air. Time to replace the timing belt and water pump soon. I'll check the brakes too. Runs great. Reliable, safe, fast, fun and comfortable. Just as reliable as my old '95 Camry V6 coupe but much more fun. I like it.
If that gas cap light comes on alot from my research go and buy a canister control valve and DON'T get aftermarket go oem and your problem solved just bought mines 153,000 for $4500 hope it last long and also thanks for the info about the transmission filter couldn't find it for my 08 great video man keep up the great work 👊💯
For long distance driving in my 05 TL (84,000 miles) I've been able to average 31-33 mpg. For daily driving, I get 18-22, it just depends on traffic and how aggressive I am. It's a real joy.
I have a 2004 Acura TL with 171k miles. Bought it in 2005 with 12k miles for 25,000. Hopefully I can get a couple of extra more years out of it. I used Mobil 1 full synthetic oil and replaced it every 4k miles. Change out the transmission fluid every 60k miles.
I think it's a testament to the quality motor and transmission that they still perform as well as they do when you consider the car was not very well maintained ...at least by someone who owned it. I have this car but an 07 I bought used with 56k miles and it's been reliable. Only issues was the Hands Free Link running down the battery but I just disconnected, and the transmission safety switch I replaced myself ( $60), and two rubber gaskets on the power steering pump inlet/outlet.
Ok Eric your way ahead with this car ......where can you buy a new car for $5000 and you know everything about it. No where. But you have now a car you know very well you got the satisfaction of working on and will probably give you years of service......... It's a beautiful thing!
I would say do the front struts and springs swap out the lower control arms that way you are getting new bushings and ball joints throw in a set of outer tie rod ends and a pair of axles and a whole entire car will be perfect. You’ll be able to get another 200,000 miles out of it after that.
Really appreciate these vids man. I'm really interested in one of these, an 08 to be exact simply because I've always wanted one. All these vids help me see the pro and cons to make a better decision as to weather or not I should buy one. Thanks man!
I got a 05 TL I bought off the Dealer in 05 I have never had any issues I have 110k miles on it. I have a few paint small paint chips. I replaced the the brake pads once. I think TL's are worth more then 5K to get for 200 plus 2300 in parts is a steal. Most reliable Cars on the road in my opinion.
I love these cars. Im in NC. I see an 08 TL online at a dealership in KY for $8,999 with 90k miles. The pictures look great. Would you suggest this as a good deal for a sight unseen purchase?
Man great job 💪! I just bought my wife an 02 Acura RL. Fixer upper. Fixin to do just about everything you just did. Only a true mechanic understands why you don't care about the look on the outside...well done.
I bought an '07 recently for $4500, the main difference being the condition of the exterior. The seats are all torn which is something I will probably address at a later time when I have some extra cash and willingness. Pretty damn good car for the money. It's a pretty comfortable daily and drives really well and has an engine that pulls strongly. The one thing that really dates this car is the 5 speed auto. I bought new tires for it, replaced the front control arms, and recently upgraded the head unit to a double din so I could have Android Auto and add a backup camera(base model).
Eric ALWAYS is the First video I watch when the pc is turned on. I had made a comment regarding the HFL and it's cost. I truly meant that I was surprised that You would or do talk a lot! I assume only, that You are not a big talker, respectfully saying, I had my TL only a short time, I just had so many other cars ( beaters ) that I enjoyed more. As always, I enjoyed this video. ETCG Rocks!
I have a black 2006 Acura TL that my brother gave me for free with a blown transmission. After a used trans, timing belt, brakes and tires it’s great. I have about 2,000 in it now
I have bins full of different cords in my basement. All organized. I've been in AV for a while. Could have been from an old computer as you say. Thanks for the comment.
2010 Accord V6 here. It’s quicker than most people think. Only issue so far was a bad LF bearing at 80k. Uses oil. The amount varies. Done that since new. 180,000. Great car.
Love these Acuras, my wife has the 6 speed 04 tl, Im going to find AWD 2010-12 6 speed next year. I replaced the control busings, the tip of freezing before replacing new ones was an awesome idea haha.
Eric. My hands free link stopped woking on my TL. Cost to replace is around 800$ (Cdn). Simply added an Alexa echo for 40$ and I can access music an make phone call hands free! Also have someone to bug with questions while driving alone!!
I had that intermittent "tighten gas cap" indication problem too (I have an 07 TL). That was years ago though.. there was a TSB out for it and I can't remember which one it was but I did have the dealership fix it since it was still under warranty at that time. I did however have to research it myself since the first two times I brought it in they couldn't duplicate it since it was intermittent (It would come on for like 3 seconds and then go off). I might be wrong since it's been years since it was fixed but I think it was the EVAP canister purge valve that had to be replaced if anyone is having that problem. Haven't had a problem ever since that was replaced. Still have the 07 TL and it's still running strong with very little maintenance except for the routine major maintenance of course. Love the car.
I was thinking on doing the same kind of video you made but on my mazda I bought for $200, I have part 1 up so far but want to make a series on it. Thanks for some of the ideas you have and hope to have a shop like you one day. 👍🙂
We can also add in the cost of the shop tools and that lift, that many people don't always have access too. And we can curse manufacturers for making things much harder to do without major equipment
I love these videos. This is exactly how I buy my cars. Cheap cars that need work and I fix them up myself and drive them until I decide I want a different car. I've learned all my mechanic skills based on your videos and other UA-cam mechanics and by just taking a chance and doing it.
Same here. Wish I had taken in HS but better late than never. Guys shouldn't be allowed to graduate HS unless they've has an auto mechanics class.
Same bought a 2004 Grand Am I love Pontiac so I decided to get this car as a second car. I put so much money into it and everyone kept telling me I wasted my money but the way I look at it is if you love it and don’t mind putting money into it then what’s the issue. The car is far from being perfect it’s almost 20 years old but she runs and drives with no issues no warning lights no codes in the computer dosnt burn oil or coolant transmission shifts are perfect engine has no knocking sounds really silent the only issues in the car are cosmetic issues the things that make it look nice. I did the brakes suspension changed all fluids fixed a mirror fixed the window regulators new tensioner and engine belt new headlights and fog lights new filters new idle control valve and mass air flow cleaned the throttle body. And the biggest purchase other then the suspension was new tires. The only thing left id like too do is maybe some window tint and new paint job but that can all wait until I have more spare cash.
John P yeah, no that’s kinda dumb I think everyone should just have some basic knowledge for their driver’s license
Take a chance, Columbus did
You said the magic words,
"I have no car payment."
Also though remember if you buy a $4000 car used, you're likely to run into a lot of the same issues you dealt with anyway. (Brakes, tires, suspension).
I've never thought about that
@@ozc3731 Ya, I think most people are good about changing oil and even some other standard service, but having deferred maintenance on suspension seems like it would be super common (shocks, sway bar bushings, control arms, etc). That could easily be $2000 if you don't do it yourself.
@@neilquinn I look at a lot of Lexus ES300s in the 2000 year range and they go from 700 to 2000. The cheapest ones need a bit TLC! And it's the same price of the more pricey ones doing all required maintenance. Damn you slapped me with some lifehacks.
@@ozc3731 Ha ya. I recently sold an old Subaru but am looking for a cheap/older Lexus IS350 myself. People ask a lot for these old cars, like $6000 for an '06 with 140k miles. In my head that could easily be a $7-8k car which doesn't make sense to me for a 14 year old car with that many miles.
Acuras V6 engines require timing belt. water pump change at 100,000 , Spark plugs at 105,000 and Valve adjustment. If you buy one with over 100,000 miles and the seller can't prove these items have been done call a good Honda mechanic and find what they charge to do these and take that into consideration when you make an offer. Unless you are like Eric and can do yourself.
I just bought an 07 and she is clean! new timing belt, power steering pump new Michelins. I am second owner and have all service records etc Inspected for $4200.00. awesome car!
bro way back in the day when you were rolling around on the ground working on hondas was when I started working on my own cars. at this point I can do any job by myself and you were the inspiration for it. saved me all kinds of $$$. really is a rewarding feeling when you get the job done right and the feeling of being self-reliant is even better. thanks man.
I couldn't agree more. I've done all of the repairs/maintenance on my '98 CRV from the moment I drove it off the dealer's lot back in March' 98. It now has 302,600 miles on the odometer and I haven't had a car payment in over twenty years. My auto trans finally died eighteen months ago at the 298,600 mark and I had never tackled a trans replacement so I was worried that the old girl was gonna be put out to pasture which made me very sad. I followed the replacement procedure on the Honda Resource YT channel and I was able to install a used(with 181K miles) AT without too much trouble. The old girl has been back on the road and I couldn't be happier. The first gen CRV's are reliable as hell if maintained properly so I'm in no hurry to replace mine.
You brought the ACURA back to life. Great car. Good that you got help from sponsors like tires and wheels can be expensive. Love the channel.
Between "I have no car payment" and "I can park this in questionable parts of town," this video is awesome!
I have a 2006 Base TL with AT, 175K miles and I love the car. Thank you for sharing!
Love the series Eric. I have an 08 TL that I love and work on myself. Most dependable car I have ever had. Your expertise is invaluable to me and I appreciate all the hard work you put into these videos. I look forward to the rest of this series. 👍🏻
Also these videos have been incredibly helpful, I am about to do my spark plugs today and it's very nice to have a high quality walk through on my vehicle from someone who knows what they are doing, thank you.
I'm very happy to hear you're going to get some use out of these videos. It's why I do this in the first place. Thank you very much for the comment.
5:04 100% correct. Only 2004-2006 had replaceable external auto trans filter while 07-08 has a different transmission with internal filter. Also, those with Acura TL, prolonging your transmission further by replacing pressure switches.as preventive maintence
Thien Phan Hi Thein, I have an 08 and I have been thinking about doing the trans fluid change and pressure switches. If im not mistaken, there are 3 switches on the 07-08 and only 2 on the 06-07. Can u confirm that is correct?
Damon J that is correct. 07-08 has 3 switches. I used acurazine for location. Make sure everything is OEM. And purchase the items accurately, these are electronic parts that cannot to refunded if opened.
acurazine.com/forums/third-generation-tl-2004-2008-93/110-b-diy-guide-replacing-3rd-4th-gear-pressure-switch-3g-tl-2007-2008-a-840630/
Very helpful your comment thanks
Eric, you are a gentlemen and scholar. I have an 06 TL so these videos are gold!
Eric, I agree with you regarding the looks of a used car, I don’t mind having a few dents, dings and scratches on a used vehicle because I wouldn’t feel so bad if I or my wife accidently added an extra flaw or two on it. I just protect it from rusting and naturally keep up the maintenance on it.
I feel Eric is the kind of guy that would help out a local orphanage every once in a while.
I have had my Acura TL 06 14 years now. I love the way it drives. The issues I have had was the parasitic drain due HFL, Battery kept dying. Oil leaks that were from engine oil pan. 2 Cracked dashboard and replaced one. Except for a few minor things I plan on keeping the car. Just some very minor paint chipping and dings.
The evap purge valve fixed the open gas cap warning light on my 08TL
Ill be looking into this thanks
Rambo I replace the Evap and gas cap with oem unit. Cel never went away. Took it to 3 shops. They couldn’t figure it out ended up selling it. Had 220k mint. In NY we have inspections.
Michael Broski that’s odd. I replaced my purge valve with this one. rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F392125483956
It immediately removed that annoying warning.
Nice! People have to remember that doing all this work basically ensures the car is going to last a long time and won't require major services for a while.
I have a 2008 TL with almost 200k miles on it. I've bought it at 55k and have loved it for many years - it's a sporty sedan that is stealthy and loves to go fast. If you want both bluetooth audio and phone, you can get a bluetooth to Aux port adapter from Amazon for around $25 and bypass the Acura system entirely. Then you can charge the phone from the front power jack and just use bluetooth for all audio and phone functions without the big cable going all the way to your console.
Thanks for all you do Eric! Great series - I learned a lot about my car I never knew before.
I always try to find a stick shift that needs a clutch. You can pick them up cheap in a 10 yr old car/ SUV
07-08 3rd gen TLs and 09-11 4th gen TLs had the transmission filter INSIDE the bellhousing behind the torque converter. 04-6 had them on the rear of the transmission case like Eric pointed out and 12-14 TLs have an inline filter running through of the ATF cooler lines.
Eric I don’t care what anybody says you are the best UA-camr there is. You put out helpful content for us fools that drive the older cars and want to keep them going. I myself have a 1999 TL and I find it very fun to drive. It has most of the original 225 horse still going strong. It looks like shit but drives like a fine piece of machinery. Thank you for what you do. Thank you much.
And most important, doing the labor yourself, giving you peace of mind the service was done right. Enough said...
Amen.
Great video! I love my 2008 TL too. The 5.1 ELS sound system still sounds amazing. Try it with the correct DVD-A.
Dude I remember your old videos and taught me a lot on my first car (Honda civic) back in the early 2010s and now I got an acura tl same model and color lol glad I reconnected to your channel again
I have a 2006 Acura TL that I bought with 73k miles in 2010. It now has 263k miles. This car has done me well. Keeping it until it stops working.
Besides replacing things like the PS pump, alternator, and starter throughout its life, I did have an axle snap on me randomly one day. I also had the passenger side motor mount go a few years ago. My passenger side LCA bushing is shot too.
I drive this car 60 miles/day, drove out to Colorado and up Pike's Peak and back to Ohio. Drove out Maryland and back. Dozens of trips from Ohio to Kentucky.
Love the vids, I purchase a 99 Accord and 97 Corolla! Got em both for a total of 3600 and only need a valve cover and fluid change on the Corolla. The accord needed rear calipers, tires, e brake, instrument cluster, knock sensor, and fluids change. I'm happy with the purchase as beaters and the accord used to learn to drive manual.
No car payments is the way to go. Plus you KNOW your car and what's been replaced. Yeah, a car that's low profile is always good. Thanks for sharing.
I just got my first Acura yesterday 😁
You will slowly fall in love with it promise
Stephen Maxwell I’m a Canadian. I had an Integra. Loved it with all my heart. Then I got a CSX. Hate it.
Acura is great. I have a TL Type-S and an ILX
I’ve got an Acura TL, but the Honda reliability with the car isn’t holding up to its name, it’s got 150k miles and the alignment was off once I bought the car and it’s back to normal again, have put $1500 in this car already and more things keep on breaking, will never buy another old high mileage car again
Can i ask a question how much do yall pay for insurance for this car im tryna see if it got cheap insurance
Like you I too had a 93 Vigor with the 5 cylinder. Great car, I kept until it started having transmission problems at 320,000 kms.
Eric I have been following along for years. I just wanted to say thank you for getting back in the saddle and producing so many new videos!
Thanks! BTW, why do you say 'new' videos? I took a short break in 2017, but I've been regularly posting ETCG videos on Fridays for the past 2 years.
@@ericthecarguy I guess I have been out of the loop. I was working too many hours the past 2 years. One thing I have noticed though is I see etcg1 videos way more often then the etcg ones.
It really is more about the confidence you can have in your vehicle when you have done all the work on it using the right parts. The money savings aspect is secondary to me...
The gas cap light is for the purge control valve
Eric, there is a small pass through notch in the upper armrest pocket area (closest to your elbow) down to the lower armrest pocket area. From the upper pocket there is also a pass-through notch that allows wires to exit toward the cup-holders.
Hey Eric you can also put the playlist in a card in top right of the screen as a pop up you can also even put the playlist as a option on a end screen at the end of video as your suggested videos you can add up to 4 different videos or playlist on the end screens not sure if you knew that just trying to help
It is, right at the beginning. Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ericthecarguy my bad didnt see it I been using the end screens slot as well as the cards just trying to help appreciate you taking the time to reply
No worries, I appreciate the thought. I've actually been using both cards and end screens on my videos for a few years now.
On the light for the gas cap, I have a 2006 Acura TL, and it was the evap purge valve on the engine. I tried an aftermarket, that didn't work, so I put in the OEM part, and light went away. I also replaced the front bumper cover, fixed a couple dents and painted it satin black. It turned out pretty good. I have never painted a car, and I just did it on the street early in the morning.
The purge valve is a common issue. If the light really starts to bother me I'll make a video. Thanks for the comment.
Glad to see the purchase worked out well and that you are enjoying the car.
1. I’ve heard that on Acuras and Hondas, you have to take off the transmission in order to access the filter. And the only way for the seat memory to work is if you have the stock keyless fob. Pick one up on eBay and program it and you should be fine
I clicked like for the majestic beard
Molnár András Sándor Go back and watch his earlier videos he had no beard but had long hair
Indeed it is majestic, full of Braun and knowledge
I like it more than the Element😊, good buy. I found a 1992 Lexus ES300, with 117k original miles. Old lady garage queen. I paid $650.00, and spent almost $$400.00, battery, radiator, fluids, iridium plugs and like a new car, cheap registration, insurance.
Big D Simpson nice! I just picked a decent 02 BMW 525, for 500$, but yes, just about anything is better looking than an element 🤣🤣
áááh egy magyar :)
Since I'm from Sweden I haven't even seen a Acura IRL, but I really enjoy this series.
Thanks for watching!
I remember the commercials for this car that was on tv and it was at the time a tech wonder magical car, (maybe to just me) lol. But yes good video it is a matter of weighing the balance of good bargain against money pit unhappy. Or more work and trouble than it's worth. Absolutely much better to do the work yourself if you can or if you have money to burn. But I did something similar on my truck with 4x4, talked the seller (private owner) down from 2,300 to 1,500 as I pointed out many things that needed repair which all were true. Then I did all the repairs myself spending about 600 bucks under so for me this was a good deal. That was about 5 years ago and the truck still runs great. Thanks for the video Eric!
Mmmm, the J32 makes such an amazing sound. After driving my friend's 2007 Acura TL, it is such a great car.
The memory seats are also with the auto dim rear view mirror, and it relates to a blown 10A fuse. Put a 15A fuse in place of it.
Actually the problem is the switch in the door on my car. Thanks for your comment.
@@ericthecarguy Super! I had a similar issue. Thought it was the door switch but found the blown fuse. I do believe it was an issue on 04-06 TLs. They had probably corrected that before your year. But anyhow, you da Man. Love your vids.
Fun fact: no need to cut the console out at 7:55 to make a path for the wires. There is a small path that leads to the upper part of the arm rest then a small path that leads out the front of the left side of it. 😊
I love buying used cars and did the same thing you did I did this to a Mercury mountaineer 4.6 still running strong did everything you did but except I did the timing chain of course but I still saved more than I spent on parts putting them on myself
ive done essentially all of those things except timing and plugs- which came new with the car. mine was 6mt and was $5k with 136k miles. i have 170k now. replaced 02 sensors , suspension, tires, brakes incl calipers, mid muffler delete
Never really been a "car guy", but a few days ago I found this channel and some 8 year old video about you taking an engine apart. Liked it very much!
The reason I searched for one, was because I started to feel a bit odd: I drive an A6 in real life and as a hobby I've been building these plastic car kits - and I know nothing about how cars actually work.. And so, not really knowing what the plastic engine parts were that I've been assembling. Decided to enlighten myself - now a subber as your content here is very interesting.
Eric, your comments about the cost being prohibitive to most folks even if they do it themselves goes along with the logic that "garsh, all those parts cost more than the car". What people don't realize (and I'm sure you do) is that, sure, you can go finance something newer and not have to spend that much on the maintenance, but a monthly payment comes along with it. That $4k you spent on that car comes out to about 8 months of a nice car's monthly payment. But you might not have to do anything else to that car even approaching that cost for a long time. You're saving so much money with that car that it just makes sense. I spent a little over $2k refurbishing a '91 Accord and I've gotten 15k miles out of it and just had to replace a power steering hose (original hose). Over that same span of time I spent $12k on my other car's payments. I traded it in and now the Accord is my daily :)
That may be true, but every used car is unique, and you can't expect them all to work out like this one did. Even if you're doing your own work, you can get in pretty deep. Thanks for the comment.
As a fellow TL owner, I recommend to drivers looking to accelerate on the highway that they downshift using the sport-shift feature instead of mashing the gas. Your automatic transmission will thank you.
Agreed. As someone who doesn't prefer a stick shift, I love the sport-shift on these TL's
I really enjoyed this series of videos. I bought a 07 TL Type S with 188k for $1700 about the same time you started posting your videos. The car was a dealer trade that needed some work so I managed to buy it before they wholesaled it. Me being a tech I managed to get it sorted for $2500 with parts and the car all together. Luckily the t-belt and water pump were done at 160k. The car makes for a great winter beater/daily and keeps miles off my lease. P.S the loose gas cap light was caused by a fault purge valve on my TL.
Nice find. Yea, the purge control solenoids are a common failure on these cars. Thanks for the comment.
Eric, I don't think the car " IS UGLY AT ALL " & I'm a Jeep, Chevy, Subaru guy. The front ( to me ) LOOKS LIKE HYPER SPEED WHEN TRAVELING IN SPACE FROM THE MOVIES, ALL THE STARS GOING BY QUICKLY, LOL. As long as the frame. underneath is NOT RUSTED TO HELL, I'm fine with the dents, dings & some body rust which is pretty easy to fix. The car sounds GREAT & IT'S A V6 WITH SOME POWER, PLUS GOOD GAS MILEAGE. LOVE THE ALL BLACK CAR LOOK WITH STEEL WHEELS.
While I would do the same as you myself, I think this is a bit of a "worst case scenario" in terms of costs. You really went all out on the fixes and I think that a lot of people would be happy enough just fixing the bare essentials on a car in this price range, especially when it comes to the bluetooth and the tire costs. Really liked this series a lot though.
I disagree. I think bare minimum for this car included the tires, rear shocks, ps pump, timing belt/water pump + thermostat, vc gasket, full service.
You could save maybe 1500 by not getting winter tires + steelies and the hands free link.
However, looking at the parts, I don’t really think Eric got a good price on the parts. It seems quite expensive for just those parts.
Ps pump- reman - 200
Water pump timing belt kit - 350 maybe
Oil- 30
Filter- 10
ATF - 30
Coolant - 30 (buy a concentrate of peak blue and a gallon of distilled water)
Thermostat - 50 oe 15 aftermarket
Rear shocks - 260
Vc gasket - 30
Michelins - 650
About 1800 after tax.
Thanks Eric, please I really want you if possible to talk about people just go with a car mileage as the only indication how the car is reliable or about to die. We do have cars overseas from 70's and even 60's and still working no major problems
wow, clean acura integra in the background!
Hey Eric as others may have mentioned the Evap Purge Valve will be your fix for the gas cap light coming on. Check out service bulletin 09-056 ;) From one Acura tech to another! Love how you brought this thing back to life.
Also if you have any future oil leak issues in this thing check the upper part of the oil pump, just under the water pump area. Very common place to have oil leaks at. We do the gasket in there and reseal everything many times.
Now time to enjoy the car. Oh and freakin love the type R....so jealous.
Exactly what fixed my same issue on my 07 TypeS a few year ago. Got one from Napa when I worked there. Funny thing is the one I took off was a Denso unit made in Mexico and the replacement Denso from Napa was made in Japan!
Eric great job on yhis Video. I got an old Acura Integra Gsr. It has 300000. And it runs great. Its all about the maintenance
@Mark I used to have the " tighten gas cap" light come on in my 07 TL but it stopped for a long time. I never paid any attention to it as it didn't throw a code/ses light. What was the fix per the TSB?
@Mark I guess I been lucky cause it's not come one now for probably over a year. But what did happen recently is the digital clock jumped time by an hour and I thought it was related to DST and would correct itself in the spring, but it's off now more than an hour. Went on line to read it's happening to all Honda older cars and has to do with Honda needing to somehow update their software/satellite signal. Just seems like something all the time these days.
The good thing about getting a used car an updating it is that at the end of the day you know in detail the condition of it, so if you invest the right amount of money to pay as much as you would for a better condition one you would be fine.
I've been looking at a Acura 08 for my next vehicle . Eric thank you so much for all these videos because I'm thinking of getting one in 2months keep up the great work Godspeed
I love mine. Bought it new in 2006 with the automatic and Nav Package. Has new Koni shocks and struts. Handsfree Link died. It only has 80k miles and hasn't needed anything but tires, fluids, filters and air. Time to replace the timing belt and water pump soon. I'll check the brakes too. Runs great. Reliable, safe, fast, fun and comfortable. Just as reliable as my old '95 Camry V6 coupe but much more fun. I like it.
If that gas cap light comes on alot from my research go and buy a canister control valve and DON'T get aftermarket go oem and your problem solved just bought mines 153,000 for $4500 hope it last long and also thanks for the info about the transmission filter couldn't find it for my 08 great video man keep up the great work 👊💯
Great show Eric, killing it as ever.
No cracks on the dash? Good find and one of Acura's best models
Great car. I was looking at these before I went with a 06 is350 in 2018.
For long distance driving in my 05 TL (84,000 miles) I've been able to average 31-33 mpg. For daily driving, I get 18-22, it just depends on traffic and how aggressive I am. It's a real joy.
I have a 2004 Acura TL with 171k miles. Bought it in 2005 with 12k miles for 25,000.
Hopefully I can get a couple of extra more years out of it.
I used Mobil 1 full synthetic oil and replaced it every 4k miles. Change out the transmission fluid every 60k miles.
3gen Acura TL is one of the best daily drivers for the money.. mine has 275k miles and still drives perfect, I also do all my own maintenance..
As always, gotta love your honest sincerity.
This series has made me want to get an Acura tl lol
I saw a one owner manual all dealer serviced 05 TL with 100K miles for $5k. I was tempted.
Great vehicles
Love those J Series engines. My 99' Accord V6 is the same one as Eric mentioned. Runs smooth as butter
Tool0GT92
Tempted
Shit that a steal
For 5k TL are very durable cars
Eric Manso and the tsx as well with the k24
good that you share the cost of the project. Valuable info for newbie like me. Where did you get new seat covers?
I think it's a testament to the quality motor and transmission that they still perform as well as they do when you consider the car was not very well maintained ...at least by someone who owned it. I have this car but an 07 I bought used with 56k miles and it's been reliable. Only issues was the Hands Free Link running down the battery but I just disconnected, and the transmission safety switch I replaced myself ( $60), and two rubber gaskets on the power steering pump inlet/outlet.
eric: *i have a cassette player*
me: *i was there gandalf i was there 3000 years ago*
Books on tape at the library on long trips FTW.
back in the 19's
1 or my cars has a stock cassette storage. The other has no cassette stock, because it is too old for that.
BUT, it does have FM radio.
Ok Eric your way ahead with this car ......where can you buy a new car for $5000 and you know everything about it. No where. But you have now a car you know very well you got the satisfaction of working on and will probably give you years of service......... It's a beautiful thing!
I would say do the front struts and springs swap out the lower control arms that way you are getting new bushings and ball joints throw in a set of outer tie rod ends and a pair of axles and a whole entire car will be perfect. You’ll be able to get another 200,000 miles out of it after that.
Really appreciate these vids man. I'm really interested in one of these, an 08 to be exact simply because I've always wanted one. All these vids help me see the pro and cons to make a better decision as to weather or not I should buy one. Thanks man!
3rd gen TL are NEVER UGLY one of the best aging cars ever
I agree about the exterior look for the car. But you should for sure polish up the headlights for better visibility 👍
I got a 05 TL I bought off the Dealer in 05 I have never had any issues I have 110k miles on it. I have a few paint small paint chips. I replaced the the brake pads once. I think TL's are worth more then 5K to get for 200 plus 2300 in parts is a steal. Most reliable Cars on the road in my opinion.
I love these cars. Im in NC. I see an 08 TL online at a dealership in KY for $8,999 with 90k miles. The pictures look great. Would you suggest this as a good deal for a sight unseen purchase?
Man great job 💪!
I just bought my wife an 02 Acura RL. Fixer upper. Fixin to do just about everything you just did.
Only a true mechanic understands why you don't care about the look on the outside...well done.
My 05 TL steering wheel was off by a tick. The alignment shop tried to straighten it out but never could get it perfect. Good running car.
I bought an '07 recently for $4500, the main difference being the condition of the exterior. The seats are all torn which is something I will probably address at a later time when I have some extra cash and willingness. Pretty damn good car for the money. It's a pretty comfortable daily and drives really well and has an engine that pulls strongly. The one thing that really dates this car is the 5 speed auto. I bought new tires for it, replaced the front control arms, and recently upgraded the head unit to a double din so I could have Android Auto and add a backup camera(base model).
Link to audio head unit
Eric ALWAYS is the First video I watch when the pc is turned on. I had made a comment regarding
the HFL and it's cost. I truly meant that I was surprised that You would or do talk a lot! I assume only,
that You are not a big talker, respectfully saying, I had my TL only a short time, I just had so many other
cars ( beaters ) that I enjoyed more. As always, I enjoyed this video. ETCG Rocks!
Sometimes I perform repairs that I wouldn't normally do, but my audience might be interested in. Thanks for the comment.
Nice video, had same issue with my v6 accord about gas and dab alil grease around the trim and it fixed it since my gas cap was replaced
Love the little smile at 4:38. I had the same reaction when I test drove my 2008 type s when the vtech kick in. (yo)
I have a black 2006 Acura TL that my brother gave me for free with a blown transmission. After a used trans, timing belt, brakes and tires it’s great. I have about 2,000 in it now
Btw, my 06 does have a transmission filter like you mentioned. It’s a little paper filter above the mount behind 3 bolts.
7:29 I wonder if that audio cable came from a Dell computer... I have several of them.
I have bins full of different cords in my basement. All organized. I've been in AV for a while. Could have been from an old computer as you say. Thanks for the comment.
love your videos Eric.. I watch them all the time i own a 09 accord V6.
If it’s your birthday Eric, happy birthday, enjoy this digital cake my friend 🎂 🍰 🧁
Great update Eric
Thank you!
2010 Accord V6 here. It’s quicker than most people think. Only issue so far was a bad LF bearing at 80k. Uses oil. The amount varies. Done that since new. 180,000. Great car.
Great series. Good real world example. Thanks!
I love this car !! I have one 2008 TL 😍 Thanks to your videos I learned to change the shock absorbers
I love the look of a beater, that is solid under the skin.
Love these Acuras, my wife has the 6 speed 04 tl, Im going to find AWD 2010-12 6 speed next year. I replaced the control busings, the tip of freezing before replacing new ones was an awesome idea haha.
i would like to hear your take on the honda gas cap reset procedure. where you take it off and click it 3 times with a full tank.
Eric. My hands free link stopped woking on my TL. Cost to replace is around 800$ (Cdn). Simply added an Alexa echo for 40$ and I can access music an make phone call hands free! Also have someone to bug with questions while driving alone!!
Adding an apple carplay/Android Autp Pioneer or Sony head unit to one of These things is a godsent pretty much brings it up to date with modern cars
I had that intermittent "tighten gas cap" indication problem too (I have an 07 TL). That was years ago though.. there was a TSB out for it and I can't remember which one it was but I did have the dealership fix it since it was still under warranty at that time. I did however have to research it myself since the first two times I brought it in they couldn't duplicate it since it was intermittent (It would come on for like 3 seconds and then go off). I might be wrong since it's been years since it was fixed but I think it was the EVAP canister purge valve that had to be replaced if anyone is having that problem. Haven't had a problem ever since that was replaced. Still have the 07 TL and it's still running strong with very little maintenance except for the routine major maintenance of course. Love the car.
Finally subscribed. Much thanks to this video, I'm looking around for one of these.
I was thinking on doing the same kind of video you made but on my mazda I bought for $200, I have part 1 up so far but want to make a series on it. Thanks for some of the ideas you have and hope to have a shop like you one day. 👍🙂
We can also add in the cost of the shop tools and that lift, that many people don't always have access too.
And we can curse manufacturers for making things much harder to do without major equipment
I use Sirus XM satellite Radio in my 04 Accord EXV6 Sedan. Its from the factory that way as well. And Aux it has as well