Swap 2001 CL engine and transmission into 2003 TL

SCROITSCH

MEMBER
2003 ACURA TL
3.2L
5 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
246,000 MILES

I have a 2003 TL that the transmission has failed. I also have a 2001 CL with better engine and good transmission. The transmissions are not the same. The primary difference appears to be the power steering speed sensor and the rack and pinion steering assembly in the 2003. I am wondering if it would work to swap the engine/transmission and the rack and pinion assembly from the 2001 into the 2003. The dimensions of the R&P seem to be fairly close, but I am not sure what other changes might be required.

I could go find a used 2003 TL transmission, but it appears that they have major problems, and that seems like a lot of work for a pretty big risk of repeat failure.

Thanks for the help.

2 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

I see that it shows 2002-2003 TL transmission as a compatible transmission. For the CL it shows 2001-2003 CL and you also have to match the transmission tag number which I would do with the TL to TL transmission swap as well.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Sunday, February 25th, 2018 AT 8:39 AM

SCROITSCH

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for the reply. I am not sure what you mean by the tag number. I am trying to put a non-compatible transmission (2001 CL) into a 2003 TL, but the power steering system seems to be the primary difference. The difference from what I can tell is the TL PS system has a gear-driven pressure sensor that inserts into the transmission (presumably the gears inside the transmission drive the gear and tell the PS system how fast the engine is running). The CL on the other hand does not have this PS speed sensor, so I wonder if it will work to swap out the PS system so that the PS speed sensor is not needed.

I want to put the rack-and-pinion fro the 2001 CL into the 2003 TL so that the 2001 CL transmission will work. They are the same physical dimensions, but I am not sure what other issues I will have by transferring the R&P as well as the transmission.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Monday, February 26th, 2018 AT 9:58 AM