shortlid

I have a friend and she has 65k on her '03 Accord Coupe LX 4cyl. automatic. The fluid is geting darker. How do I drain the tranny, and is there a spin on filter I need to replace? Can I use Dextron IV or do I have to useHonda ATF? Does it take 4 qts or more usualy?

cimo463

just drain and fill. No filter change needed. I would use honda ATF and nothing else!

sleeper98civic

Your accord transmission was designed for Honda ATF-Z1. I wouldn't want to risk damage to your tranny by running any other ATF. Just my 2 cents.

MSchu

In the auto's... stay with Honda fluid. the manuals can be changed over to another fluid if needed

dramsey@vtaig.com

to echo everyone else use the honda ATF, that is what is was designed for. May be a little bit more expensive, but well worth it.

corkss

When is the at fluid reccomended to be changed?
I think I just turned 65k too!

hondaracer4vtec

Every 30k for the automatics

better get it done soon

corkss

Where can I get more info on changing it, I would hate to take it somewhere if its just a bolt ?
Thanks
Matt

jg_ht

I bought a Haynes manual for my '05 Accord and couldn't believe how easy it was. All I had to do was: 1. Drive the vehicle until the tranny fluid was fully warmed up. 2. Remove the drain plug and drain the fluid into a five quart drain pan. 3. Re-install the drain plug with a new aluminum washer (from the Honda parts store). 4. Remove the fill plug on top of the transmission (make sure you don't get any dirt into the opening) and put in the new fluid. Your owner's manual should tell you approximately how much fluid you'll need to fill it up. I think I bought three quarts and didn't use all of the third one. I try to refill it to within a cup or two of being full (you can also measure the old fluid you drained to determine this), then start the engine and with my foot on the brake, move the shift lever into each position for a few seconds. Put it back into Park. Check the fluid level. Add a little more fluid, move the shifter through the positions again. Check the fluid level. You get the idea. I've had Chevys and Fords before this and man are those transmission pans a mess to remove. My '05 Accord doesn't have a filter which needs to be changed each time either. The "screen/filter" is inside the transmission.

corkss

Good, Sounds simple enough, I'm gonna do this myself!

corkss

Anybody know the part # for new washer on drain plug, I have a ex if that matters.

briq4

Just a FYI the recommendations from Honda in the owners manual says 60K for severe conditions and 120,000 for normal conditions. Also in the manual it says that to actually change it you should drain and refill 3 times, driving between each drain and refill. That way you get all the fluid changed. For this reason it might not be a terrible idea to pay the dealer to hook it up to their machine that actually does remove and replace at the same time. The difference in trans fluid would make up for the dealer charge. just my opinion.

Also my buddy has an 04 Accord and it's at 115,000 miles on the original trans fluid, still shifts perfectly. Will admit the car sees mostly highway driving but he's no light foot.

i will also tell you that I believed the more is better idea on the trans fluid, and my mom had a 98 Accord v-6. Anyhow I changed her trans fluid at around 10K intervals, her transmission finally failed completely at 90,000 miles. Honda replaced it under warranty and the mechainc told me that the cars that come in for just oil changes seem to fair better than the folks that come in and do ALL the recommended service, specifically the trans fluid changes. in his words, Honda's like dirty fluid. Never changed her fluid again and the car had 174,000 miles on it before she totaled it, shifted better than it ever did before the transmission replacement.

corkss

I've heard what briq4 said before. About changing the fluid too often.

market525

This "dirty fluid" story is absolute bunk. Change the fluid -- it's inexpensive and easy. Use the Honda Z1 fluid.

And, yes, they do have an exteranl filter. You will not find this in the maintenance schedule, but I changed mine about every 50K anyway. Why run the risk?
Standing in front of the car w/ the hood open, look on the right side of the motor, on top of the transaxle. You'll see the filter bolted to the top of the t-axle -- a band-type clamp hold it on. It has a rubber hose in, and a rubber hose out - hoses are held on w/ a spring type clamp. If you need the part number, let me know & I'll dig it up. Seems to me it was around $20 or so from the dealer.

shortlid

Do the Odyssey Auto Transmissions also have this set-up with a external filter for the ATF? I know they had some tranny issues wondering if this was part of the fix?

briq4

True enough the 4 cylinder transmissions do have an external filter, the v6's do not. And as far as changing the fluid more often not hurting I disagree from experience. The mechanic I spoke to worked for honda for 15 years, is a master mechanic and had absolutely no reason to lie. He said the customers that come in and just have the oil changed have less transmission issues than those who insist on getting the trans fluid changed more than is called for in the maintenance schedule.

My mom's 98 is the perfect example. I thought more is better, and the trans failed before it hit 110,000 miles, it shifted harshly from around 70K on. Had the first fluid change at around 30 K when she got the car, and then I would do it when ever she would bring it by becuase the mainenance required light would turn on and I would change the trans fluid every other oil change. TOTAL waste of money. And I also belive that it what caused the transmission to fail prematurely.

But to each their own.

BlownAccord

The trans in my moms 89 accord back in 1997 had over 200,000 miles on the original trans oil. She didn't exactly drive it easy..

shortlid

Can you put the external filter on a V6 auto tranny?

briq4

If honda was able to come up with a supplemental jet that just attached to the trans fill hole, I don't see why someone couldn't come up with a way to use the same kit but putting a fliter in line instead of the jet?

spoonfedcrx

There is no way that changing your mom's trans fluid too much caused it to fail at 90,000 miles. There is and has been known problems with those transmissions.

Also Honda dealers are not supposed to flush transmissions, its a simple drain and refill. I'm only stating what the teacher at Honda School told me and I nor him have no reason to lie.

shortlid

I heard about that jet fix. I think useing both would be great!