<U>my first complete DIY -'02 Ep3 MTF change</U>

about the title, i want "SEARCHERS" to find this on the web!
i found a few HOW TO links, but no pictures!
So -Here's to my Noobiness! ...now i'm ready!

Tools-
3/8" Ratchet (no extenders were needed)
17mm Socket
Drip Pan
Oil Funnel/Spout/Hose combo ($5 +found at most Auto stores)
Car Jack
GOOD JACK STANDS ARE REQUIRED! and are a Very Cheap Safety investment for what they do!
(NEVER USE A CAR JACK TO HOLD YOUR CAR UP!)



(OPTIONAL)
Breaker Bar = for weaklings like myself
1 Hyper 8 year old "Eager to Learn!" son with a mountain dew in hand...
Car stereo with "Wild Thing" playing at moderate level...

....As Ton Loc just said,
"Lets Do It!"

--------------------------------------------------
<U>1ST - Break the lugs loose </U>on your drivers side front tire.
2ND - Jack it- Put Jack STANDS under car to level it.
(i lean mine a little- to get it ALL out!)
3RD Take off tire and look behind Drive shaft!
THERE IT IS! ...RED ARROW = TOP 17mm PLUG BOLT!

THERE IT IS! ...Blue Arrow = DRAIN PLUG 3/8 ratchet socket! (Both very easy to see!)

You CAN get the TOP Bolt off thru the wheel well like others have... (POWER TOOLS)
*to do this, you will need the extenders (and my midget hand is just TOO WEAK!)

INSTEAD i got under the car- took off the extenders and used my breaker bar...

with the TOP BOLT <U>off FIRST</U>
i cracked the drain plug and Texas Tea (oil) came flowing out!
Now the wait...

ALL DONE DRIPPING (i leaned the car to get it all out!)
Do a little Dance! Celebrate the halfway point!
(Adults can substitute BEER for the Mountain Dew!)

I like to LEAN THE CAR THE OTHER WAY little bit... to get a hair more fluid into it..
(others say leave it flat! DO Whatever you think is best!)
my Funnel wasn't long enough to go thru the wheel well,
so i went thru the top of engine-
Damn! i need to shave my hands again!

Total time = 1 hour at most! (depending on how much dancing you do in between steps!)
BE SAFE under those cars - God Bless!

 

oh, mine took less than 2 quarts of MTF.
Recycle that stuff!
put it in your empty containers and take a ride to the shop, they'll take it!

Edit- ALSO- replace the 2 squash washers that are on each bolt.


Modified by WyldRice at 4:38 PM 11/19/2007

 

&lt; than 2 quarts? What does Honda say is needed?

And I'm not sure about the whole tilting thing, it makes sense to drain it but I wouldn't intentionally try to overfill it. (something about tranny fluid expanding when heated?)

Also, if you can swing the extra $20 or so, throw in a magnetic drain plug!

Great write up

 

Yep... I just did mine like 2 months ago. I had it on a lift, didn't tilt anything or whatever but good write up! Mine took about 2 quarts and maybe a quarter cup of the third quart. I just made it so it was level with the hole.

 

thanks guys!

about the tipping-
after looking thru days/weeks of threads about our tranny and the 2-3rd GRIND, i decided to try it.
(i also tried the pre-shift trick = start car- clutch full in... shift in sequence 1,2,3,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,3,2,1 then take off!)

they both seemed silly thing to do,
but the funny thing is- they worked better than my voodoo dolls! Which is Nice!

others have sworn by it, and it worked for me... FOR NOW! - but like you say, it may not be the best thing for everyone!

my 2nd to 3rd grind would happen at ANY RPM-
...with no way to take off looking cool- EVER!

after the MTF change i've only had a few grinds
even tonight- i did some downtown driving, freeway offramps, and spirited take-offs with no grinds!
i'm a believer!

Thank You Jesus!
Can i get an Amen!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turboteg2nv &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, if you can swing the extra $20 or so, throw in a magnetic drain plug! </TD></TR></TABLE>
If anyone is going to do this, I have a brand new Spoon magnetic tranny plug I'll sell. $15 shipped.

 

Less than 2 quarts? I change my tranny fluid every 10K or so and it takes all of 2 quarts.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johnclaunch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Less than 2 quarts? I change my tranny fluid every 10K or so and it takes all of 2 quarts.</TD></TR></TABLE>
damn, maybe yours is leaking?
but i have heard others using more also... so i just put it in until it started leaking out the top hole...
it was a little less than 2 quarts for me, even with slight leaning!

ok, so i've put about 1,000 miles on the new Honda MTF,
NO grinds at ANY RPMS! ...so i'm hoping all this will keep working great!

i was worried when it started dropping BELOW ZERO(*F) -it didn't want to move as freely...

but i do my "1,2,3,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,3,2,1 trick" everytime, and i STILL don't have the grind!
sure, the first time wifeypoo saw me doing it, she said "WTF are you doing?"
...then i showed her "spirited driving" with the grind completely gone!
now she just smiles when i do the trick!


Modified by WyldRice at 6:39 AM 12/2/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WyldRice &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">after looking thru days/weeks of threads about our tranny and the 2-3rd GRIND, i decided to try it.

(i also tried the pre-shift trick = start car- clutch full in... shift in sequence 1,2,3,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,3,2,1 then take off!)

they both seemed silly thing to do,
but the funny thing is- they worked better than my voodoo dolls!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Update for the noobs! - it really worked for me!
i've put about 5,000+ miles on the Honda MTF...

2nd and 3rd gear grind still HASN'T REAPPEARED!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WyldRice &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Update for the noobs! - it really worked for me!
i've put about 5,000+ miles on the Honda MTF...

2nd and 3rd gear grind still HASN'T REAPPEARED! </TD></TR></TABLE>

halleluja...

HONDA MTF... FTMFW!!!

 

what doeshonda say bout how much fluid u need cuz i plan on changing mine soon

 

2 quarts

 

How do grinds even appear anyways? Does it have something to do with driver error or is it cause by defective parts in the transmission?

 

i'm not sure, all Honda's run on magic and voodoo, we know that much...
but very little mechanical reasoning is involved in making the tranny or engine.
Hence -all the problems!

i think it has something to do with the way we drive them so hard...
Plus our syncros are softer than most other cars... and i don't think they don't get lubed enough.

i'm going to change it every 10K miles reguardless, i hope that grind never EVER comes back!

 

good write up

small pics

 

thanks,
and yeah, i wanted to keep it small for the dinosaur dial-uppers!
i was one- up until about 9 months ago!

...waiting for a page i needed up here was unbearable at times!

(still is sometimes- even with broadband!)
LOL!

 

This should be a sticky.. Helped a ton

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02_Si_FTW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This should be a sticky.. Helped a ton</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thanks, i'm not sure if it is?

But it's getting colder out, and it is starting to grind again- even with the voodoo tricks!

So i am changing it again, and yes, it has been around 10K miles... just as predicted.
(if i don't have enough Honda MTF left from last time, i may run up to the store and see what they have for RP- just so i can get it done today!) Later Skater!

 

in the FAQ now.

 

w00t

 

Luckily I used to work at jiffy lube, so I got to change mine whenever I wanted for free haha and the change is way easier on a lift or in a pit BTW, only takes like 5-10 mins, but good write up.

 

Thanks guys! Yeah, i did mine, again... no more stiff tranny + grinding (just used the Honda MTF again) ...works like a charm!
Nobody has answered me WHY these things can only go 10,000 miles and need a change again?
WTF is up with that HONDA?

 

I remember I had that nasty 2-3 gear grind... did the MTF and no more grinding... it worked wonders!!!

Btw good write up just maybe a little suggestion for next time is to put the pictures one after another instead of the square formation lol... but others wise keep up the good work

 

So does every ep3 have this problem? Seems like a hassle to have to do this all the time, but if it's all the trans needs, it may be worth it. Previous to today, I'd given up on buying an ep3 for my next car for this very reason, but if the transmissions are actually fine and just need to be lubed frequently, it may be worth looking at buying one. After all, they're going for $7500 with low miles, which seems fairly cheap, compared to a comperable year civic coupe. Are some years better than others?

 

FWIW, Honda's published maintenence schedule calls for changing EP3 transmission fluid at 105k mile intervals. But, because it's very easy to do, many who post here change transmission fluid more often. It's neither "required" nor necessary to change it as often as your post suggested. Additionally, approximately two years ago, Honda changed its MTF formula to add more molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). The result it much easier shifting. Change it once and drive on. That said, like any automobile, you need to have some sense of what you are doing, and you can't bang an Si tranny (or any Honda transmission) from gear to gear and not expect something to break eventually. Drive like a thinking person and the tranny will last a lifetime. Rumors to the contrary are greatly exaggerated. FWIW, all the consumer pubs give the EP3 top marks. Always have.

Bottom line: It's a machine, not an anvil. Beat on it, and it will break.

Finally, if you can find an low-mileage EP3 with a solid maintenance history for $7500, buy it and a lottery ticket, 'cause you are one lucky guy.