2005 96K, feels like the tranny is slipping. Next day the radiator overflow is spewing out a chocolate milk like substance that reeks of tranny fluid. Check trans level, dipstick is covered in the same gunk. Towed to dealer, needs new radiator and trans flush. Seems like the transmission line that runs through the radiator failed. Quoted $750 for the job.

Has anyone else heard of this happening? The only other instance I could find is here (Complaint #7) http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Compl...c+Transmission Have found different opinions on weather or not coolant in the tranny has ruined it.

 

i have seen it a lot be it honda, nissan, etc etc if your trans cooler runs through the radiator its a way that it can fail

 

will coolant in the tranny have any adverse affects? i've read it ruins the gears and ive also read that it doesn't. guess we'll see.

 

Chances are pretty good that transmission is toast if its been run with coolant in it. Thats the first time i've ever heard of the transmission cooler failing like that though.

 

if there is anything it will do is possibly rust in your trans how long between the time you noticed and when the flush is or was done?

 

we noticed right away, the car was driving weird and it reeked of tranny fluid through the vents. we immediately pulled over and had it towed. dealer is going to replace the radiator and flush the tranny twice. they said "that's where we'll start", and when i pressed him on that comment he seemed sure that would be all it would need, but i'm thinking the tranny is toast as well.

 

its a 50/50 shot i have saved a few and i have replaced a few depends on how long it was run honestly and how lucky you are honestly.

 

we'll see, pick her up in the morning. they said they flushed it a 3rd time, 2 wasn't enough. $905 after tax, new radiator and 3 flushes. the 3rd flush added a hundred bucks. in this case, isn't there a way to open up the tranny from below to drain n flush it out instead on the conventional way? do you really think they drained, filled, drove 12 times???? (4 times for one complete flush when I did it IIRC)

 

The only way to get everything out of a honda automatic is to pull the tranny and split it open. They don't have a pan like most automatics.

 

When would you recommend we change the radiator? I also have an 05 but with only 53k.

I know this is VERY common with the Pathfinder/Frontier/Xterra, but this is the first I've heard of it in a Pilot.

 

the cases i know of have no pattern to them its the same thing like crv a/c compressors yes they blow up do they take the whole system with it yes they do but i don't see a lot of people doing compressors as maintenance on those vehicles in fact none at all if you feel the need to replace it do it when you do your t-belt and hoses @ 7/105

 

said they flushed it 3 times. only charged me for 12qts of fluid though. doesn't it take 12qts to flush ONCE??

 

Drain and fill is about 3L or about 3qt. So if they did it 4 times that would equal 12qt. You can't, or at least shouldn't powerflush a honda automatic btw, so generally you do like 3 drain and fills to flush most of the old fluid out.

 

thats what i figured, i did a flush at 75K i believe. they stated they flushed 3 times. i'm going to do a drain n fill this weekend to see what it looks like

 

looks like red mud....great

 

Sucks. I'm thinking of running an aftermarket tranny cooler and bypassing the radiator altogether. Another way to "flush" the atf is the cooler line method. Disconnect the hose at the radiator, start the car, and pour fresh fluid into the fill hole. It comes out pretty fast though. A google search will yield more thorough instructions. I did this when I swappped out the z1 for Amsoil atf.

 

I am in the same boat. Just had the radiator replaced and 3 or 4 flush/fills (using 21 quarts) for a total of $1500. No help from Honda Corp, saying the failure at 70k was "reasonable". Not sure about damage to the transmission yet. Tech used a degreasing agent, needs to be driven, then returned for another flush/fill. For no doubt another couple hundred dollars.

My plan is to trade it in ASAP. Let the dealer have it. Given history of Honda's transmissions, I am not hopeful that the new radiator is anything more than a 100 mile bandage.

 

What year was your pilot?