My Car is a 1996 Honda Accord 2.7L V6

My transmission has been acting funny for awhile now. I am not really sure how to check the fluid level in this car, because all that is on the dipstick are 2 dots at the very bottom of the stick. I know from talking to a few people the bottom one near the tip is the cold level and the top one is the hot level, however my fluid level has always been way higher then that. So am I really suppose to remove the fluid until its down to those dots? When I got the car originally I got 4 quarts out of the trans and so I put 4 quarts in. This go around I did the same thing. No change seems to have happened and Now I am thinking the trans is possibly over filled. I dont want it to be under filled either, so I figure I will recheck the levels in the morning. I did not notice much clutch material in the old fluid. The problems I am getting are the trans shifting hard every once and awhile, but especially in traffic. Also, sometimes when I get on the gas after a light turns green and go a few feet to the next light thats red, I get off the gas and the car will automatically go from 3rd to 1st and slow the car down like crazy which doesnt seem normal to me then I hit the gas and its like it banged hard into 2nd.

 

There should be two marks about an inch apart. It's really important to have the car completely warmed up. Go on the highway for about 5 miles or so, go back and park the car on flat ground, like at a gas station and check the dipstick. Now, if the gas station is slightly tilted, you would check the dipstick, then turn the car around to the same spot and check it again. The real level will be around the average of both spots. You want the fluid level to try to be in the middle of the two marks and you want the fluid to be red. When you finally get it right then you can pick up a couple gallon jugs from Walmart or somewhere and each time you do a drain and fill you just pour the fluid into one jug and then put it and the other jug on a level surface and fill up the empty jug to match it. If your fluid isn't red, then drive around again for a few miles and come back and drain and fill it. Drive around again so the fluid exchanges throughout the tranny to dilute the fluid and see if it's red again. Keep doing this til it's red after driving around and diluting the fluid throughout the tranny.

Also, only use Honda atf fluid. It's not going to brake the bank to make sure you're using the best fluid for the tranny. You can normally get a discount at your dealer if you buy a case, ask around to different dealers til you find one that will give a discount.

 

What ATF oil do you use in your Honda?
Honda is very picky on its ATF oil, and most if not all owners only use Honda ATF. It's expensive, but when in doubt, use Honda ATF. However, within the last few years, it is known to many forums that VALVOLINE MAXLIFE atf is the only one which can safely substitute for Honda ATF. Many claim that Valvoline MaxLife even performs better than Honda ATF. I am one of those believers and am currently using it in my 1996 Accord. My Odyssey will soon follow.


How do you check your ATF ?
General practice is as follow: level ground, engine on, shifter is in N (neutral), parking brake is engaged. Your ATF fluid level should be between those two dots.

 

I use Castrol Multi-import ATF that I got from autozone. This morning I ended up draining the trans until I got to the bottom mark and filled until it got to the top mark. Of course I checked the fluid with the car running and at operating temperature. Then I took the car for a test drive and it seems to shift fine now. I wont know for sure if this issue is fixed until tomorrow. I am going out of town in that car, so I will know more after that. In any case, I cant believe I have been driving this car for the past year with the fluid wayy over filled and never knew it. Do I need to replace anything to keep this tranny from going out on me such as seals? I really hope I didnt damage the transmission too bad running it like this. I drive quite a bit in that car and have put about 23k miles on her this year.

 

On older transmissions the the seals may no longer seal 100% and you may get drain down faster in some circuits than in others.

After draining and refiling the transmission, verify every gear circuit is charged and then check the dipstick. Select every gear for ~5seconds(engine running), then return the shifter to Park. Pull dipstick out, wipe it clean, reinsert fully, pull out and check level.

IMO, if you live in a hilly area fill the sump up to the highest level on the dipstick. This will keep the sump submerged. I drive in areas with off-camber turns. If the fluid is not near the top there can be moments where the trans feels to slide out of gear from starvation. But I also drive like a jackass, your results may vary.