2005 CR-V EX Automatic Transmission, AWD, 105,000 miles.

This is EMBARRASSING, I really screwed up, but here it is.

After installing new CV boots on the driver's side, I had a real difficult time getting the ball joint stud into the LCA because the strut assembly had drooped down so far, and no amount of prying on the LCA would get it low enough to clear the BJ stud. I finally resolved it by jacking up the steering knuckle/strut assembly to get the ball joint stud to clear the LCA.

I went for a slow test drive and got about a hundred feet out of my driveway when I started hearing some noises from that area and the first shift was a little "clunky." I immediately stopped and got out, and saw a trail of transmission fluid leading from my driveway. I slowly backed up back into my garage, jacked it up, and saw that the inner CV joint wasn't all the way in. Apparently with all the manipulation, I pulled the axle out of the transmission about an inch, or I didn't have it seated properly to begin with. I neglected to check it after getting the ball joint reconnected to the LCA. I pulled the axle again, and saw that all the teeth of the splines at the end of the axle (between the end and the circlip, about 1/8") were chewed up. The splines beyond the circlip were intact. I was able to recover a few metal chips by reaching into the transmission and pulling them out with my fingers. After kicking myself in the *** several times, I pondered what to do.

Before I got on the web and logged into honda-tech, my initial thoughts were to either do a thorough change out of the transmission fluid using the drain, fill, warm it up, and then repeat a few times to dry to rinse out as much of the metal as possible; or to have it towed somewhere for a complete flush. Since the weekend was upon us, I borrowed a car and went to the Honda dealer for some ATF to do a few drains and fills myself to start.

The metal chips will vary in size from perhaps a whole section of end spline to microscopic. The few pieces I could recover with my fingers were about .08" x .125" or a little smaller. On doing my first drain, I got about 2 1/4 quarts of AFT, so I probably lost about a quart. I checked the drain plug and found it was magnetized, but it didn't have much on it. I also dragged a magnet through the basin that contained the old fluid and didn't come up with much. I then poured the fluid into a milk jug using a filter inside the funnel. I had a few small pieces in the filter, but again not much. The total amount of metal I have recovered is much less than the amount that would have been stripped off the 1/8" at the end of the axle.

I don't have much more than general knowledge about what's inside my transmission, but I'll be doing some more research. I've seen a few cutaway models over the years of US cars, but I understand Honda uses different design than US car makers. I've also read that Honda transmissions have some internal filtering screens that can't be accessed without removal and disassembly.

I've had no transmission problems up to this point.

My concerns and questions are:

1. There is a lot of commentary both on Honda-Tech and other forums that transmission flushes are unnecessary and can even be damaging on Hondas. I recently learned that Honda recommends against transmission flushes and read the contacts of the service bulletin saying that. I had the transmission flushed at 62,000 and 91,000 with no ill effects at a local shop that I trust, and stressed to them that Honda ATF needed to be used, and suffered no ill effects. But, would a flush (do they backflush opposite to the normal flow of fluid to clean the filters?) even get those metal particle out safely?
2. Since I didn't get much metal out on my first drain, how likely am I to get much more on the second and third drains?
3. Where are those chips going to end up if I do several drains and refills? Will they safely make it to the internal filters and be trapped, or will they first get moved around to gear teeth where they can cause some damage, or will they get lodged in and obstruct some small internal channel that is necessary for proper lubrication and cooling?
4. Should I take it somewhere for disassembly and cleaning out the chips before driving it anywhere?
5. What about pulling the transmission and then just splitting the case to clean out the metal shavings without disassembling the whole transmission, and then putting it all back together?
6. How much damage will these chips do if I leave them in?

It looks like there is both and internal and an external filter on the transmission. The external is inline in front of the bottom of radiator behind the bumper skirt, so I may try changing that. A new one is about $20 at bernardiparts.com.

So far I have reinstalled the axle, hoping that that 1/8" section of spline beyond the circlip isn't critical, and I have done one drain and refill. But I'm afraid to drive it until I get more information. Am I just totally hosed with regard to salvaging this transmission without a huge expense?

Other than just doing several drains and refills or a flush, and then praying, I don't see a lot of options. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

So . . . I notice a fair number of reads on this post, but no replies. So I thought I would pass along what the service manager at my local Honda dealer and the owner of a transmission shop that he recommended. Surprisingly, both suggested that the metal chips may not the catastrophe I have been imaginig. The Honda service manager suggested that I change out the fluid a couple more times after driving for a while in-between, and changing the external transmission filter. The cost to have the transmission broken down, cleaned out, rebuilt, etc would be very high and he suggested to wait and see what happens; that it may not be so bad. He said they haven't replaced a transmission at the dealership in over five years because Honda wants about $5,000 grand for one. So he suggested the independent guy, to whom they have been sending their customers to for years.

The guy at the independent shop basically said the same.

The name of that shop, if anyone reading this in near St Louis, MO is Quality Transmission Service in Arnold, MO about 15-20 miles south of St Louis off I-55. I have no relationship with them, they were just recommended as being reputable and professional by the Honda dealer guy, so I thought I'd include their info in case anyone else may need a good transmission shop.