Is there any way to check the tranny fluid on my car without getting under the car? I have no jack. I've owned the car for about 41K miles, and never changed it.

 

You can get to the fill plug from the top, it's just a bit of a pain.

Take off the air intake pipe from the air cleaner. Reach down thru there, it's behind the right-side axle, about the same elevation as the centerline of the axle. I think it takes a 17mm socket; anyway it has an aluminum washer & it doesn't look like all the other bolts on the tranny case.

 

There's really no point in checking it, since most likely it's all still in there unless it's leaking out of the driveshaft seals or something, which I doubt. You might as well just go ahead and change the fluid or get it changed somewhere.

 

You can do everything from the passenger side wheel well. I assume you have the honda jack, use it to remove your passenger side tire. Fill bolt (check bolt) is 17mm and rearward of the axle. Drain bolt takes a 3/8" drive ratchet. Fill from up top with a funnel attached to a long hose.

 

I don't think I'd want to reach underneath with only the tire-changing jack... But you might be able to reach in with the steering way over one way or the other.

 

 

unlike an automatic it is almost pointless to check the fluid, unless you think you are leaking. just replace it at the specified intervals.

the way you check the level is you take out the fill bolt, stick your pinky in there and if you can feel fluid all is good.

it is a very scientific procedure.

also, before you use your honda jack to take your wheel off and then climb under the car like that, get some jack stands from wal mart for like $20, they could save your life. lords know that honda jack stand won't.

 

i'd get under there with the spare jack cause i'm stupid.

 

Yeah.... my best friend's mom is the regional manager for TX Oil X-Change, so I think I'll just get her to give me a good discount and get it changed over there

 

One thing to mention is the car must be level when you fill the tranny, or you won't get enough fluid in there (if filling thru the filler bolt and waiting for the fluid to run back out). If only the front end is raised, it will start running out the filler hole before you get the specified quantity of fluid in there.