First and foremost, please keep in mind that I am NOT a pro and 99% of the time have no idea WTF I'm doing, so use the following advice with caution.
This procedure is not necessarily the "correct" way to change your transmission fluid, merely my own personal way of doing it.... perform this task at your own risk, while sober, and use good judgment.

Things you'll need:
A jack
Jackstands
~2 qts of transmission fluid -- IE Honda, AMS, Redline, etc
NEW 14mm and 18mm drain plug washers(94109-14000 & 90471-px4-000 Part #'s from Honda)
Trans fluid pump
Oil drain pan
3/8 Ratchet & (shallow) 17mm socket
(Recommended): Brake cleaner
Newcastle

Get your car on a level surface, engage parking brake, identify jack point(s) and raise car. *** I prefer to put a jackstand under the passenger side of the vehicle, move the jack to the driver side, lift vehicle, put another jackstand in place and leave jack as it is(you'll see why in a second)

My lovely driveway:


With your car completely secure/safe/level crawl underneath it and look for the drain and fill plugs(located on the drivers side of the transmission! )



With your 3/8's ratchet(and NO socket on) place the male portion of the ratchet right into the square of the drain plug. Break plug loose and prepare your oil drain pan. Remove plug, try to "catch" the fluid as it comes out but be warned it comes out rather quickly at first.

Heres where the jack thing I mentioned earlier comes into play. After the fluid has basically stopped draining remove the jackstand on the drivers side of the vehicle and slowly lower that side of the car with your jack, make sure your drain pan is positioned correctly as even more fluid will come out. This isn't something you have to do but IMO its nice to get out as much of the old fluid as possible.

Raise the car back up, place jack stand under driver side and crawl back underneath the vehicle. I HIGHLY recommend replacing the drain plug washer! Its cheap and easy, so just do it! With the NEW crush washer in place, replace drain plug into transmission and tighten accordingly.

There are quite a few different styles of fluid pumps but the one pictured below is your most common one. Can be had at any automotive parts store for a few bucks. I've had this particular one since '03 but they defiantly break easily. The pumps are fairly self-explanatory: you screw the pump onto the top of the bottle, make sure its snug otherwise you wont be getting a lot of pumping action.



(You will NOT need this many quarts of fluid)

.. Underneath the car again, locate the fill plug - 17mm - , just above the drain plug. Its a little awkward to get to , especially compared to b-series transmissions but fit your hands and the socket or wrench in there and break it loose. Now put the tube from the pump up into the fill hole, make sure the tube is free from debris, dirty, etc as you don't want foreign **** in your transmission. Once tube is in place begin pumping it until your first quart is gone. Repeat with 2nd quart until you see fluid flowing back out of the transmission. Quickly replace the fill plug(with new crush washer of course!) back into the transmission and tighten.

I remember my GSR/Si/LS transmissions taking more than 2 quarts so I was a bit surprised that the K trans took just under 2. Either way just pump until it comes back out the fill hole. There's no exact amount of fluid that the trans takes as its different for everyone depending on how much old fluid you actually get out.

I prefer to clean the area I was just working in with brake cleaner. This cleans up excess fluid that may be present and ensures that you will only see a puddle later on if you're actually leaking fluid.

I drove the car completely cold as thats usually when I experience notchy gears and it felt a LOT better. The smoothness is felt throughout the gears and especially noticeable on downshifts. I imagine that after the fluid breaks down a bit some of the notchiness will come back but it will be better than what I was used to.

Within 15 minutes my shifting is feeling like butter and my transmission is happy. Do it yourself and save some money! Hope this is helpful to some people.

 

good writeup tre, what fluid did u use?

 

Now let's all cross our fingers and hope we don't have another newbie thread asking about the infamous 3rd gear notch.

 

Another great write up!

Thanks Trevor!

 

Nice DIY trev... how do you like that jack (i bought the same one but havent used it yet)?

Car looks super shiny!

 

Thank you trevor...

added to DIY sticky

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by barroomhero &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good writeup tre, what fluid did u use?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I used the "new" Honda MTF: 08798-9031



<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blue rocket &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice DIY trev... how do you like that jack (i bought the same one but havent used it yet)?

Car looks super shiny! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Its been pretty nice, the first one we had got royally fucked because my mom's fiance tried using it to jack up a trailer off a hitch and everything slid down the street ... took it back and got a brand new one for free though! It fits under all of my friends super low cars and hasnt really failed me yet so I'm happy with it.

And the car is only so shiny because I stripped off all of my clear coat! Thats the JDM way of getting a show car shine

 

Can someone do a DIY on changing shifter bushings? The factory ones are a joke.

 

Why not just have honda do it isnt the new honda tranny fluid a free upgrade due to the gay notchy issues ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WILD_WILL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not just have honda do it isnt the new honda tranny fluid a free upgrade due to the gay notchy issues ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I figured someone would say this, and yes YOUR dealership may perform a trans fluid change for you, free of charge probably.

My reasons for NOT taking it to the dealership:
The trans fluid I had was free.
I prefer to do all work on my own car... puts my mind at ease.
Dont trust the kids at the dealership with my keys and car.
Dont want it getting scratched, washed, rims curbed, etc.
Dont feel like convicing the service manager that it needs new fluid.
I refuse to give my local dealership any business as I used to work there and despise the GM AND the service manager(if you can even call him that.)
Basically I know how things operate at my particular Honda dealership and would never take my car there for anything. I'm willing to drive 2 hours just to get warranty work done, and yes thats something I've done before.

This thread is for people who want to do it themselves, especially those wanting to "get away" with using aftermarket fluid.

 

good write-up. only thing i didnt do was lower the jack to get the remaining fluid out.

btw, what jack is that? craftsman super low.

 

what year is your si? does the 07 si have the "new" Honda MTF: 08798-9031 in it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lsvtec101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what year is your si? does the 07 si have the "new" Honda MTF: 08798-9031 in it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

He has an '06 Si, and supposedly the later production date '07s have the new MTF in them.

Jon

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IGotNoSwap &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good write-up. only thing i didnt do was lower the jack to get the remaining fluid out.

btw, what jack is that? craftsman super low.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea its not necessary but it defiantly helps get even more fluid out.

Craftsman jack.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaF1Fanatic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

He has an '06 Si, and supposedly the later production date '07s have the new MTF in them.

Jon</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks Jon, and I honestly have NO clue what the factory puts in the transmissions. I was told that they were using the 9031 in any 06+ vehicle but I dont think that holds any truth.

As an update I've done a fair amount of driving today and WOW!! feels like a brand new transmission. If you are experiencing any notchiness I highly recommend that you change out your transmission fluid with the newer Honda MTF or an aftermarket equivalent


Modified by TRE_ at 4:47 PM 4/5/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaF1Fanatic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

He has an '06 Si, and supposedly the later production date '07s have the new MTF in them.

Jon</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I have an Si with a build date of 1/07 and it had the 3rd gear notch

 

I hear ya Tre_, I worked for a stealership and getting any straight answers from the manufacturer was like pulling teeth. Btw, if you like Newcastle I strongly recommend Acadia's Nut Brown Ale, it is some good ****.

Jon

 

thanks for DIY

 

every K-series will have a 3rd gear notch eventually depending how you drive..

 

thanks man. great write up. my fluid will be changed this week

 

I am going to head out and buy some AMS tomorrow. I also need an oil change, I might be cool and have both as AMS!

 

20 days later::

Just as an update for everyone: Trans is still shifting very smoothly. Have not scratched 3rd(or any other) gear since the fluid swap.

 

We need more writeups like this on HT

 

Was this done on a Automatic of Manual. I'm guessing it was done on a manual, but just wanted to make sure. I am guessing doing a transmission fluid on my automatic would be even easier as I can fill it from the top of the transmission through the hole that the fluid level checker is stuck down in.

I have also been told after draining and refilling an automatic, I should drive a couple days and then drain and refill it again. To get even more of the old fluid out. Does that sound like a good idea? Also I have a 1998 Honda Civic LX. How much is my fluid per quart and do I have to get it at a honda dealer or can I get it elsewhere?

Thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bennettcl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Was this done on a Automatic of Manual. I'm guessing it was done on a manual, but just wanted to make sure. I am guessing doing a transmission fluid on my automatic would be even easier as I can fill it from the top of the transmission through the hole that the fluid level checker is stuck down in.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes this was done on a Manual transmission. Steps are basically the same for an auto but as you mentioned you refill the trans via the transmission dipstick hole. I wouldnt say its really any easier but same idea.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I have also been told after draining and refilling an automatic, I should drive a couple days and then drain and refill it again. To get even more of the old fluid out. Does that sound like a good idea? Also I have a 1998 Honda Civic LX. How much is my fluid per quart and do I have to get it at a honda dealer or can I get it elsewhere?

Thanks </TD></TR></TABLE>

Doing a drain & refill, waiting and doing another drain and refil will definantly help "flush" out the transmission a bit more. I dont think its neccesary but if the fluid hasnt been changed in a while it may be a good idea. I would STRONGLY reccomend running Honda ATF. Should take about 3 qts -- I'd put two qts in check level and add accordingly.

ATF part number: 08200-9002
18mm drain plug Washer: 90471-PX4-000

 

Very nice write up! Thanks! I'll definitely use this as a reference in the near future.