NCGB

Hi all....new owner of a 2004 MDX and want to change my fluids myself. I'm looking at my transmission and can see the drain plug, but where do I re-fill the transmission with fluid?

On my CRV the dip stick hole was larger and the fill spot but onthe MDX it looks very small and an unlikely spot.

Can anybody help?

FiftyFive

The fill pipe is right above the drain plug. It is the smaller hole has a white cap and his behind the dipstick. Let me know if you find it.

NCGB

thx...going to check itout when the wife brings it back

NCGB

I think I found it...it's a 17 mm bolt top (no white cover and not painted white) that is on the driver's side of the engine towards the firewall on top of the trans. I needed 2 extentions for my ratchet, but got it off and it has an aluminum O-ring and smelt like trans fluid. The bolt is on the top flat part of the transmission just in front of the brake booster.

How many litres does it take to re-fill after I drain from the bottom drain bolt?

Thx

FiftyFive

Maybe the white cap is for the 1st gen..

I believe it is just about 3 quarts

NCGB

I just completed a transmission drain and fill...really easy, no problems. I used my long plastic fluid funnel and my ratchet with a long extention for the 17 mm filler bolt.

I ended up only draining 3 liters of fluid, so I replaced 3 liters and the dip-stick said "good to go". Next time I will back the MDX into the garage and get the slope working the other way and possibly drain more next time.

The fluid that came out was in pretty good shape. It still had it's reddish glow (unlike my CRV trans fluid that was dark and smelt burnt). I guess the car had it's trans fluid changed around the 30,000 mile mark? Oh, well...it's a new car to me and I'm changing all the fluids (trans, rear diff, transfer case, oil, and brake) and starting it off right.

csmeance

the trans will only let you drain 3 at a time since the torque converter holds 5 or 6 qts. You need to do the 3 x 3 procedure. Drain and refill 3 quarts, drive around for a bit to get the old fluid and new fluid mixed in. Let car cool and repeat. After that repeat one last time. This way you get around 95% new fluid in the trans.

junkmanacura

I don't know if anyone is still following this thread, but I recently did a 3x3 drain flush on my 88,000 mile 2004 mdx. I don't think the previous owner ever did a transmission service. Anyway, I decided to use the Valvoline Max Life that states it is suitable for Honda/Acura ATF Z-1. After doing each drain I noticed progressively that the transmission was smoother and the noise that I was hearing before when I would be in a low rpm around 30-40mph was almost gone. It was a low vibration rumbling noise, like the engine was lugging along feel and noise. Not terribly loud but definitely didn't sound right. Well, since I have done the 3x3 ATF drain flush I can barely hear it anymore, if at all. I will keep updates for anyone interested. Please share any thoughts on this issue if you have experienced the same thing. Thanks!

junkmanacura

I have heard that this noise I was referring to may be an issue with the torque converter. Has anyone else had this problem?

05 RL

I had the same issue with my 04 MDX. The noise was coming from my torque converter. The MDX was still under the warranty and Acura installed a new torque converter and transition.

Majofo

You're a brave man.. Keep us updated on how the Valvoline ATF works out.. I would advise to change out in aggressive intervals though.. it's cheap so I would change out every 15k miles / at least once a year to be on the safe side. Definitely don't run it for 75k miles.

^ and the whine is from the TC.. not a biggie.. also.. check into blackstone labs and get the Valvoline ATF analyzed after your next drain & fill.

Bluestone513

I've had a 2004 MDX since 2007.

When it got about 140,000 miles the transmission started "flaring" between first and second. Now I have 155,000 and the transmission gets stuck for about the first 15-20 minutes in the morning, where it doesn't downshift all the way back to first if you don't come to a complete stop. (Hollywood stop) It disengages leaving you coasting untill you either come to a complete stop or manually downshift to first or second.

What's wierd is that after the 15-20 minutes of driving, the problem disappears.

Thank you very much for this information. Hoping a 3x3 flush will resolve the problem before it gets any worse.

ovation

Thanks for this posting, very helpful.