I have searched for the last couple of hours and haven't really come up with anything conclusive. TONS of threads about this topic but mostly about taking it to a stealer or jiffy lube type place.

So my wife's TSX has about 102k on it. I've been hands off on it since mile one with it until about 6 months ago. The stealership just kept getting more and more expensive for routine maintenance. $500 for 90k service, you're outta your damn mind. Anywho so it's been put upon me to service it. I've been working on my vehicles service wise for about 12 years. I am mechanically inclined enough that I am pretty good and messing stuff up REALLY bad.That being said if all that needs to be done is a drain and fill of the trans for service I can do that without an issue I feel.


Soooooo what exactly do I need to know.

I need to know does it require a filter change? (can't find anything conclusive about this, but found plenty of questions about it)
For a drain and fill where might I locate the drain plug? (found one pic but would like a little better reference than just one pic)

Thanks in advance folks!!! I am on tons of forums and tried to follow the newb protocol of exhausting as many options as possible before asking a question. So be kind if I somehow over looked it.

 

Auto or Manual tranny?

 

Ahhhhh good point of clarification. It's an auto.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...smission+fluid

 

Yeah I saw that one, but still no concrete mention if you have to replace the filter or not.

Anyone know?

 

Hi,

As far as i know from the service manual there is no need to change the Filter..

I have done it mine at 75K.

I Just drained it and refilled it.I didn't do it three times as some people suggested. I am planning to do every 25K.

In order to get to the Drain plug you need remove the protective cover and the clicks break easy..And each one of them costs around 4 bucks if you buy at dealer. I broke 4

Hope this info helps..

 

Sweet!! You talking about the plastic protective cover that covers the whole bellypan of the engine? If so the dealer had already previously broken some of those things and zip tied it on.

 

Regarding the filter, if memory serves me correctly, for approx. $25-30, why wouldn't you change it anyways.....

Edit: The price is actually $15.00 004 25430-PLR-003 FILTER (ATF)

 

I am qualified enough for a drain and fill, but no where near qualified enough for a filter replacement. Anything that requires cracking open any trans pan is above and beyond what I want to deal with. Which is precisely what I am trying to find out is needed or not. We plan to keep this car well past 200k and we're pushing 102k now.

 

On the newer Hondas the filter is on top of the transmission so there is no need to open a transmission pan.

http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org/...s=&view=normal

It's part #4 in the link above.

I'm pretty sure Honda's offical statement is that this is an item that you don't need to ever service but for $15 it's worth it.

 

Ok so the school of thought from Honda is it needs no replacement? I just looked at the diagram you posted and it appears the filter is an inline filter external of the trans.....is it something I can see from the top side of the engine? I've never seen/heard anything like that. interesting.....

 

If it's a filter, it will need to be replaced. They are designed to wear themselves away reducing their filtering ability as they filter. Every filter in the world does this. It's simple, if you force a fluid through a hole, you will wear away the sides of that hole. It's the same principle that carved the grand canyon.

When to replace it is a different story. I'd do it when you change the fluid because that's a nice easy time to do it, and you're already working in the area, so why not? If it's inside the pan and you don't want to crack the pan, do it every 100,000 at your local dealer and make sure they do it.

 

I've had bad luck in the past with my previous 94 Honda and had to replace the transmission twice, plus I drive my car pretty hard. I've gotten into the habit of doing a drain and fill every 10k miles. I had no idea where the filter was, so thanks for the info!

 

Trans service done. Aside from those stupid plastic push clip thingys it was the easiest thing I've ever done. The plastic cover under there is a PITA.Trans fluid looked and smelled great for a 106k on the car. Drained, filled with 3 qts drove for a bit, got up to highway speed.....then did another drain fill with 3 qts. Spot on with the level. I will get around to changing that filter closer to 120k since the fluid looked as good as it did. At that time I will do another drain and fill. Also did the serpentine belt, and spark plugs. So far this has been the easiest vehicle I have worked on to date. Rear brakes were slightly a pain, but once I realized it wasn't a compression piston and needed to be turned to compress it was cake.