mlb585

I just took a look at my tranny fluid yesterday and it is reddish-brown. The tranny has been shifting fine but I am concerned about this. I have (of course) read all and know all about the tranny issues. I was just wondering if I should just do a tranny flush myself instead of having the dealer do it. I was sent a 3rd letter from Acura (regarding the oil jet fix) to have it done immediately but I have just seen soo many people have their tranny blow right after it. I just don't know what to do. I saw the tranny fill plug and the drain bolt on the bottom...I just don't know how tough it is to get those off. Any suggestions or recommendations?? I have only 14,800 miles on the original tranny.

ccannizz11

First of all, go get the recall work done. now.

Second, I would only be concerned about the tranny fluid if it were completely brown with no red left in it. I'm not positive on this, but you should be able to go much further than 15,000 miles without needing a tranny flush.

babyblue

I would get the recall done, since they have a right to say no to further warranty if it blows further down the line. Acura can say that you were notified but you neglected in maintaining the vehicle with OUR recommendations. I get mine flushed every 20K, just to be safe.

DRM600

i too have hesitations about getting the recall work performed for the same reason. but i may have to get it done since there is some kind of unexplicable whine that i suspect is coming from the tranny.

i had the honda dealer do a tranny fluid drain-n-fill at 25k and somewhere about 60k i started to drain-n-fill 3 quarts at every oil change.

if you diy, make sure you can loosen the fill bolt first since it may be on tight. if you drain first and can't get the fill bolt of, you'll need to fill though the dipstick tube.

Smitty

does it smell burnt?

mlb585

Doesn't really smell burnt....but it didn't smell like fresh red oily tranny fluid. I had a mustang once that the tranny was toast and I could definitely tell that the tranny fluid was burnt. I actually just talked to my dealer and he said to have the oil-jet done. I'm still skeptical but I will have it done soon. I also asked him about the tranny flush....he said that have a 'transmission service' package for $49.99 which includes changing some fluid (but he basically said that it would be a full fluid change....just take out 3 and put in 3 quarts just once). He said they do have a tranny flushing machine (which he said they haven't used in a while) and that would cost $149.99....I thought that was a little rediculous

I think for right now I'm gonna get about 8 quarts of tranny fluid and the drain plug washer and do a fill/drain flush today and see how the fluid looks in a week or two...then I will get the oil jet done.....any other suggestions???

Time For Sleeep

I anything. Get the recall done, have your transmission blow out on you, which seems to happen quite often from these recalls... and get them to replace you with a new transmission.

bigguyonbike

i would not recommend you to do the tranny flush unless you have the right equipment.

mlb585

I am very mechanically inclined so doing the tranny flush is not a big thing for me. I just wanted to hear suggestions from others. I will probably go ahead and buy the fluid from honda/acura (and the drain bolt washer) and do the drain/fill method that everyone talks about. Any in the next 2 weeks and I will take it in to have the oil jet installed.

andyjl

hope i'm not taking over the thread, but i have a quick question. The car manual says something about changing tranny fluid at i think 90k miles or so, but i hear people changing it ever 15-20k.

Is it necessary to change that often?

And if you do change the fluid ever 15-20k and the tranny craps out, will Acura give you shit about changing the fluid so soon as opposed to their printed recommendations?

bigguyonbike

the reason why i said that was because that method you are talking about will not flush the system. all your doing is putting new fluid into the old. acura equipment actually forces the old fluid out using a vacuum method. just my .

mlb585

I just wanted to let everyone know that I did my 'so called' tranny fluid thing yesterday evening. I was able to use a hand pump w/tube to extract 2 1/2 quarts of tranny fluid at a time from the dipstick (couldn't get off the drain plug). I couldn't believe how nasty the fluid was. I replaced the fluid 4 times and it is now bright red and the transmission shifts so much smoother than before. I know that what I did is not entire a tranny flush...but it's the closest thing to it and cost me $110 less than their service. Now I just have to dispose of the fluid!

cltphantom

pour it down the creek! just kidding. congrats on the DIY. always the better choice.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

If the car has 15k and they do a recalll on it and then it blows they broke it, they own it & have to replace it.

They told me I was crazy, that there was nothing wrong for over 10k on mine and when it died at 34k they told me to fu*k off. I took them to court and got paid! Don't let them screw you around there is a serious design/manufacturing flaw in these trannies and they freaking know it!