Hello all:

Recently check trasmission fluid condition and it was sort of turned brown color! 2K3 TLS with 14700 miles on the odometer.

Does anyone else experienced this type of tranny fluid turn color so quickly. The oper. manual called out fluid replacing at 120K or 6 years, then every 90000 miles.
The vehicle is not driven hard, with 75% highway and 25% in city.
So I guess Acura is lying about tranny fluid change out? or there is simply news transmission breaking in period?
Please advice and happy new years
DavidTLS

 

Mine did the same. I flushed mine and added a tranny cooler. Brown fluid is an indication of heat/slippage.

 

Im dotn know much..but what color is it suppose to be?? Green?? How do you check the color of it? Just using the dip stick from the engine compartment?? I wanna check this out tommorow cuz Im concerned... just hit 10k miles on mine.

 

Normal color should be like a pinkish-red. Almost like slightly watered down Hawaiin Punch or Cherry Kool Aid

My dealer drained and strained my tranny once..........handed me the strainer to show that no metal came out, but the strainer had brown liquid all over it. According to him that was "additives" that Honda puts in their fluid.

Funny, 30 minutes later after the new fluid was put in, it came out pinkish-red on the dipstick. I guess Honda musta changed their additive color

-Chris

 

can i change the tranny fluid myself?
or do i have to go to autoshop?

 

i'd like to find that one out myself, i went to 2 diff. places who didn't want to touch my tranny fluid just cuz they said HONDA makes thier own special tranny fluid.
(my '96 accord had castrol and it had no probs.)
i did myself a favour and just paid the $85.00 CDN @ my dealer!

 

The first thing I did when I bought by 2000 used when I got it home was change the ATF fluid. I also change the fluid myself at every oil change. It just requires a ratchet, a replacement crush washer and ~3 qts fluid.

The trans drain plug is on the driver's side just inside the engine subframe. Just let it drain (~3 qts comes out), wipe off the metallic residue from the drain plug magnet, replace the aluminum crush washer (18 mm) and reinstall the plug. Pour in fresh ATF through the dipstick hole and you're all set. There is no transmission pan or replaceable filter. I buy Honda ATF-Z1 online by the case so it's not too expensive (it's cheaper than the dealer even with the shipping). Mix the old fluid with the dirty motor oil and take it to the recycling center (it's compatible, ATF is basically 20 wt oil with some friction modifier and red dye).

 

TLMugen, you change it yourself? at every oil change? How much do you get it for and where do you order?

 

Hey mugen, THX for the information
Which website do you go to purchase Honda ATF-Z1?

 

You're welcome.

I'll have to look at my receipt, if I can find it, to see which online place I bought them from (I buy so much stuff online, I can't remember $#!t from shinola!). I bought two cases a long time back (to make it worth the shipping) so I haven't had the need to buy any ATF-Z1 recently. I know they cost $2.19 a bottle and since I bought 2 cases, they just shipped the Honda boxes unopened.

Since you only use ~3 qts/change, I figure it's cheap insurance for a healthy trans.

 

Just and FYI. The tranny flush in the dealer costs about $30 if you ask them to do it with an oil change.

 

Hello all:

TLMugen, thank for a great tip on transmission fluid replacement, just bought 4 qt of trans. fluid from the dealer and they cost $3.15 per quart. Will perform fluid change out this weekend.
Do you really need to replace crusher washer?
David

 

i guess i was overcharged then! rough exch. in u.s.d. is $60-65
Plus i did do that with a service!

 

Some folks reuse the washer and have no problems with leaks. I like to play it safe (plus I'm anal anyway ) so I bought a bunch for only a couple of $$ so that I have enough to replace it each time for a long while. When I did it the first time and I bought ATF-Z1 from the dealer, the guy gave me 2 washers for free (just ask nicely ). I think they sell'em for 19¢ each.

 

According to the Acura service manual you should also replace the washer on the transmission fill cap.

"Tranny flush" is an inaccurate description since the part of the fluid is drained out and replenished. A transmission fluid change requires 3.1 quarts, a transmission overhaul requires 7.6 quarts.

 

Hello all:

OK, you guys got me all confused now . After reviewing Helm's FSM, the amount of transmission fluid requirement is 2.9 qt U.S.
Southern, just curiousity, where did you get that 3.1 qt info from? I do not want to overfill fluid and it is not healthy for the tranny. Mine is 2K3 model TLS.
TLMugen, could you send a washer and I will paid for the shipping? Just kidding my friend
, I could turn the washer around and reuse it.
Thank you for all info guys
David:

 

Some owner's manuals and Helm FSMs say 2.9 qts and some say 3.1 qts; supposedly the 4spd trans in the '99 takes the smaller volume than the later 5spds.
However, when I refilled my trans after draining, I put ~2.9 qts back in and checked the level (trans hot, in Park, car level, engine off) and it was just below the upper mark on the dipstick so I've been using the ~2.9 qts amount even though I have a 2000 with the 5spd.
I guess the general rule is that the amount listed is nominal; always go by the dipstick.

The washers are standard items available at auto parts stores, 18 mm aluminum crush washer. FYI: the engine oil drain plug uses a 14 mm aluminum crush washer.

 

Forget about every having to get under your car to change the ATF fluid.

I bought this oil extractor and it works like a charm:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=10122

When I first used it I was concerned about how much fluid it left behind. The oil extractor pumped out a little for than 3 quarts for ATF.

I use this on all my cars families cars:
2003 Chevy Tahoe - Can not pump out engine oil, but it works on ATF
2000 Honda Civic - Removes 3 qts for ATF
2001 Honda Odyssey
2004 Toyota Tundra - Removes a smidge more than 6 quarts for engine oil
2006 Honda Accord - Removes 4.25 qt for engine oil, 2 qts for ATF

 

Just in case somebody from almost 4 years ago is still wondering.

 

I would rather drain it out than pull any debris thru the trans. Also you can change the trans fluid without having to crawl under or jack up the car (just like the oil)

 

You will also need to remove and clean the drain plug, for oil slug and metal shaving, that way it will catch the oil slug and metal shaving on the next removal.

 

 

You never know. I try to be helpful.

I'll lazy. I take it into the dealer and let them drop the pan.

 

There is NO pan. There is a simple drain bolt you can get to without having to jack the car up.