Sam Spear

Hi guys, I have an '03 TL-P. I just swapped out the transmission for a unit from an '07 Accord. I got everything back together and since it was 4:30 in the morning, filled the transmission with about five quarts of fluid without checking to see how much fluid I should actually add. Oil started dripping from where the left axle meets the diff, about a third of a quart in all over a period of about 25 minutes. I went and test drove it, it drives nicely with no sounds or issues of any sort. When I got back, the leak had stopped and the ATF level was normal. I put a pan under it overnight and not a single drop spilled. Just to be cautious, I installed a new oil seal today, but the same thing happened. I drove it about 20 miles and it seemed just fine. Did I cause this with overfill or do I need to be concerned?

Skirmich

The Trans uses 9 full quarts.
About 3-3.5q are used in a single change then most of the ATF Sits in the Torque Converter and Transmission ATF Valves passages.

You used 5q? Does that means without filling the TC before installing it? or After Filling the TC? Because in anyway its a heck ton of ATF vs the normal 3-3.5q a change.

Sam Spear

Thanks for your reply. I could already hear fluid sloshing around in the TC before installing so I did not bother to remove it. I am quite sure I overfilled it by at least half a quart. I greased the seal with fresh atf before installing. The axle is a CarQuest piece I installed about a year ago, but it did not leak oil with the last transmission. So I'm thinking either there was too much pressure on the seal from overfilling and it seeped out, or I messed the axle up at some point in the process. Any other thoughts?

Skirmich

I Sincerely do not think its related, As overfilling it may cause foaming which will then leak by the Transmission breather tube.
I replaced my Front axles on my MDX filled to the top of ATF and it did not drop a single ounce of ATF, Unless you are way overfilled (check dipstick) its unlikely that it will affect in anyway the workings of an axle seal.

Sam Spear

Looks like I'll have to try and get the axle replaced under warranty from Advance.

Sam Spear

Is there any possible way it could be anything other than the shaft or the oil seal?

Skirmich

If you are 100% positive is leaking from the differential output? then without seeing it I can only guess is either the Axle Seal or the CVD itself.

Sam Spear

Yeah I am 100 percent certain it's leaking from the diff output. I am guessing the axle was out of spec to begin with and I had a slow leak that caused the last transmission to fail. That or I gouged the axle taking it out, for whatever reason I used a big screwdriver at first and I did a lot of digging at it to get it to pop out.

Iggy

Aftermarket axles on these cars tend to not work very well.

Skirmich

On Hondas is 100% Recommended to go OEM or rebuild your CVD to keep it within specs.
I bough the front ones for my MDX and they were 170 a piece, They went on like gloves without a problem.


Mine was bad from one side and good from the other but for piece of mind I decided to change both:

Iggy

I snapped an axle on my TL. The rubber dampeners hold moisture and salt and caused it to corrode beneath the rubber. You'd never know just by looking at it. Anyway, I punched it hard from a stop
and BANG.

Replaced them with aftermarket and had nothing but nightmares. Noise, vibration, yada yada.

Finally went back to OEM and never looked back.

Skirmich

^ I am hopping for the best on the rears in my MDX... Those suckers cost 460 bucks EACH! and my Prop shaft? yeah that is 1K.

Sam Spear

I'm glad you mentioned rebuilding. I think I still have the old axle. Would be a 30 second job to switch out the plunge, save cash and hassle.

fsttyms1

Are you sure the Axle is fully seated? If its not it can leak. While it may seem its in all the way i have seen it where its not. 1/8" to 1/4" makes a difference.

Sam Spear

I removed the axle to take back to Advance, but first I put a coat of chassis grease on the seal surface, slid it back in and hammered like hell on it before dumping some more ATF in. It worked. So in summation: grease your seals and beat that sumbitch in there.

Thanks for all your advice. This job was quite the experience.

Iggy

^
Sounds about right. You will find that an OEM axle will slide in nicely and you will feel a positive click when the circlip has seated properly. At most, a tap with a rubber mallet on the axle end. Try to avoid "hammering" anything.

Sam Spear

No hammer used, I just grabbed the axle and used that to shove it in there and get it seated. Probably the wrong choice of words.

Skirmich

Glad that you found out your issue.. I would not have guessed the Axle was not all the way in, When I did my MDX´s they firmly snapped into place so there wasn´t any slack left to get them inside... I never replaced the Axles on my TL and they have now almost 225K, But the AV6 gave me no problems with this when I did the swap..

Sam Spear

Yeah when I replaced the axle originally, I had no problems getting it seated. Either way, I haven't spilled a drop in a week and everything works great.