I recently got an oil change and was told that my transmission fluid was pretty burned off and that I should get a fluid change. The last time I got this done was at 42k and I have 68k on there now.

I was gonna go to a local service place that says they "specialize" in Acura's and Honda's but when I asked the guy if he had Honda ATF-Z1 fluid he didn't seem to know anything about it. Needless to say I was a little sketched out by the dude so I figured for piece of mind, just go to the dealer. Of course, they have a three week backup for Saturday appointments.

So, you guys think I will be fine driving around for a couple weeks? Should I find another dealer and get this done soon? The car seems to be riding OK but it is a '99 TL with 68k on it, so I don't want to take any chances...

Is there anything else I could do in the meantime to help the situation?

Thanks -

 

you can easily do it yourself.... I have done the 3qt drain 3qt fill in my tl about 8 times now, very easy and I can do it in under 5 minutes for a 3 out/3 in change... for you I'd say you should do 2 of them...

is this feasible or an absolute "no way" for you? I can post a diy or something if you like...

 

I appreciate the reply but I am not much for working on cars. I would do it if I felt confident about tinkering with my car, but to be honest, I really have no clue.

I was really just wondering how long I could go before I'm really starting to push my luck. The earliest the dealer can see me is July 9th.

 

Did you ask them for a loaner so they could do the work during the week?

 

a diy would be great

 

he says no DIY

just buy the ATF from honda and go to the closeest garage for the oil change

cost you 20 dollars at most

or you can ask the garage to use a synthentic blend of ATF, which is i am using right now, the MOTUL ATF is pretty gd, teh shift is smooth

 

I'll make an actual DIY when I get home then, since i didn't find a very good one on here... but for now:

again: PICS coming soon to make everything easier

Definition for this DIY... Hand Tight = as tight as you can get it with a regular socket wrench without going overboard on the strength. ( unless you're a broly, then use your brain you meathead)

Tools Needed: (*=required, $=Suggested)

* 3/8" socket wrench
* 12mm Socket *OR* a 17mm Socket... 12mm if you have the oil jet kit, 17mm if you don't
* a jack and jack stands, or a ramp, or some way of accessing the underside of the car
* A funnel with a long spout
$ Hammer or a Breaker bar, because bolts can be on tight as fuck from acura
$ a bunch of extensions giving you about 12" of extension... it makes accesing the oil fill area MUCH easier....
* some sort of drain pan of course

Supplies needed:
* 3 or 4 quarts of ATF-Z1 per drain/fill... its about 3.1 qts from acura so I usually have an extra qt on hand for the extra .1...
$ Transmission bolt crush washer... similar to oil crush washer... some dont replace it, I do... YMMV

Instructions:
#1 drive the car 10-15 mins to warm everything up. get on it a few times and make the tranny work hard, go in SS and work through all the gears... just get everything hot and ready. This is very important, or else you WILL NOT get all of the fluid out of the tranny... a "slightly warmed" tranny will usually only yield 2.5 quarts of fluid.

#2 get some beer handy.

#3 get the car in the air (jack, ramp, whatever... try to stay as close to level of course)

#4 Look under the car. on the drivers side (right side of car if you're looking head on of course) of the engine you'll see a bolt with a 3/8" square in the middle, similar to a big ass allen bolt. Guess what goes in this square. well, besides your penis, insert your 3/8" socket wrench in there. If you can muscle it off like this, have another beer broly. Otherwise use your breaker bar or tap it with a hammer to loosen the bolt.

#5 remove the bolt, burning your fingers in the process (a required step), and drain the tranny fluid. smells good doesn't it.

#6 look at your fingers. they should be burned

#7 get a rag and wipe down the tranny bolt. That big black thing is a magnet, and will probably have a ton of metal filings on it. this is normal, just wipe it off... also make sure you're continuning to burn your fingers on this bolt, because it is usually FREAKING HOT. Replace the crush washer with the new one (if you bought one) and set the bolt aside for now.

#8 while the tranny drains/drips, we're going to open the filler. If you have the Oil Jet kit installed, go to 8a. If you're not in the oil jet crowd, go to 8b

#8a. Leaning over the driver's side fender, look directly under the air intake hose, or where the air intake hose would be if you still had one (cai,sri folks). Slightly to the right on top of the tranny you'll see a black metal tube connected to a small black hose, which goes right into the transmission. there is a bracket connected to this tube, anchored by a 12mm bolt. Use your socket wrench and socket to remove this. (If you dont have enough extensions, good luck getting it off. If you do have the extensions, its a breeze. Just extend the socket down through all the cables and tubes, and tap/breaker bar that wrench until the bolt comes loose. )
After you remove this 12mm bolt, pull up on the metal tube. it will probably be tight, but it will come off. remove the tube from the hole and let it rest to the side...

#8b Leaning over the driver's side fender, look directly under the air intake hose, or where the air intake hose would be if you still had one (cai,sri folks). Slightly to the right on top of the tranny you'll see a 17mm bolt (probably with some blue on it) in the top of the tranny. Use your socket wrench and socket to remove this. (If you dont have enough extensions, good luck getting it off. If you do have the extensions, its a breeze. Just extend the socket down through all the cables and tubes, and tap/breaker bar that wrench until the bolt comes loose. )
After you remove this 17mm bolt clean it off and set it aside. laugh because it's easier than the poor fucks who have the oil jet kit. go ahead, laugh.

#9 when the tranny stops dripping take that clean tranny bolt and reinstall it. Torque it to hand tight, dont go crazy. then wipe up your mess you damm slob.

#10 get that long spout funnel and insert it in the fill hole you just made in step 8. pour in 3 or 3.1 quarts of fluid. then wipe up your mess because you spilled ATF everywhere, you really need to learn how to pour fluids!

#11 replace whatever you removed in step 8.
NON OIL JET--> torque that 17mm to hand tight
OIL JET--> put the oil jet back in the hole, pressing down hard to ensure a proper fit, and replace the 12mm bolt. once the 12mm bolt begins to tighten down stop and press down on the metal tube. sometimes nothing happens (which is fine), sometimes it makes a small click as it seats under the pressure of the bracket (which means its now seated properly because you did not press hard enough the first time). tighten the 12mm bolt to hand tight.

#12 lower the car down and check the tranny level to make sure the fluids are at least in the tranny. The level is not accurate yet, just make sure theres something in there!

#13 check for leaks, and finish your beer. then take a leak.

#14 drive the car 10-15 mins, heating it up like in step 1. then, with the car off of course, check the fluid level. should be within spec

#15 pat yourself on the back or repeat, depending on how many changes you want to do in this sitting.

#16 seek medical attention for your burned fingers.

 

thanks man

 

I just bought the parts needed (3 qts ATF @ $4.25 ea , washer $2.50) and paid $10 to my mechanic

 

did you buy those from acura or honda?

honda here has the atf @ 3/each and the washer is free...

 

Do you have to go to Honda to get it or can you just go to Autozone or someplace like that?

 

just get them at any honda/acura dealerships

they have a parts shop

 

go to honda, its usually cheaper

 

Yeah I got it from Colonial Honda (Glendale). Their price is high compared to the other dealer. It so happened that I'm in the Glendale area. $3 ea is a good deal. eBay is selling it for approx. 3.50ea. Damn...the washer is $2.50 and I can't believe it. What's the name of the dealership in SF? I have a brother that lives there and I'll ask him to buy me some supplies for the next atf change.

 

menlo honda, tell him to go south on 101 to whipple, west(right) on whipple to el camino real, and south(left) on elcamino real