Okay, I've looked through the entire owner's manual and Helms' service manual for the '02 TL-S and I cannot find the proper method for checking the level of the auto tranny fluid.

Now, before one of you wiseguys says "Duh, check the dipstick!" consider this:

In many cars, the car needs to be running to check the proper level. In my '97 Maxima SE, the car has to be running, the tranny has to be up to normal operating temperature, and tranny has to be in neutral. It's not just open the hood when the car is off and check the dipstick like the oil.

But neither manual says what to do. So, does anyone know the correct way?

 

Check your manual again. p. 234.

Car should be at normal operating temp.
Park on level ground.
Turn engine OFF.
Check fluid.

Try the index at the back of the manual. Took me about 5 seconds to find this.

 

btw, it also gives instructions on how to flush and change the tranny fluid. Requires 3 times of draining, filling, driving, repeat . . . then a final fill. Glad I have a while before I have to go through that process.

 

8Ball - a far simpler method is to replace the fluid by a simple drain/replacement every year instead of waiting until 30-45k. That is just 3 quarts.

Acura's shop manual says drain and replace 3 times?????/

 

Rage, what you say makes sense, I'm just quoting from the owner's manual (not the shop manual). Page 235 says for a thorough flush, drain and fill, drive a short distance, do this three times, then a final fill. This makes sense too, so as to remove any particulates.

Oh well, I just got mine Monday anyway, so I'm not really worried about it yet.

 

Must have missed it.....thanks.

 

The Acura dealer can do a complete flush & fill. They tap into the trans line and force out the old trans fluid and fill it with new fluid. The local dealer charges $119.95 CDN and is recommended to be done every 24,000KM.

 

Answers to all:

1) The 3 time flush is not to remove particulates (there is a magnet to do that). It is to ensure that the torque convereter fluid is also replaced.

2) My more frequent "simple" drain/refill address the TC issue because the fluid gets replensihed more often than Honda recommends

3) A complete dealer pumped refill every 24km is excessive and expensive. Plus, they use oil drum ATF, which I have previously posted may not have allo the additives in the proper amounts

This is why I recommend the simple way, just more frequently.