Unfortunately my first post here had to be in the Problems and Fixes section... I just bought my 6 speed TL a month ago with 100k miles and thought I'd change the tranny fluid because the shifter is notchy in 3rd gear when it's cold and it still has the original fluid in it. Just like an oil change, right?!? Soaked the fill plug in PB blaster and tried breaking it loose with a standard 3/8 ratchet and managed to snap the head off. My only other option is a 1/2 inch air impact, so I tried that and had to stop because I didn't want to round off the plug. I mean it makes sense since they're loctited from the factory and over 10 years of rust doesn't help, but cmon even an impact won't get it off? Any last tricks I can try before taking it to a transmission shop and let them deal with it? Yes I made sure the impact was going the right direction

 

FWIW: For some unknown reason, the filler bolt on my 2003 TLS seems to (self tighten). When i service the transmission, I only snug-up the filler bolt, but the next time i service it, it seems like the filler bolt has been torqued to 100 ft. lbs. I have found, that using a 1/2" drive breaker bar, along with an appropriate extension, a 12" cheater pipe, and 6 point socket, makes it much easier to remove the bolt. When using a 3/8" set-up drive, it always feels like something is going to break.

 

I see @justnspace has been here but didn't share his own personal experiences
Any reason why cuhhh?

OP.. get the trans up to temp.
Get a six point impact socket on it.
Then use impact extensions and an 3 foot breaker bar
Tighten first, then back it out with consistent pressure until it loosens
Definitely don't round off the plug

 

Or break the transmission case... aye Justn

 

LOL!

i helped break my friends transmission case by trying to get the fill bolt.
he sold the car, right after that and bought a G8 GXP

 

is he going to let you work on that one too?

 

maybe I can try my magic on OP's car.

 

There you go OP

 

You sir are awesome. The 3/8 drive setup was the problem ... Picked up a cheap 1/2 wobble extension from harbor freight and that was enough to pop it open with a breaker bar. Besides wacking myself in the face with the breaker bar when it finally broke loose, the rest went well. Transmission shifts like BUTTER now

 

6-point socket? What am I missing here? The fill bolt is just a 1/2" square inset, correct?

That's OK, you're in good company with Crabman. He has a chest hickey to go along with your newly acquired face hickey

And yes, the bolt has always been a bit of a pain to remove. As you learned, 1/2" all the way!! (P.S. that must be some weak ass compressor you're using with that impact gun....)....

 

Fill bolt is a 6poimt on some car and a 1/2 or 3/8 on other cars

 

wut?

 

fill bolt... fill bolt.

 

 

looks like someone mixed up the fill and drain bolt on that one.
interdasting.

 

wait a minute.. isn't that a manuela on the bottom?

 

Yep.. a manny on a 2009 Accord..


I'm not saying the fill bolt might not be a 1/2 - 3/8" bolt.
But of the half dozen different vehicles I've worked on with a J3x..
I've never seen one.

 

oh.. another #protip
worst case (not worst case like you break the case of the transmission trying to pop the bolt, but like worst case you can't pop the bolt)

You can always fill through the dipstick
It's slow but it'll go.

 

MT doesn't have a dipstick, but I suppose you could find a way to fill it through the check bolt if you really hated yourself...