This service is very similar to the KaMLuNg writeup on the 3.2 TL. Part numbers for the 2.5 are on page 2 of his in-depth writeup.

1. Remove plug with a 3/8 inch drive ratchet. Use a small exhaust pipe for extra leverage, as it is on tight!



2. Sludge!! It wasn't as bad as I expected for 110k miles.



3. Loosen the pan bolts with a 10mm socket, easy. I used my cordless impact for this, it is variable speed and it only hammered once for each bolt.



4. I found a great trick to pop the pan loose! Find the flange and over-hang of the pan. Use a screw driver to pry it loose. There is an over-hang on each side. The driver side worked great.





5. Refer to KaMLuNg's post for the filter/screen removal. The 2.5 has 4 bolts of different size, keep track!!




6. Scrape Pan and the bottom of the trans so they are nice and clean and clean the pan very well. I used throttle body cleaner and doused the bottom of the trans. Let it drain and dry out.



7. There are 2 different size bolts for the pan. The longer ones will slide into the hole halfway and then thread. The small will thread right away.



8. Use a funnel and a tube to pour the freshness in.



Notice the difference in color between the new and old from the 1st pic.



9. Refer to KaMLuNg's post for final specs and procedures. I will post back to give a final amount of Trans fluid.

10. Check for leaks.

 

Drove 10 miles. I added about a half quart more. I am at 3.5 quarts all together. I will check tomorrow after a 7mile drive.

 

I remembered needing to add more ATF after the first drive when doing the filter screen...

 

I am up to 4 quarts now. Gotta check it again, think I am still low..

 

So did you replace the screen or buy a new one?

 

Ha! bought a new one from Tim at Hondacuraworld. I was not about to do all of this without replacing the screen!

 

I buy all of my parts from Tim too!

 

I just added another half quart. that is 4.5 total. I think it is topped off I have yet to check it.

 

Any change in trans performance? Were you having any problems before this maintenance?

Nice Pics.

I didn't see that many larger particles when I did this job. Only fine iron powder on screen. That drain bolt does look a little nasty, but I imagine that's mostly just iron filings and not actual sludge?

good luck

 

It definitely shifts smoother, though it wasn't bad before the service. I have 111k on the clock and plan to run this car till it dies. So it was basically just preventative maintenance. This car runs and drives like it were still new.

So far I have done:
-Timing belt
-water pump
-Thermostat
-Coolant
-Differential
-Trans

Am I missing anything?

 

fuel filter
pcv

 

What is the pcv?

 

I replaced tensioners w/ timing belt, but if they were smooth, they're probably good for a 2nd 105K. I had an Accord that had a nearly-dry tensioner bearing on 3rd T'belt.

good luck

 

I did the tensioners too. Where is the fuel filter?

 

just bought filter, gasket, and o-ring for the trans filter change. the dealer said this wouldnt even do anything to help... is this true?

 

They are a bunch off morons...
change out the filter and fluid, you'll feel the difference.
Has the fluid ever been changed? If not, you may need to drain and fill couple of times to get all the old fluid out.

 

i have drained the fluid 3+ times. so would replacing the filter help with the rough shifts or eliminate them?

 

Yes. How many miles does your car have? I doubt that the screen has been changed at all. The build up would cause the rough shifts.

 

my trans has 205k+ and i dont think its ever been changed.

 

That would do it. You also said in a previous post that your tranny was starting to go so that may be a factor.

 

yeah ive put work into the trans, after this filter im going to replace the pressure sensors, etc.

 

Have a 96 2.5 premium bought it new and she's the sweetest car I've owned. Started shifting hard and I found the answer on this forum, as I have so many others. Great job guys. She's frisky and smooth now, 221,000 on the odo. So far I've replaced:
Radiator
Harmonic Balancer
Brake rotors x 2 What's up with that? Grinded them down to nothing.
starter
valve cover gasket
stereo
CV's
Wheel bearings
Trunk gaskets
D4 light
Timing Belt
That's all I can think of right now. Guess I should pull my receipts.
Regardless, 1st gen 2.5's rock. They were engineered and made in Japan and it shows. The only American made car that can compare, IMO, is the Ford F150.
I'll post some pics soon. Need a new steering wheel, anyone know where to get that? By the way, test drove today and saw something dripping. S**t my pants, thought the gasket was off. Turned out after checking it was the AC condensation valve. Knew it was right there, still freaked out.

 

^ How long did it took you to do this? I may have to do this soon.

 

Not that long, took longer to jack it up, only got a 16" jack had to improvise. If you make sure you have the right parts, all of them. 2-3 hrs. I took six but while I was in there I did it right and I wasn't in a hurry. It's not hard, follow the thread, use jack stands or ramps, and replace all of it. Make sure you have the right parts. The 3.2 gasket kinda square 2.5 narrows at one end. Ordered the parts twice got the right ones from autotech.
Really, it makes a difference, at least it did for mine. It's much smoother, no more clank.

 

Thanks for the advise! My car has been shifting rough. I will do this as soon as I have some free time on my hand. Just for reference, how many quarts of transmission fluid did your 2.5TL take?

 

A little over 4. The guy at my Acura dealership said it'd take five. From what I'm reading here get 5. Just make sure you get the real deal atf-71 you can only get it at Honda/Acura Dealers or over the net. I don't know that the 71 fluid makes a difference but the guys on this forum that I respect say it does and I'll go with them

 

the 2.5 doesn't take 6 hours, or even 2-3 for this job. when i did it i took my time and also painted my trans cover just for kicks.. 1 1/2 hours

 

great job bro... lol.. dam i gottta do that sooo tooo... lol...

 

It took me that long because at 212000 and no change at all the original, paper? gasket took an hour to peel it/scrape it completely off was a two beer job. I don't work on my car likes it's a pitstop.

 

Okay, I must be blind. I read all the replies here AND all three pages on the 3.2 Tranny filter replacement thread (https://acurazine.com/forums/1g-tl-problems-fixes-118/tranny-filter-screen-diy-591042/) BUT couldn't find the part numbers for the 2.5 TL. Can someone point me in the right direction? And what about gasket sealant?

 

You can find filter kit at kragen O'reilly's store..

 

We have the same part numbers. Hey look, the part numbers are right on the boxes...

 

Haha, thanks. Well the top of this page says the numbers are on page 2 of the 3.2 tl tranny thread. So I figured the numbers shown were for the 3.2. Thanks!

 

Filter kit? Aren't they specific for each vehicle?

 

I will not recommend after market filter kit because of the experience I had with both Advance Auto and O’riely kit. I have done 3 replacement in last 10+ years in my car.

Firstly,

1. The O-ring is not a part of the kit and they have no clue how to match that.
2. The gasket that O’riely carries is rubber and will not work. As you tighten the bolts, the gasket will start to come out when pressure being applied to the bolts.
3. The strainer I got form O’riely had a bigger round opening and would not fit in to the upper part of the transmission thus I could not use them.

Stick to the Acura parts.

 

i purchased mine at O'reilly's Gasket, Filter/Screen, O-Ring all for $23. Everything worked out fine, no leaks no weird fitting gasket.

i did go and buy the honda tranny fluid tho.

 

I finally got a chance to do the tranny screen change yesterday after changing out the stabilizer bar links, rack and pinion boots, and muffler. Car shifts wonderfully smooth now. Take a look at the drain bolt:


Here are the parts number to the gasket, o-ring, and screen since they were no where to be found in this thread. These parts are for a 2.5TL:

 

My 96 TL has problems shifting. Revs high before shifting out of first and has lack of power. No body can figure out what the problem is. A friend of mine told me i should check the transmission filter. Can this be the answer to my problems? I dont want to put too much money into it cus I am trying to upgrade to a newer one.

 

How many miles on the car? Might as well change out the screen and fluid if you're not sure if it has ever been done.

 

My 96 acura tl 2.5 goes in reverse but not in drive! I just bought car for 300 and I'm wondering if I need a transmission? I empty the differential fluid and tranny fluid but I don't want to put new transmission filter and honda atf. Along with dif fluids. If i am going to need a new tranny. I took of the solenoids but they are 500 to replace. So I'm going to clean old ones and out back. What to do. Should I fill up with fluids and hope she goes or drop the tranny and pay 1000 to rebuilt???? Car has 195000 miles and runs good