03 V6 Accord auto transmission fluid change

[markrb]

I am changing my own oil this spring and summer so I thought why not try and change the tranny fluid too.
I have heard I should only use Honda ATF-Z1. True?
Do most auto parts stores carry the correct fluid or do I need to find it online?
How much should I buy if I want to do a drain, fill, drain and fill?
Should I run a few miles between or is just idle enough?
Any quick pics on where the drain plug is? I just want to be sure I get the right bolt.
I am way overdo, but have no shifting issues. Car is as smooth as ever.

Thanks,
Mark

[Accordlover]

The owners manual has details on the ATF change. :yes:

You can get the fluid from a Honda Dealer or online at a Honda dealership's parts store. I use www.bernardiparts.com.

[markrb]

I read the manual and one thing I am not completely sure of.
In the manual it reads 3 quarts change 7 quarts fill.
Am I reading this right to say if I want to do a drain and fill I would need 3 quarts and if I was going to fill a completely empty tranny I would need 7?

Thanks,
Mark

[RTexasF]

That is correct but buy four quarts in case you need just a tad more to top it off.

[markrb]

I was just under the car looking to change the transmission fluid, but one problem I don't know which of the many bolts is actually the drain plug.
I do not have access to a lift and can only jack the car. This gives me only a front view without going under the car and I don't want to do that before I find the best way to jack and secure the car for access.

Any type of picture of schematic would really help if it is available. I was really hoping it was as easy to access as the oil is, but it doesn't seem so at this point.

Any help locating this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

[markrb]

I found what I was looking for in the DIY section of the forum. I never thought to search there.
Did it already and man it is black. I plan on running the car today and doing another swap tomorrow or maybe Monday morning. Glad I didn't wait any longer.

Mark

[TonyWare]

I found what I was looking for in the DIY section of the forum. I never thought to search there.
Did it already and man it is black. I plan on running the car today and doing another swap tomorrow or maybe Monday morning. Glad I didn't wait any longer.

Mark

NO ! Don't change it again !!! Our trannys have a bad reputation when they get flushed and 2 back to back tranny oil changes may do just that! Reason it is not safe to flush these trannys is a bit fuzzy but the fact of the matter is that sludge crude oil stuck in the gears and the torque converter is a good thing! Drive another 10-15k miles before you do it again.

[Accordlover]

NO ! Don't change it again !!! Our trannys have a bad reputation when they get flushed and 2 back to back tranny oil changes may do just that! Reason it is not safe to flush these trannys is a bit fuzzy but the fact of the matter is that sludge crude oil stuck in the gears and the torque converter is a good thing! Drive another 10-15k miles before you do it again.

What?

I've heard that flushing via machine is bad but never a repeat drain and refill. :dunno:

I've worked at a Honda dealer and a Honda Specialist and both did 3 stage drain and refills to any car that came in for a transmission service. It's not a flush... :dunno:

[Accordlover]

Mark,

Have you had the oil jet recall performed on your Accord? If not, I could see why the fluid might be very black... :paranoid:

[markrb]

Yes I did have it done within a month or 2 of the recall.
I was way, way overdo for a change. Could have been as much as 80k, but
since I can't find any record I can only do it by memory.
Now that I think of it I might have had it done with my last timing belt change at about 160k, but I will have to look into that. There was nothing on the magnetic plug that I could see and I did a very close look.

As far as the tranny drain and fill this is the first I read about not doing a double. I know power flushes are a no no, but I read a few posts where drain, fill, drain fill is actually recommended.

Mark

[TonyWare]

What?

I've heard that flushing via machine is bad but never a repeat drain and refill. :dunno:

I've worked at a Honda dealer and a Honda Specialist and both did 3 stage drain and refills to any car that came in for a transmission service. It's not a flush... :dunno:

7th generation have this issue. Back to back tranny oil changes equal almost certain death of the tranny. Sludge stuck in all kinds of areas, moving around because of multiple drain and refills, may end up moving somewhere where it clogs a solenoid valve or two, thats no good.

[Kelsen]

7th generation have this issue. Back to back tranny oil changes equal almost certain death of the tranny. Sludge stuck in all kinds of areas, moving around because of multiple drain and refills, may end up moving somewhere where it clogs a solenoid valve or two, thats no good.

Last week I did a drain-fill-drain-fill on my '03. It was the first change ever. Seems to (still) run and work like a champ, with 121,000 miles.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
I had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.

[RTexasF]

NO ! Don't change it again !!! Our trannys have a bad reputation when they get flushed and 2 back to back tranny oil changes may do just that! Reason it is not safe to flush these trannys is a bit fuzzy but the fact of the matter is that sludge crude oil stuck in the gears and the torque converter is a good thing! Drive another 10-15k miles before you do it again.

The multiple drain & fill is recommended to remove all of the old fluid possible. It's the power flush that's a no no. I believe you have been misinformed.

[psyshack]

Drain and fill all you want. Its the power flush that could be harmful. Also remember to change the darn filter with every cycle. If crude breaks loose let the filter do its job.

[markrb]

Where is the filter? I was under the impression the filter can only be changed when the tranny is pulled.

Thanks,
Mark

[markrb]

Found it and I am going to try and do that. That filter looks a bit difficult to get to, but I am willing to give it a go. Dealer says it will take 2 or 3 days to get the parts.


BTW I plan on draining the tranny before starting this. How messy should I expect the job of changing the filter to be in this case? I live in a Condo and park and work on the car in the parking lot. I need to plan to protect the ground at a reasonable level for the mess since if I do damage to the pavement I will have to pay to fix it.

Thanks
Mark

[Accordriver]

Found it and I am going to try and do that. That filter looks a bit difficult to get to, but I am willing to give it a go. Dealer says it will take 2 or 3 days to get the parts.


BTW I plan on draining the tranny before starting this. How messy should I expect the job of changing the filter to be in this case? I live in a Condo and park and work on the car in the parking lot. I need to plan to protect the ground at a reasonable level for the mess since if I do damage to the pavement I will have to pay to fix it.

Thanks
Mark

You don't have to drain the transmission to change the filter, but expect a 12" radius max spill.

[am-radio]

Here is my 03 EX V6 auto. I removed the air box housing and you can see everything. I've labelled the filter. The ATF Fill plug is gone in a way on mine. When Honda did the 2nd gear oil jet recall, they put the oil jet into the ATF fill plug to give more oil for cooling. The ATF fill plug is now a modified fill plug. You have to remove the oil jet tube and then you can fill through the plug, or if you patient, fill through the dipstick. I don't know if I like the idea of adding more oil through the fill plug, as this now sends less oil to the filter as the oil jet tube is just a "T" off of the ATF filter line.