Notes on Honda Automatic Transmissions
I single Hondas out here because I answer questions about this all the time. One of the main things to remember when checking Honda automatic transmission fluid is to make sure the engine is off when you do your check. If not, you won’t get a proper reading, and you could damage the transmission or the dip stick. It sounds strange, but I have seen it, more than once in fact. So make sure the engine is off and the vehicle is level when checking Honda automatic transmission fluid.
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The other thing to remember about Honda automatics is that you need to use Honda automatic transmission fluid in a Honda transmission. If you use other automatic transmission fluids, the transmission might not shift the same and could have problems as a result.
Another thing to note about Honda automatic transmissions is that they don’t have replaceable filters. They do have filters, but they are internal and the only way to change them is to open the transmission case. Honda transmission filters are considered lifetime filters and do not have a service interval as a result. All you do with a Honda transmission is drain out the old fluid, clean the drain plug magnet and install about three quarts of new Honda fluid. Do this about every 30K and you shouldn’t have a problem with your transmission. Stray from this procedure and you might end up with issues.
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One final note on Honda/Acura transmissions concerns the V6 transmissions from ’99 to ’03. I’ll be honest; these transmissions had a very high failure rate. It doesn’t matter how you maintain them, it seems they are doomed to fail. If you’re considering one of these vehicles, have it checked out to see if the transmission had been replaced in the past, and even then be skeptical. I was putting in two and sometimes three of these transmissions a day for a while. That should tell you something about their reliability. When Hondas have a transmission problem, they often flash the D4 light on the dash. You can sometimes pull the codes with primitive methods; here’s a video on the procedure. This website contains a listing of the code meanings.
Here’s a video you might find helpful if you plan on changing the transmission fluid in your Honda.
Video Title: Notes on Honda Automatic Transmissions – Solving Transmission Problems – EricTheCarGuy Video Description: In this Article we talk about Notes on Honda Automatic Transmissions and how they affect automatic transmissions.
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5 thoughts on “Notes on Honda Automatic Transmissions”
Mike
June 17, 2021 at 1:39 am
My good buddy is a mainline tech @ a Honda dealer. He said some trans’s during the 99-03 span were not recalled and should have been. Worse, when a recall was done, the remedy from Honda did not always completely fix the problem. Stay away, even if it was fixed by Honda.
If your Honda trans is not subject to a recall or svc bulletin, he said there’s 3 easy steps to getting 300k on any good Honda AT:
1. Parking Brake! Often misunderstood, here’s how to use it: When you’re in Drive and going to shift into Park, do it like this. Come to a stop, with the brake pedal still depressed, set the Parking Brake. Then shift into Park, then release the brake pedal. This loads the cars weight on the brakes, instead of the trans. When you go to leave: Depress brake pedal, shift into Drive, then release the parking brake, then release the brake pedal. No more sickening clunk into Drive!
2. When shifting from Reverse to Drive, make sure the car is at a 100% dead stop before shifting to Drive.
3. Drain and fill your trans w/ Honda ATF alongside every oil change, every 90 days. Depending on the model, it takes multiple D&Fs to equal a full flush. If you’re putting pink in and not getting pink out, it’s not being changed enough to get 300k. This also means more contaminates leave with the fluid, instead of staying in the non-serviceable trans filter.
JB
February 23, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Some CRV’s have an external in line filter from the factory. Honda sells the part.
Ron
August 20, 2021 at 6:07 pm
This guy is right. This is the only person I’ve ever seen who gets it. I don’t understand why Eric says 30k interval when the manual says 20k. Given the failure rate clearly even 20k is way too long. Every 3k might slightly excessive, but given the ease of changing and the cost of 3qts trans fluid it’s still a no brainer. Disappointed Eric would recommend 30k.
Isaac Rios
December 20, 2020 at 8:52 pm
Good night, I bought a Honda Element 2003 AWD, the seller told me that the transmission was repaired. Well, I’m going to do the maintenance, I find that they put oil cooler but I removed the filter of oil from the transmission. If I put the filter back on, it affects the fluid or helps it perform.
FRANK GRIMES
September 11, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Eric silly question but wanna be sure, 2019 Ridgeline, has the ATF bolt for adding fluid but dipstick (big gromet) much easier to get to, I’m ok to fill @ dipstick right?