Fluid change necessary?

Have you spent the $10 to check for yourself with Techinfo?

https://techinfo.honda.com[/QUOTE]

Nope. I asked my dealership. First I asked the service writer, then I
asked the service manager.

 

Have you spent the $10 to check for yourself with Techinfo?

https://techinfo.honda.com[/QUOTE]

OK, now this is hilarious. From the Feb. 2006 Service News publication:

Flush Systems: A Big Taboo
In Honda vehicles, the transmission, as well as the systems that handle
lubrication, cooling, fuel, and power steering, are designed to give
thousands of miles of trouble-free service if you follow the maintenance
schedule to the letter.


You can bet your ass that if I don't get resolution from the dealership,
my letter to American Honda will include that very passage from their
own Service News publication along with a request that they check the
dealership records--at which point they will find that I followed
American Honda's maintenance schedule to the letter.

The problem is, I should have cut down to a third the trans fluid change
interval. I would have, if Honda actually recommended it to me.

Anyway, no TSBs, just a lot of Service News articles. Or am I missing
something here? I looked at all service info items with keyword
"transmission"; I got 69 hits, 18 of which were relevant--and all of
which were either Service News pubs or else the supporting worksheets
that the tech has to fill out for core return.

Anyway, as always, you're right. Ten bucks well spent. I have more
info than I would have otherwise, even if it is merely details of the
broad issues I'm already aware of. I will talk to the dealership and to
American Honda in their own language now.

 

wouldn't have made much difference - there is a fundamental problem with
those transmissions.

that's way too charitable - they screwed up royally. there's no excuse
for not testing properly. it's real simple - you put the thing in a
test vehicle, then give it to some college kids to kick the stinky stuff
out of. 100,000 miles is less than 9 months - a very small portion of
development lead time. vegas, san fran, denver, l.a. pretty standard
test circuit. or, as is accommodated by one of our local cab companies,
give the thing to a taxi fleet to drive.

either that, or the bean counters made a much more sinister decision and
tried to pursue life limitation, the technology domestics created, and
the europeans perfected. but if that was the goal, they screwed that up
too.

 

:

I think you're missing something. TSBs ought to be "right there", and easy
to find.

Honda's Techinfo site is a bit clunky compared to Toyota's, but everything
is there. You can phone Technical Support (no additional charge) at the
number given on the Techinfo site. The techs there will be very glad to
help you find what you need.

You would be very wise to do some real checking of your own. Honda's
weakest link is their dealerships, which seem to be usually populated by
workers with a less-than-impressive degree of diligence and doggedness.

Try again.

 

Oh, I got them. They're not particularly "right there" or easy to find,
but they're not difficult.

 

I do my brakes every 2 years. Don't know what Honda recommends, just
left over habit from the 70's. This isn't engine oil, so don't think
extended intervals are a good idea.

 

You should change the fluid for your saftey. If you have the skills yo
can purchase a brake fluid do it yourself kit at the local parts stor
for cheap

 

And it's much easier to do solo these days than it was in the 70's! <g>
You can buy a vacuum device for bleeding brakes in the $40-50 range
(don't know your budget, but remember this a multi-use tool, not a
consumable like brake fluid). Simply you:

1. set up a caliper,
2. pump to build up vacuum in the bleeder,
3. crack the bleed screw and let the vacuum draw fresh brake fluid thru
that circuit,
4. repeat if the brake fluid isn't clean (new), or if you feel like it,
5. move to the next caliper

I got a Mity-Vac bleeder. IIRC, the correct bleed sequence on my 2003
Accord was LF/RF/RR/LR, but it's easy to look up. Be sure to suck out
(with a tool) the old brake fluid in the master cylinder before you
start and fill with fresh brake fluid, check between each caliper to
ensure you keep the master cylinder level up (otherwise you can draw in
air and start over).

I recommend doing a dry run first to determine the correct fittings,
hoses, etc., from the bleeder kit, that'll save you a lot of time. Write
down what you do so you'll know in 2 years for the next time!

NOTE: Spilled brake fluid destroys paint - catch the old stuff & toss it
where kids aren't likely to find it. It's highly toxic to humans!

 

I do my brakes every 2 years. Don't know what Honda recommends, just
left over habit from the 70's. This isn't engine oil, so don't think
extended intervals are a good idea.[/QUOTE]

Honda specifies 3 years. Has for a long time now.