transmission bolt question
 

Hi all. New to the forum, but a fairly decent DIY'er. I just got a used 2002 Civic LX. I was going to change tranny fluid, got the Honda stuff. I have found the bolt that you stick the wratchet in, no problem there, but there is no way my wratchet will fit in, because the frame is in the way :hithead: I am wondering if someone before me had a few bolts out, and put them back in the wrong place! I have looked for videos and pics of exactly which bolt it "should" be, but I haven't found any clear enough. The car didn't have an owners manual, so if there is a pic there, that's no help. Does anyone have a pic, or can tell me "it should be the 2nd bolt from the back", etc? Or is there something so pathetically obvious that I'm missing here? Thank you all for your help. This is my first Honda, and I'm lovin' it so far!

Re: transmission bolt question
 

I certainly hope you are talking about an automatic, because the manual trans has the plug hanging out in front of God and everybody.

Only an idiot will put bolts back in the wrong places and leave them there.

This is a pic of an Accord, but yours is near the same place close to the frame rail on the right, toward the front of the car.
http://www.instructables.com/image/F...drain-plug.jpg



The trans drain plug is a bolt that your 3/8 ratchet square drive fits into, there is no 6 sided hex for a wrench.
Looks like this
http://civic.hondafitjazz.com/A00/PN...3001KBAD01.PNG

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/attac...-img_0158s.jpg

(sorry, no handy pics of the correct car in a quick GIS)

I have no problem getting a ratchet to fit between the plug and the frame rail. There isn't much more room than that though, you can pop it loose and remove the ratchet, then spin it out with your fingers. Fluid almost always splashes on the rail.


I use a 6" extension with a wobble end, and go over the frame rail from the wheelwell side.


Make sure you know where your trans dipstick is BEFORE you drain the trans, so you can refill it. Use the ATF DW-1 fluid from Honda in the automatic trans. About 2.5-2.75 quarts, and check the fluid after turning the engine off. You don't check the ATF in these with the engine running, it will read wrong.

HTH

Re: transmission bolt question
 

Thanks ezone. Once you mentioned that indeed there wasn't much room there, it gave me some confidence to get a little more aggressive. I just didn't want to dive in and screw something up. Anyway, problem solved, got some new tranny juice in there now. Oh, it is an automatic, I should've put that in the original.

Re: transmission bolt question
 

Call the dealership. I went down to the dealership & went to the parts department when I went to buy my Trany fluid I asked for the location of the drain plug/bolt & they gave me a print out of the Trany and the location of the plug. I then went over to the service department and asked for their advice and after some attempts to sell me and i explained i didnt have much money now to do the work they were helpful they were helpful and told me what to do.

Re: transmission bolt question
 

Thin profile ratchet is best.
This is where a quality tool is worth the extra money.

Re: transmission bolt question
 

Believe it or not, I use a serpentine belt tool with the 3/8" drive adapter. Plenty of leverage and thinner than any ratchet or breaker bar.
http://content.mamotorworks.com/img300/fr845.jpg

Re: transmission bolt question
 

That works.
I dont have one though, doubt most people on here do.

I have done a few serpentines before, they are a pain in the ass with just a wrench, but I usually do the double wrench trick.