I have a 2019 Odyssey 9 Speed AT, and am looking at doing the ATF R&R.
The procedure details using a scan tool and check the fluid level while the transmission is at a certain temperature. I have a couple of basic code scanners, but I don’t believe anything that will tell me ATF temperature. It also mentions going through the first gear, second gear… up to fourth but not beyond that.
Is a sufficient alternative, just shifting through park, drive, neutral, reverse, then back into drive getting on the highway, driving for a few minutes, and just checking the fluid level after it’s been driven for a bit?
Also, the procedure mentions adding fluid from the level check plug. I see people on YouTube removing a plug from the top of the transmission, looking down into the engine bay, which would make it much it much easier. Is there any reason NOT to deviate from the procedure add fill it from the plug on top instead? The proper level is 6 mm above the fluid check level plug. Not sure how you would add 6 mm above the check level plug, if that is the same location your adding fluid from. It seems like this could only be done from the top plug.
This guy didn’t follow the procedure, and is what I was thinking of doing. Filling it from the top with a funnel, instead of via the side fluid level plug. I don’t see any reason to NOT fill it from the top like how this guy did it in the video. It makes more sense to me to fill it from the top because proper level 6 mm above the fluid level check plug.
Would just driving it around for a bit warm it up sufficiently to check the level?
Driving the vehicle will get the tranny fluid temperature well above 100-113 degrees.
The scan tool is used to make sure the tranny fluid ONLY reaches 100-113 degrees.
So you have choice. Either buy a scanner that is capable of monitoring the tranny fluid temp, or bring the vehicle to a shop to have the tranny fluid serviced.
I used this approach a while back. I checked the level when it was stone cold. I also measured what I got out of it when draining. Then, under the same conditions, I filled it back to the same amount/level. After that, I drove it around long enough to get everything warmed up and checked the level to see it was within the range. Good enough for me.
The method I used for my 2005 Accord V6 was to heat the ATF by driving the drain and refill. I would repeat this three times to ensure that most of the old ATF was removed. This was the method that Honda recommended at the time. When I traded the car at 186,000 miles, the dealer said that they had never seen a drive train perform as well as mine during a test drive. I replaced ATF about every 40,000 miles.
Does the service data say to check it at a certain temperature, because in theory (at least) driving around the vehicle for a bit will make it hotter than what is specified in the temperature. When the ATF is hotter the volume will increase (in theory?), and this can provide a false positive of the fluid level being higher than what it actually is?
Basically, ATF level is a function of temperature, so it must be checked at a certain temperature? At least that is theory behind the instructions?
Modern vehicles have one “full” level @ a specific temperature range, a cold full level.
“Cold” in this case is not a winter outdoor temperature, rather it is slightly above shop temperature.
Fill the transmission, if the shop temperature is 85 degrees you have about 3 minutes to start the engine, shift to drive, neutral, reverse and park, then verify the fill level.
Unfortunately, that is completely incorrect for the ZF-9 transmission, as well as many other late-model transmissions that no longer have a traditional dipstick (dipstickless)…
As Tester, dp4690, and Nevada have already pointed out, the ATF level must be checked within a specific, controlled temperature range. If the fluid is too cold, the transmission can end up overfilled. If it is too hot, such as at normal operating temperature, the transmission can end up underfilled…
For this transmission, the ATF temperature must be between 100°F and 113°F (37°C–45°C) when checking the fluid level… Above that range, thermal expansion affects the level, potentially resulting in an underfill if the level is set according to the prescribed procedure…
The point is that you don’t simply drive the vehicle for 20 minutes to get the fluid up to operating temperature… You need to monitor the actual transmission fluid temperature and follow the manufacturer’s specified procedure to ensure the fluid level is set correctly…
Also only use the correct ATF specified for Your transmission, do NOT use a universal fluid… I would only use ATF from a dealer…
I have other work done at the ssme time so hard to itemize. I did trans, transfer case and differential for 365. Plugs for 340, new fob for 252 and wiper blades for 24. Time before was trans 120, transfer case 89, diff125, brake flush 109, and belt 165. I do the trans and diff and case every 30k. You can charge whatever you want
