Ok...the instructions in the owners manaul are just nuts...drain, fill, drive, drain...repeat 3 times!
Is there not an easier way to get ALL the fluid out at one timebesides the crude method described in the owner's manual??

All that wasted new fluid...just GOTTA be a better way without fancy transmission shop tools.

 

Don't use fancy transmission tools, those flush systems are not good for your tranny. Personally I'd just make sure the car was level, drain as much as you can and then fill it up and call it good. Be sure to use Honda ATF.

 

but that will leave lots of old fluid in the system...

 

it wont leave that much. if you're really concerned, repeat the procedure twice. i would only do that if the fluid looked burned.

 

if the fluid looks pretty clean ( reddish ) color just do a drain and refill .. if fluid looks pretty black and or smells like burnt ,, repeat the drain and refill 3 times

drain it, refill, drive the car for a bit,
drain and refill, drive car again
drain and refill
you will need 9 qts of fluid , use only Honda ATF-Z1 , cost per qt $ 6.07..
after that make sure to replace tranny fluid at no longer than 30,000 miles interval,, if you have the extra money do it every 15,000 miles or once a year

 

With an automatic tranny, the torque converter doesn't drain. So you can only drain about 1/3 of the total fluid.

My '98 auto tranny specs say 2.6 quarts when you drain & fill (about what I'd say from experience)out of6.6 quarts total fluid.

 

So what I'm reading is...there is no way to drain it all at one time.

Bummer

 

Nope. Just drain and fill. I'd reccomend doing it a bit more often than honda says.