Hello all,

I need to change the transmission fluid on a 2004 Honda Accord LX. The car is a 4 cylinder automatic with 49K miles on it. The fluid is dirty, so I figured I should change it. I did some research online, How to Change the Transmission Fluid in a 2004 Honda Accord | eHow.com, and have looked at a few other places as well. Are these instructions correct? I have also heard something about a transmission flush before you put the new fluid in. How does that work? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

I'm not sure about this procedure. It looks like a generic procedure overlaid w/ your question header. I very much doubt you remove the trans pan after draining. I need to check my 2003-2007 Shop Manual at home tonight.

You also need to install recommended amount of ATF, not pour until dipstick shows full. It can be tricky to get correct fill even w/ spec amount known. You don't want to under fill or over fill. I usually pour last pint very slowly allowing time for full drain-down before checking dipstick again.

Your mileage is low for an AFT change. I believe the Honda Recommendation is much higher, but it won't hurt to change earlier. Be sure to use Honda ATF.

I would not consider a transmission flush (just drain and refill) unless you've overheated the transmission or been doing towing w/ this car.

good luck

 

There is no pan, on a Honda automatic transmission. You just drain and fill. Should take about 3 quarts. You have to fill the 4 cylinder transmission through the dipstick tube.

 

Is it ok to use Advance Auto Parts DEX III/M Automatic Transmission Fluid, Advance Auto Parts: ATF Multi-Vehicle by Advance Auto Parts - Part A101, when putting in new fluid? Or is there another fluid I should use? I don't have a Honda dealership around, so I can't get the Honda branded transmission fluid.

 

The consensus, by a large margin, is to use Honda ATF. Plenty available on ebay. Search "honda atf"

good luck

 

I've seen Honda ATF at a local Carquest store if you don't have a local dealer or can't wait for shipping.

 

+1 using honda brand atf. the way i change mine is every 30k miles i drain all the atf that will drain which is about 1/3 of the actual atf in the system, and fill with new. my 04 accord has 130k on it now with no tranny problems. measure the exact amount that you drain out so you can match it to how much you put in. don't flush it.

 

When I did my 93 I used Valvoline Import High-Mileage ATF (it says on the back what brands it compatable with). Did it when I got my car 3 yrs ago and it ran 100% better.

 

I just replaced the ATF on my 2004 Honda Accord LX.

I bought 4 quarts of Honda ATF from my local Honda dealer for $32.92. The guy also recommended a replacement crush washer (part no. 90471-PX4-000), which I also bought for an additional $4.46.

My vehicle spit out 2.75 quarts of the ATF, and that's exactly how much of the new stuff I put back in.

The Haynes Manual suggested adding the first 1/3 of the new ATF with the car off. Then, with the car on, it suggested adding the remaining 2/3 one pint (1/2 qt.) at a time, while shifting through all the gears with your foot on the brake (starting with park, moving downward, and ending back on park) and checking the dipstick at each pint interval. I did this.