Transmission Oil Dipstick missing!

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-03-29 13:43:53 +0500 #1

Assalam-0-ALaikum all,

Around 7 months back, i went to Honda Pit stop to get the transmission oil changed of my 2005 Honda Civic VTi Prosmatec Transmission. The car had 89,000 kms on the odometer at that time.

Now, yesterday, i went to get the bushes of suspension changed. When the mechanic was taking a look at the car, he told me that the transmission dipstick is missing. I looked at it, and saw that the dipstick wasn't there.

Now, the car has 93,000 kms on the odometer at the moment, so it has probably been driven for around 4,000 kms without the transmission dipstick and hence, an open hole in the transmission box. May be dirt would have penetrated.

I am looking forward for suggestions from the experienced members.

What i have in mind are 2 options:

to just loosen the drain nut of the transmission, get the oil out (around 50% oil will remain stuck in the transmission) and top up with new oil.
drain the oil by that nut, then do a complete drain by disconnecting the pipes which transmit oil to the radiator and keep adding oil from above to avoid damage.

Waiting for the experts.

AmeerUsman (AmeerUsman) 2012-03-29 15:04:41 +0500 #2

raging_ravin;3295917:

Assalam-0-ALaikum all,

Around 7 months back, i went to Honda Pit stop to get the transmission oil changed of my 2005 Honda Civic VTi Prosmatec Transmission. The car had 89,000 kms on the odometer at that time.

Now, yesterday, i went to get the bushes of suspension changed. When the mechanic was taking a look at the car, he told me that the transmission dipstick is missing. I looked at it, and saw that the dipstick wasn't there.

Now, the car has 93,000 kms on the odometer at the moment, so it has probably been driven for around 4,000 kms without the transmission dipstick and hence, an open hole in the transmission box. May be dirt would have penetrated.

I am looking forward for suggestions from the experienced members.

What i have in mind are 2 options:

1. to just loosen the drain nut of the transmission, get the oil out (around 50% oil will remain stuck in the transmission) and top up with new oil.

2. drain the oil by that nut, then do a complete drain by disconnecting the pipes which transmit oil to the radiator and keep adding oil from above to avoid damage.

Waiting for the experts.

I think you should go for a complete drain at first. Then after filling the trasmission with new oil, have a check after driving the car for a few hundreds of km. This is my opinion. Wait for experts to come in.(H)

omkhan (omkhan) 2012-03-30 10:58:35 +0500 #3

I am not sure u should opt for a complete drain out. Honda does not even recommend to change the ATF oil completely after 80k + KMs. It can ruin the transmission.

talhawaleed (talhawaleed) 2012-03-30 11:43:50 +0500 #4

Oil changes are always good.

correct your knowledge on this subject.

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2012-03-30 20:36:29 +0500 #5

buy a new dipstick and flush the transmission too, it will have ingested quite some dirt as the dipstick sits way low in the transmission case and its hole is exposed to all sorts of elements when the car moves with dipstick missing.

Be prepared to completely tear down the transmission soon (a year perhaps) as your car's transmission has a filter that can only be cleaned by fully dismantling the transmission.

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-03-31 10:40:59 +0500 #6

Yes obviously i'll buy a new dipstick, waiting for the riots in karachi to end.

Now, by flush, do you mean forced flush? as i have heard that it is kind of dangerous ? or are you suggesting a drain, then top up and drain and so on ...

my uncle told me (when i bought this car) to change the transmission oil and said that get it changed from a proper authorized person not some 'ustaad' as you'd want to change the transmission oil filter and the filter can only be changed properly by a professional. So i went to Honda Pit Stop (2S). he didn't changed the filter though, just changed the oil.

By 'tear down', i think you mean that i should get the transmission filter changed ? If yes, why wait a year ? i guess when i have to change the oil, i'll also get the transmission box dismantled, and the filter cleaned and/or changed. What is you suggestion on this ?

P.S. the car is running perfectly fine. no problems whatsoever in shifts or anything.

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2012-03-31 21:54:30 +0500 #7

the problem is that you cannot just change the filter on a honda automatic, the bone headed designers at Honda did not provide a pan or even an opening just to replace the filter screen. If this screen does get blocked with dirt/sludge etc. the entire transmission needs to taken to bits - I mean complete tear down to little parts just to get to the filter. While every other car in the world has a replaceable filter that can be reached from the sump.

Flushing the trans is easy, drain and fill with the quantity removed, remove the cooler pipe that moves fluid to the radiator and put in a pan, start engine and add oil till the the oil coming from the cooler looks newish, usually the whole transmission holds about 7.5 litres so about 8 litres is enough.

The reason I said to keep wary for trans filter replacement in a year was because that dirt may slowly clog the filter, if its working correct, keep on driving and change its fluid every 50,000 kms.

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-04-01 10:29:47 +0500 #8

Xulfiqar;3298823:

the problem is that you cannot just change the filter on a honda automatic, the bone headed designers at Honda did not provide a pan or even an opening just to replace the filter screen. If this screen does get blocked with dirt/sludge etc. the entire transmission needs to taken to bits - I mean complete tear down to little parts just to get to the filter. While every other car in the world has a replaceable filter that can be reached from the sump.

Flushing the trans is easy, drain and fill with the quantity removed, remove the cooler pipe that moves fluid to the radiator and put in a pan, start engine and add oil till the the oil coming from the cooler looks newish, usually the whole transmission holds about 7.5 litres so about 8 litres is enough.

The reason I said to keep wary for trans filter replacement in a year was because that dirt may slowly clog the filter, if its working correct, keep on driving and change its fluid every 50,000 kms.

Yes i guess i have read your reply at some other thread regarding the idiotic design of the transmission by the engineers at honda, and that for this the transmission needs to be taken down. by the way, just for the sake of information, when you say 'taking to bits', you mean detaching the gear box from the assembly or there is more to it like detaching it and then literally opening up the transmission as well ?

Flushing: the day i came to know of this problem, i was reading on some other forum (google guided me) the same procedure that you described (draining and refilling and checking via the pipe that supplies the fluid to the radiator for cooling).

Now there are some queries:

The procedure that i read in that forum (and also watched a video) was to remove both pipes, determine the supplying one (whichever squirts), then blow compressed air in to the other end of it so that the remaining oil routes back to the transmission oil reservoir. I don't have compressed air, can i use the outgoing pipe of the radiator (the one which connects to the 'in' of the transmission)? or what do you suggest regarding this?
The most asked question (and i expect a very unorthodox answer from you on this one as I've read your comments regarding oil on many threads and i expect a recommendation of some magic potion for my transmission as well ) Which oil should i use for the transmission? Although cost is not an issue, i just dont feel good about the honda oil, i dont know why, but i do. Also, at the moment i dont know where it is available as the 2S dealer used ZIC oil as far as i remember.

Jazak ALLAH for your help zulfiqar bhai, you are very helpful (not to mention i feel at peace too)

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2012-04-01 18:46:15 +0500 #9

raging_ravin;3299277:

Yes i guess i have read your reply at some other thread regarding the idiotic design of the transmission by the engineers at honda, and that for this the transmission needs to be taken down. by the way, just for the sake of information, when you say 'taking to bits', you mean detaching the gear box from the assembly or there is more to it like detaching it and then literally opening up the transmission as well ?

Flushing: the day i came to know of this problem, i was reading on some other forum (google guided me) the same procedure that you described (draining and refilling and checking via the pipe that supplies the fluid to the radiator for cooling).

Now there are some queries:

1. The procedure that i read in that forum (and also watched a video) was to remove both pipes, determine the supplying one (whichever squirts), then blow compressed air in to the other end of it so that the remaining oil routes back to the transmission oil reservoir. I don't have compressed air, can i use the outgoing pipe of the radiator (the one which connects to the 'in' of the transmission)? or what do you suggest regarding this?

2. The most asked question (and i expect a very unorthodox answer from you on this one as I've read your comments regarding oil on many threads and i expect a recommendation of some magic potion for my transmission as well ) Which oil should i use for the transmission? Although cost is not an issue, i just dont feel good about the honda oil, i dont know why, but i do. Also, at the moment i dont know where it is available as the 2S dealer used ZIC oil as far as i remember.

Jazak ALLAH for your help zulfiqar bhai, you are very helpful (not to mention i feel at peace too)

the "taking to bits" means remove it from the car then tear it down into little pieces too. (now you know the bonehead part)

any good DX3 will work - but I think you can buy the Honda ATF at the same price too as any branded ATF. I would also unbolt the shift solenoids and clean out the screens too.

to flush from the cooler lines you cannot push new fluid back from the return pipe as you need some head pressure to force it back into the transmission. So the best is to leave the return on the radiator put the supply in the drain pan and fill from the filler hole on the transmission. In the end ensure the transmission is not overfilled even slightly - otherwise foaming may result.

omkhan (omkhan) 2012-04-02 10:07:29 +0500 #10

@talhawaleed.
I am only talking about the ATF of PROSMATEC and that too after doing 80K + KM with the same oil. I may be wrong but this was strongly suggested to me by a Honda 2s guy. I believe I also read the same here as well in some other thread.

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-04-02 19:01:54 +0500 #11

Jazak ALLAH zulfiqar bhai, just getting advice from you results in a drastic increase in my information. Actually im talking about the shift solenoids, i didn't even knew they existed

Well, after reading your post yesterday, i did some searching for the shift solenoids, and probably my car has 2 shift solenoids. Now would you recommend i do it myself?

Also, kindly elaborate 'screens' a bit, and how to reach for them?

I went today to get the ball joints and tie rods checked as after the bush-change some sound was coming from the left side on bumps. There i asked the mechanic about getting a dipstick (as it is not available in markets near my home) he told me that shershah is closed due to the operation going on in lyari. I'll probably visit Plaza tomorrow to look for it and also buy the oil, or some other place if you recommend.

Regarding oil, i was reading on wikipedia that:

ATF+4 - Most Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler
Mercon V - Most Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
Mercon LV - Some Ford(DuratecHE),MAZDA in Europe or Asia
Dexron VI - Most GM and Toyota products, some Ford applications
ATF DW-1 - All Honda and Acura (except CVT)
SP-III - All Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Kia (except CVT and dual clutch)
Matic S, Matic K, Matic D - Nissan transmissions

kindly elaborate this as well (although i know honda recommends Honda ATF and DX3)

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2012-04-02 20:36:17 +0500 #12

instead of getting a used dipstick which may even have a different length just buy a new one - my home Honda accord dipstick handle broke off and I bought a new one for Rs 1800/- a long time ago, it fit very tightly into the tube and also had the pretty orange foam on it to ease finding it.

Anyway, the solenoids are on the side of the transmission you can reach them from the wheel well by unbolting the plastic shields, you will see two wiring clips bolted to an assembly - take that whole assembly out - you will see two mesh screens that are the solenoid filters. Clean and install back.

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-04-03 18:52:36 +0500 #13

Went to the plaza area (tibet center) today, was guided by some to a shop called Stadium Motors, which they said was the premium honda parts shop over there, couldn't find the dipstick over there. tried some other shops as well, to no avail. The guys at stadium motors referred to some nasir motors located on the opposite road, but couldn't go there as had received a phone call from home informing (infact dad yelling) that come home right now, the security situation near saddar is deteriorating, asked a police man, he said yes halaat kharab horahe hain kuch jaga. I rushed to rimpa plaza to buy some detailing goodies and got back home.

Any specific place to get it ? i've asked a friend, he'd visit shershah around this week and told me that he would fetch one. And yes, love the orange holder thing

Solenoids: Oh yes i think i remember, some 2 plug/clip like things attached to the transmission if we see past the right front wheels. would check properly tomorrow.

Regarding the fluid, i asked the price of honda atf, around 850 or 950 per liter/bottle. the guys at that shop said: 'apki gari me 2 liter ayega'... i was like, alright alright

you said i have to buy around 8 liters, it sums up to around 7200-/ PKR, expensive, isn't it ?

the ZIC one is available for around 350 i guess.

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-04-04 15:34:49 +0500 #14

Update: i went to plaza today, again. searched the shops on the opposite road of tibet center, in line with rimpa plaza. there i went to the earlier recommended nasir motors, the dipstick was available there, price was 1850/- PKR. I went ahead and found an authorized honda distributor located on the street besides rimpa plaza. they didn't had it in their stock, but told me that they will get supplies and i could get it around 12th april, the price they quoted was 1000/- PKR.

Regarding oil, they also told me that the transmission holds around 3-3.5 liters. Now i also saw online that the oil capacity of the honda automatic transmission is around 2.7 liters. kindly shed some light on this as well as you said to buy around 8 liters.

i am thinking of doing the draining with ZIC oil and the final topping with the honda atf.

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2012-04-04 20:48:45 +0500 #15

raging_ravin;3304311:

Update: i went to plaza today, again. searched the shops on the opposite road of tibet center, in line with rimpa plaza. there i went to the earlier recommended nasir motors, the dipstick was available there, price was 1850/- PKR. I went ahead and found an authorized honda distributor located on the street besides rimpa plaza. they didn't had it in their stock, but told me that they will get supplies and i could get it around 12th april, the price they quoted was 1000/- PKR.

Regarding oil, they also told me that the transmission holds around 3-3.5 liters. Now i also saw online that the oil capacity of the honda automatic transmission is around 2.7 liters. kindly shed some light on this as well as you said to buy around 8 liters.

i am thinking of doing the draining with ZIC oil and the final topping with the honda atf.

the 3 litre capacity is drain and fill only, the transmission in entirety holds about 7 or 8 litres, when you drain the trans more than half the fluid is still in the torque convertor and accumulators.

aantherax (aantherax) 2012-04-04 20:57:15 +0500 #16

raging_ravin;3295917:

Assalam-0-ALaikum all,

Around 7 months back, i went to Honda Pit stop to get the transmission oil changed of my 2005 Honda Civic VTi Prosmatec Transmission. The car had 89,000 kms on the odometer at that time.

Now, yesterday, i went to get the bushes of suspension changed. When the mechanic was taking a look at the car, he told me that the transmission dipstick is missing. I looked at it, and saw that the dipstick wasn't there.

Now, the car has 93,000 kms on the odometer at the moment, so it has probably been driven for around 4,000 kms without the transmission dipstick and hence, an open hole in the transmission box. May be dirt would have penetrated.

I am looking forward for suggestions from the experienced members.

What i have in mind are 2 options:

1. to just loosen the drain nut of the transmission, get the oil out (around 50% oil will remain stuck in the transmission) and top up with new oil.

2. drain the oil by that nut, then do a complete drain by disconnecting the pipes which transmit oil to the radiator and keep adding oil from above to avoid damage.

Waiting for the experts.

option 2

omkhan (omkhan) 2012-04-09 11:37:54 +0500 #17

@raging_ravin
any update on the transmission filter etc?

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-04-09 14:57:08 +0500 #18

waiting to get the dipstick. will update

levin (levin) 2012-04-09 15:18:29 +0500 #19

buy a dipstick, chk oil condition,

it should ok though, waiting on this,, oil ok or not

raging_ravin (raging_ravin) 2012-04-09 15:34:07 +0500 #20

i checked the level by inserting a similar civic's transmission oil dipstick, the level was fine. but as advised by xulfiqar bhai, i'd flush the oil as well, due to the obvious entrance of dust and other contaminants.

actually i would've bought a dipstick by now, but due to some people i have to wait as they have told my father that they'd bring the dipstick, so im stuck, cant do anything. probably will visit shershah if my mind goes out ...