Other than Chris Fix, this is an outstanding and easy to follow video. Has a professional tone that encourages the DIY homebase mechanic to get it done right. My repair was a piece of cake! Thank you!
Video was simple straight to the point and extremely helpful!! We need more ppl like you who get straight to it and not make 20 min videos for something that could be said in 5 mins. Thanks man! 💪💯
Thanks for the feedback! I value my time and I also value other people's time so I try to give ppl just the information that they need to complete the job. A couple of years back RU-vid started qualifying videos at least 10 mins long for double the ads, which increases potential to make money. Unfortunately I saw a lot of youtubers stretching their videos past 10 mins unnecessarily. But it waters down their content. There's also a lot of youtubers that get paid to promote products, so you gotta watch out for that too.
Thanks for the feedback! Buying the OEM Service Manual was worth every penny. I have learned a lot from it and I like to include it when I can in my videos to provide as much information as possible.
This is probably one of the best tutorial automotive videos i have seen. Very clear instructions . Very clear footage and pictures. Good job my friend! You got yourself a new subscriber
First time watching this and I have to say you've done an amazing DIY vid! Much appreciate of providing the step-by-step approach ! You have help me to gain my confidence in maintaining my car and gained a subscriber 🙂👍
Wow, I don't think I did the filter since I got the car. I'm going to do the ATF along with the filter now this weekend! Honestly one of the easiest videos to watch and follow along I've seen.
The service manual doesn't state you have to replace the filter when you change the ATF. I'm guessing it's one of those items that can last the life of the vehicle. Expected lifespan of a vehicle is about 10 years. So it's probably safe not to replace it in the first 10 years of the car especially because the transmission is a closed loop system. But it's still a filter, it's accessible, and it's cheap to buy, so why not replace it to help extend the life of the transmission.
I make a few of these HowTo videos as well so I know how hard they can be. This is one of the best ones I've seen. It's really hard to get a good video of taking off those clamps on the filter! Great job, very well done.
Thanks! Good to know someone else knows how hard it is making these videos. It's time consuming and it slows down getting things done, but I like the challenge, haha.
Thanks! Glad I could help! The filter is not specifically listed in the AT maintenance schedule section of the OEM manual, but its such a low cost item that its worth doing it.
Great to hear they're helpful! When I had my Honda Civic before this TSX I was afraid to make mistakes so I never learned to do anything to it other than wash and wax it. As my TSX got older, I wasn't afraid to mess things up anymore, haha.
Hey Miguel, love your channel. I did the same service on my 04 TSX last Sunday. My job was a bit of a pain because the clamp ends for the transmission filter were pointed towards the left side of the car and not straight up. It all worked out though and thanx for the inspiration. Hope all is well and peace from Canada!
Thanks for the feedback brother! Those clamps are super annoying to deal with. It wasn't until I was done that I realized I could have replaced them with gear clamps, haha, next time. EricTheCarGuy also likes to replace the stock Honda clamps with gear clamps. All is well bro, my biggest frustration is not being able to create as many videos because taking care of my kiddos and keeping the bills paid is challenging during a historic pandemic.
Best video on maintenance on YT. One small detail you forgot is this. With Honda transmissions the fluid level needs to be checked with the engine running at idle. I made this mistake and let the fluid get too low and the transmission started slipping and jerking. When I consulted a Honda mechanic he told me the transmission fluid needs to be checked with the engine warmed up and running at idle. Unfortunately for me the first incident of slipping and jerking was at highway speeds 30 miles from home and I had no choice but to drive in limp mode to an area I could pull safely off the road and did more damage to the tranny. Ugg.
Interesting. The instructions I used for this video are directly from the OEM service manual for this specific car and it says to have your engine off when checking transmission fluid level. EricTheCarGuy was a master service tech at a Honda/Acura dealer and he also says to have the engine off when checking Honda transmissions.
When I checked it the way the Honda technician instructed me how to check it I found the transmission was 1 pint low. After adding the transmission acted normal but the damage was done because the Speedo stopped working and the transmission once heated up began to act up. I may change out the filter and solenoid to see if anything improves. All these problems began shortly after a professional transmission power flush was performed by a seasoned auto mechanic.
For anyone that seems to fall into my issue i had with my 04 TSX SYMPTOMS (AUTO) 1) Almost feels like a axle vibration during acceleration 2)Insane vibration what feels like a shudder during upshifting in 3 to 4 gear at super light acceleration 25-40 mph 3) cars feel a lot more hotter due to the car not safely dropping rpms thus creating more heat being in high gear THINGS I TRIED TO FIX THIS 1)LOWER CONTROLS 2)TIE RODS 3) LEFT AXLE ,INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RIGHT SIDE AXLE 4) ALL 6 MOTOR MOUNTS 5)Sway bar links 6) CALIPERS ROTORS AND PADS WITH BRAKE LINES LEGIT replaced the whole front end left this last of course smh But did this flush and NEVER felt it again beautifully engineered car and back to feeling like brand new hopefully this helps a fellow tsx owner👍🏻
That's a heck of a lot work you did there! Goods news is your front end suspension won't need maintenance for a long time. I've done that too, replacing several parts and ended up being something I didn't account for. How often do you change your transmission fluid?
@@ChavezDIY This would be the first time i changed it since i owned it not sure about the maintenance before hand although the fluid came out as expected Super dirty There wasnt alot of debree on the magnet ! Seems like just a maintenance issue on the tranny Shifts like absolute butter now! Thanks for the video!
@@kevinmaldonado3959how many miles did your tsx at that time? I have an 06 I got with 67k I’m at 224k and get a rough shift here and there and maybe some more vibration than I did when it was young. But I have done my trans fluid swap every 45k and never did the filter
Just finished, pro tip, remove the hose in the back first, take the bracket off and then remove the other hose now that you have way more slack and will not need to remove the air box.
No problem! The filter is not listed as part of routine maintenance in the manual, but its there on the car and if you want your transmission to last long why not change it.
You have the soul of a great teacher! Thanks. Question: can't locate the tran filter on my 2012 Acura TSX Tech Package 4-cylinder 2.4L. Do you know where I can get a diagram?
Thanks for the feedback! =) Yours should be in the same location as the first generation TSX. Check page 1055 of this PDF document. drive.google.com/file/d/19Uz97J0DdUuleKp4kOVCdAeC-tEgfl8e/view?usp=drive_link
This video is purely gold! thank you so much for this! Just wondering if you are planning to change the fuel filter and a video about it would help everyone else to service their car. THanks
You're welcome! Luckily the fuel filter on the TSX is not part of regular maintenance. The filter is located inside the fuel pump, which is located in the gas tank. You change it with the fuel pump when the fuel pump dies. Best thing you can do to maintain the fuel system is pump 91 octane and remove and clean/flush the fuel injectors every 100k mi. I used to use fuel system cleaner in my gas tank but its not really necessary on these cars, kinda a waste of money if you already pump 91 octane at a TOP TIER brand gas station.
Hey, great descirption to your video. Super simple and friendly to follow. It's gotta be the voice lol. Anyway, I have hard shifting from 1st to 2nd gear in my AT. Would you recommend doing this prior to trying a Solenoid replace?
The voice?! Haha! The cheapest and first intervention you can do is change the Transmission fluid. You mentioned replacing a transmission solenoid...you should replace a solenoid if you have a diagnostic trouble code using an OBD2 scanner tool. If you don't have a DTC code for a solenoid, you might end up just throwing money at it.
Great stuff once again Miguel! Those clamps are a real pain indeed but that L shaped needle nose FTW! Helpful with rubber hoses would be a shot of silicone spray 😉. Cheers!
Thanks for the feedback brother! Yes, those OE clamps really test your patience. After I was done I realized I could have swapped them for the gear clamps, haha. You're right, a shot of silicone spray would have helped with the hoses. The car feels better after servicing the transmission...faster, quieter, and smoother throughout the rpm range.
Enjoyed the video, great editing. Straight to the point. But shouldn’t we check fluid level after driving through all the gears? Instead of turning it on till it hits operating temperature?
Thanks! The first generation and second generation TSX OEM manuals do not state that you have to drive through all the gears when checking fluid level. It states to park on level ground, then warm up engine to normal operating temperature (the radiator fan comes on). Why do you think it would be necessary to shift through all the gears? The gears are all housed together in the same casing. Are you thinking that shifting gears changes the fluid level?
Thanks! The fuel filter is located in the gas tank with the fuel pump at the top of the tank, luckily it's not part of regular maintenance, you replace it when it fails. I've never replaced the fuel pump/fuel filter yet. I started taking notes to do the spark plug replacement vid because I'm going to look at the condition of my plugs.
@@SoulEraser000 As far as videos, I plan to cover videos on cleaning spark plugs, bleeding air from radiator, and rebuilding the power steering pump. But the next problems I need to work on in my car is replacing the rear shocks, vinyl wrapping the roof, polishing the hood, replacing a blend door motor in the AC vent system, and finding the source of a popping noise when I have the wheels turned all the way in one direction and move fast or stop suddenly.
@@ChavezDIY The service guy who usually does my maintenance, said that this 2007 Acura TSX didn’t have a filter. But I looked into the engine bay, by the transmission as you pointed out in your video and I saw that filter. I’m inclined to change that too. I wonder why Acura doesn’t include that in their maintenance. Have any ideas?
I always remember what Scotty Kilmer says, "oil is cheap, engines are expensive". I'm thinking they didn't include it as part of regular maintenance because of marketing and because its not a traditional transmission filter. That in-line filter for the transmission will last you the "life of the engine" , so combined with the fact its not a traditional filter, most people translate that into "it doesn't have a filter". What do automakers mean when they say "life of the car/engine"? ...average lifespan of a car is about 10yrs. So technically, you don't have to replace that in-line filter if you only expect the car to live about 10yrs. But if you plan to have the car beyond that, then you do your due diligence to care for the car like its going to live a long time. Those in-line filters are cheap, but transmissions are expensive. This also reminds me of TheCarCareNut on youtube, he's a master service tech for Toyota and while Toyota says the transmission fluid will "last the life of the engine" (aka 10 yrs) on newer cars, he still recommends to change it every 60k mi or so. It really doesn't benefit the auto manufacturers to show you how to keep the car running for 20+yrs, they need you to continue buying more cars, haha.
Could you do a video on how to easiely do a coolant flush for this tsx ? Thank you again for such a informative video !!! The details and attention to detail help a ton
Thanks! I have plans to make a video on how to bleed air from the cooling system. I blew up two radiators because I failed to bleed the cooling system when I replaced my radiator. I should be able to work on that in about a month or so. I just drain and refill the cooling system as part of regular maintenance. Make sure to never put tap water in the cooling system. If you decide to run water through the cooling system, make sure to only use distilled water.
Sorry for the dumb question :/ can you elaborate the 2 drain and refills process? I just want to make sure I buy the right amount of fluid in total. Please and thank you!
There are no dumb questions, someone else might have the same question. Each time you drain the fluid you remove about 2.7 quarts. Draining and refilling twice will remove a little more than 5 quarts so you will need 6 quarts to be safe. I buy the 6 pack of ATF on amazon amzn.to/3jNhG1t
Best DIY video ever man. I just bought a 2008 Acura TSX and I assume is the same procedure. There is no records of transmission service so I want to do this twice. I suppose you change the filter the second time. Any other fluids I should change besides oil, transmission and coolant?
Also, I have no idea if this car transmission was ever serviced. Some people say that if you don’t know is better to leave the original fluid. Any thoughts?
Thanks for the feedback! Congrats on the car! Yes, it should be the same. The filter can be changed in either the first or second time. I aim for the first drain+refill just to get it over with. Other fluids?...power steering fluid, brake fluid.
I have heard people mention to leave a transmission alone on old cars because you might disrupt the gunk that is helping the gears grip, but that's assuming that the transmission is already bad. New fluid does not damange the transmission, as long as you used the correct fluid. I guess if the transmission is bad it doesn't matter cause it's going to go out anyways. I know they say don't "flush" the transmission, which is the complete removal of all the fluid and replaced with new fluid. When you do the drain+refill, you're only removing like a little less than half of what's inside the whole transmission. If you want to be cautious, just drain+refill once and see how it responds. If it starts slipping then your transmission is bad.
Great video! Simple and to the point. Do you think the washer that is needed for the oil bolt can also be used for transmission bolt? I bought a pack of 6 in the dealership.
Thanks for the feedback! Yes, the oil washer should work. The purpose of the washer is to create a seal when it crushes as it gets fastened. I don't remember if they're the exact same size but as long as it fits on the plug it's good.
question, i bought my 05 tsx back in 2018 with 89k miles. to my knowledge the atf was never changed. i’m now at 162k and wondering if i should change it and the filter?
That's a controversial topic. Some people say that if its really dark, smells burned, and you are having transmission issues then you probably should not change it because it will accelerate the death of the transmission. If it looks good you can change it so you can put it on a schedule for your own maintenance records. Ratchets and Wrenches has a good video on this topic ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p-CCAR5HK-0.htmlsi=cTj4o2LA-23D9_9D
Awesome Video Brother Very Helpful And Straight To The Point Love The Bonus Clip As Well Always Great To See Whats Inside Especially If Your Experiencing Issues With Your Transmission Good To Look For Metal Shavings That Could Mean A Damaged Transmission Internally Keep These Type of Vídeos Coming. I Own 2 Acura Tsx’s And Do All My Services On My Own. Keep On Wrenching Safely 👌🙏🫶🙌
I’ll do Everything in the video except I have to drive the car for at least 3 miles then park on a flat ground then cycle all the gears for 3 seconds each gear while the engine is running I’ll put it on Park then I’ll check the fluid should be between those two dots or before the upper dot is good for me. Thanks for uploading the video 👋🙂
Zero tools? Then you gotta be resourceful and find someone that has tools, haha. My neighbor would come to me when he was younger and I would help him when I could.
Man, great video! I did everything except change the filter because I couldn’t get the hoses off😭😡 is there anything I could put on them to try and get the hoses to slide off easier? The hose is very brittle and felt like it was about to break so I’m scared to use too much pressure
Thanks! Yeah those hoses can be a pain to deal with. The clamps are difficult to remove and then the hoses can be stuck. If anything, you can try penetrating oil like PB blaster on the end of the hose where it touches the metal. Before you start prying the hoses off try to use some pliers to wiggle the hose and spin it a little in its place. Then you can use a large flat head screwdriver to pry the hoses away from the filter. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance.
Thats agreat video, ty posting i really appreciate u sharing this info now i can change this with no problem i did it b4 by 3qts came out and i put about 3 back in but didnt do it a 2nd time my clutch feels like it slipping so im changeit again
Thx for the video, quick question. You mentioned to drain it twice, is it like a day apart, same day or can I do the second drain a week later? What’s recommended? Thx again
You're welcome! There's no guidance on that in the manual. Most people say one week apart. I usually drain and refill a week apart. This last time for me it was a month apart because I wanted to make a video and I got busy.
@@ChavezDIY bro i've seen all or most acura tsx videos. Are you a mechanic ?? i know you live in California, i live in Washignton State, but i go to Anaheim every year, so if you have a shop or do work on the side i'd like you work on my car on some stuff you have done already on yours like valve adjustments, rear motor mount replacement, etc. But i need someone skillfull and passionate as yourself when working with their acura tsx. So let me know please, im going to Cali next December.
I'm not a mechanic, I'm a clinical social worker. The things I do on my channel are my hobbies that I do in my free time. I appreciate the offer, but I don't work on other people's cars. Automotive work is a big liability and I only feel comfortable taking the risk on my own cars.
I don't remember, it's been a while since I made this video. I don't time myself, I just take my time and it's done when it's done. Safety and doing it right is most important.
Good advice. One other question. When I drain and refill for the second time when should that be done after the first time (eg drive 10,000 miles and change it again to get the rest of the old transmission fluid out). Not too sure if this makes sense or not but let me know. @@ChavezDIY
Can I replace the filter right after draining the fluid before filling the transmission and turning the car on or does it matter? Just trying to make things right, mine is JDM ’04 RB1 Odyssey 5 AT with S-matic manual mode. Thank you.
@@ChavezDIYIt seems my transmission was overfilled by 0,5 quarts / 0,5 litres. 2,7 quarts / 2,5 litres was the correct amount of ATF-DW1. I checked the dipstick level when the car was at operating temperature; after the radiator fan went on and off I turned the car off and waited 1 minute before checking the level, it was at the max dot. After this I took it for a test drive and after it ended, same level check thing again, same result, fluid level at the max dot. I think the car shifts gears better now.
I debating wether to change my filter or not, I was told not to change it because it could cause sediment to stir up inside and cause blockages, but at the same time it’s an external filter.. what’s your opinion
I have not heard from a reliable source to not change the filter because sediment could stir up inside. Did that person mean the sediment inside the transmission or the sediment inside the filter? Let's play with the idea of sediment in the filter. If there is sediment in the filter, the sediment will be removed along with the filter because the sediment will be trapped in the filter material, which is a good thing. I have heard Scotty Kilmer (and EricTheCarGuy I believe) recommend against a "transmission flush" IF you have never changed the transmission fluid because there may be sludge/sediment on the seals and removing them might clean up the sediment and increase chances of fluid leaking from the seals. The OEM manual does not specifically state to change the filter with every transmission drain and refill I think because the transmission is a sealed system and that filter can last you the "life of the vehicle". Keep in mind that industry standard for lifetime of a vehicle is 10 years so when the manufacturers say "the life of the vehicle", they're likely referring to 10 years. I think if you have not changed that filter ever, I would change it. If you car is within 10 years old you're not going to damage the transmission by not replacing the filter. IMO you can keep your transmission running longer by changing the fluid and filter at regular intervals. In the end, it is YOUR car and if you plan to keep it beyond the 10 year lifespan you're best to take good care of your car.
I bough a few one year, an ACURA TSX 2012 with 95 miles, now has 108.000 miles, I don’t if the owner changed the transmission oil, I have to change anyway?
That's a good question. I don't have enough experience to say with a degree of confidence what you should do. There are different theories out there. Here's a good video by a mechanic I follow that discusses this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p-CCAR5HK-0.html
Hey what’s up Miguel i have a question , is better to replace the transmission fluid filter after adding the new atf fluid or before add the new one after drained the old one ?
I have a 2006 tsx I got in feb of 13 with 67k and I am now at 224k and I have done the trans fluid every 40to50k and I have never done the external filter. I get a rough shift here and there usually going into 2nd sometimes 3rd and it’s almost always when it’s at lower rpm in traffic and more often when it’s hot. With that being said my question is do you think it could have a negative effect to change the external filter now after not doing it all this time?
I don't think it would negatively affect the transmission to change the filter. Usually people are concerned about changing the transmission fluid when they never change it.
I never heard of it, but when I did a search online it just seems like a ECU reset. You can reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery to the car for 10-15 mins. If you have a radio code you will need to enter it when you turn the car back on. The car will run rough for a day or two of driving while the engine performs the "idle relearn" procedure. This helps after doing engine upgrades or changes to the exhaust system. Doesn't hurt to try.
Mine has been changed about 15k miles ago by the previous owner and the fluid seems pretty clear on the dipstick. The thing is that it reads 2-3mm above the full marking on the dipstick when hot. I'm getting anxious about that and thinking about going ahead and changing it soon. Is it a big deal for the transmission to be a bit overfilled?
It doesn't seem like a lot of fluid over the limit but if you want to keep the fluid level within specifications on the dipstick you can remove some transmission fluid with an oil extractor. I used to have one and it worked great to suck out oil and transmission fluid when I overfilled it. I ruined the extractor by using it to suck out brake fluid, LOL, the brake fluid broke down the seals in the oil extractor and it fell apart. The one I bought was a little expensive but you can see if there are cheaper ones. Here's the link to the one I bought. amzn.to/3x31mPd
Hahaha! Yup. I don't know what its like to live where it snows but extreme cold and hot weather seems to put more wear and tear on the engine. They specifically listed Canada because that's another country where the TSX was sold.
There is no internal transmission filter to change. The OEM number you provided is to the same type of filter that I changed in the video. It may be located in the same place or different place as it covers many honda models from 2007-2015. See this link for more details: www.hondafactoryparts.com/oem-parts/honda-strainer-assembly-atf-25420rxh003
For me each time I drained and refilled I used about 2.5 quarts. Since I drained and refilled 2x, I bought a pack of 6 quarts. I would rather have extra than not enough.
Its a 2005 TSX, the first generation TSX. Yours is second generation. I don't know if everything is the same but you can take a look at the owner's manual. drive.google.com/file/d/19Uz97J0DdUuleKp4kOVCdAeC-tEgfl8e/view?usp=sharing
My recommendation is YES, change it because those in-line filters get dirty and clogged too. One of the most important things that makes a transmission last is clean transmission fluid. That line that goes through the filter goes to your radiator which helps to cool the transmission fluid. If that filter is clogged you won't be able to effectively cool that transmission fluid and at high temps that fluid loses its ability to properly lubricate the gears. Clean fluid and cooling of the fluid are both important to making your transmission last long. Its a low cost maintenance item that is important. Don't cheap out on transmission and engine maintenance.
I've heard other people report slightly different amounts as well. That's interesting. I wonder if there is also a difference in how much is drained from a cold transmission versus a warm transmission.
There's no way of telling if its going to help until you try it. If its slipping, this is your first intervention and the cheapest intervention to help your transmission work better.
That's a good question. I think it depends on whether you've been changing the transmission fluid regularly or never at all. My TSX has 160k mi and I'm going to continue changing it at it's regular intervals. I know Scotty Kilmer says that if you've never changed it and it's a high mileage vehicle, you may have issues if you start changing it late.
@@ChavezDIY I checked my car transmission oil the old owner i see the record and it was 5 more years ago him chsnge it, should I change again or not? I checked it for its barite and it is still good and it is at its limit
That's a controversial topic. Some people say that if its really dark, smells burned, and you are having transmission issues then you probably should not change it because it will accelerate the death of the transmission. If it looks good you can change it so you can put it on a schedule for your own maintenance records. Ratchets and Wrenches has a good video on this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p-CCAR5HK-0.htmlsi=cTj4o2LA-23D9_9D
What is the like that runs from the filter to the radiator? Mine is leaking at the metal part near the radiator. I can’t seem to find the correct part or video to see how to replace it. Please help anyone.
That's the line that cools the transmission fluid through the radiator. The line goes from the transmission to the filter, then to the radiator and then back to the transmission. Some high performance vehicles have a separate smaller radiator to cool the transmission fluid instead of routing to the main radiator. Where exactly is it leaking from? If its the metal part that's attached to the radiator, its a radiator specific part. There is a small clamp on the rubber hose as it attaches to the metal fitting on the radiator. Sometimes that clamp gets weak, if its leaking from there, replace with a gear clamp. If the rubber hose is cracked, you'll have to replace the rubber hose.
@@ChavezDIY thank you for the quick reply I really appreciate it! It appears to be leaking from the metal part connecting to the radiator. I’m planning on taking the fans out to see the part better. Do you know what the part is called or how to search for it? It’s a 2006 TSX automatic.
@@Chalovski That's a radiator specific part and I don't know if they even sell it separately. You can try to tighten that fitting a lil bit more to see if it seals. The closest name I could find is "automatic transmission cooler line connector". On my car, those connectors are angled about 45 degrees and have a large nut that can be tightened or loosened. I tried parts geek but the only thing that came up is a straight one www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2006/acura/tsx/transmission/auto_trans_oil_cooler_line_connector.html other ideas is looking on ebay to see if you can find them, or taking those off another Honda Acura radiator from the salvage yard, or replacing the whole radiator as a unit.
Thank you once again you’ve been very helpful! That part does look like it’s similar however it looks like it’s straight where the one in my car is bent on an angle I will look at it closer over the weekend and visit a local scrap yard as well. Thanks again!
Yes, that solenoid is located under the battery, or more specifically under the upper transmission mount. I found the pages in the manual that cover that specific code. Ill send you links to the photos of the pages in the book in a bit.
So the transmission has one inside of it but it's not a serviceable filter. There's no transmission pan to access it (like older cars). To replace the one inside the transmission you have to remove the transmission and disassemble it.