How do you check the transmission fluid on a 2000 Honda Passport?

Answer 1

It's a sealed tranny, no dipstick, but not a problem for a backyard mechanic to check or refill. Here's what I did based on the research gathered from various sources. I wanted to replace the trans fluid and filter in my 96 Passport so I first purchased a filter and gasket kit for the main pan. I also purchased another gasket for the smaller overdrive housing in front of the main pan. Got 9 quarts of Dextron III fluid and a bottle of trans additive (Xentex), since the trans had 147,000 mile on it. There are two plugs on the bottom of the main trans pan. The lower plug is the drain. Upper plug is the fill. Open the lower plug and drain. If your changing the filter and gasket, then do so now. Take care not to over tighten the gasket bolt's when reassembling, etc, etc.... To fill, you'll need a fluid pump. I went to Northern Tool and purchased a $20 hand pump with hoses. After closing the bottom drain plug, open the fill plug located about two inches higher on the corner of the main pan. Insert the fluid pump hose into the fill hole and start pumping. I used a bucket, clean of course, to hold about 4 quarts of fluid at a time, with additive, and filled the trans until it trickles out of the fill hole. OK, here's the odd part. With fill hole open, fluid pump hose inserted, start up the truck. Keep shifter in park. The trans will suck up the fluid from the bottom pan. Then continue filling (pumping) fluid up into the fill hole until it flows out again. The manual says the trans must be between 94 and 130 degrees before the fluid levels off, (stops dripping from fill hole). Since I didn't want to invest in a fluid thermometer, I just ran the truck for about ten minutes and felt the bottom of the trans till it felt slightly above body temp, (guessing about 100 degrees F to the touch. After a fluid stops dripping, plug back the fill hole. Done. Passport has been shifting fine after that. Trans works great, shifts like butter. Total cost, about $50 for the do-it-yourself mechanic. Of course, this method does not "flush" the trans of all it's old fluid, it only takes about 6 new quarts out of the 9 quarts that it needs. Some of the fluid stays in the converter, etc...