2004 accord - ATF and engine oil change

Well,
I changed the ATF and engine oil this weekend on my 4-cyl accord coupe
as a part of the 60k maintenance.

This was my first time doing this with Honda Accord and it was much easier
than I have anticipated. Knowing that the oil filter is on the engine rear
side, next to the firewall (not like in my '95 Camry in front of the engine,
smiling at you when you pop the hood open) I was sure I will have to put
the car on the jack stands and crawl under the car or I will make a big mess
replacing this filter. Something I wanted to avoid if possible.

I found the easier access to the oil filter and the drain plug from the side
of the car: everything is within hands reach when you remove the front
right wheel. With the wheel removed and car supported at one corner on
the scissor jack and the wheel blocks on the rear wheels it is really easy
to reach for the drain plug or the filter *without* putting yourself under
the car at all. I put 4.5 qrts of Mobil 1 synthetic 5W20 for the incoming
winter season.

The drain plug for the ATF is so close to the front bumper that you also do
not need to crawl under the car at all. My ATF drain plug was for some
reason put too tight so I had a hard time to crack it open even with a 24"
breaker bar, but that only proves that *Honda dealerships do not follow the
torque recommendations from the manufacturers* when they work on our cars.
Engine oil drain plug (17mm) was also too tight. With only 33 ft-lb torque
required by manufacturer to fasten it they put it in so hard that the
aluminum washer under the plug looked like the souvenir penny crushed in
the gift shop at Niagara Falls :-) If the ATF drain plug was not put too
tight then the fluid change could be done without even lifting the car up at
all. This is what I do with my Toyota Camry routinely. I do not lift it at
all neither for oil nor for ATF change. Everything what is needed for that
job is easily accessible without lifting the car.

I had one problem with filling AT back with the 3 qrts of fluid - I've done
it too quickly and the flow of fluid blocked the displaced air escape and
the ATF barfed from the top of the dipstick tube soiling my transmission
body and the floor under the car. Lesson learned: fill ATF very slowly next
time :-) Especially at the price above $6 a quart this is a precious liquid
you do not want to spill on your floor... I consider this price a nice rip
off if you compare this to a price of regular Dextron fluids... but what can
you do about it, right?

BTW - is there any cheaper source for the Mobil 1 than a big 5 quarts bottle
of it @ Wal-Mart for less than $25?

Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be cleared
after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the oil sensor like
in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check engine activated and
indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after I have it done...

"Pszemol" > wrote in
:

> Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be
> cleared after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the oil
> sensor like in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check engine
> activated and indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after I have
> it done...
>
>


There appears to be mention of any oil-life minder in your Owner's Manual.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Tegger" > wrote in message
...
> "Pszemol" > wrote in
> :
>
>> Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be
>> cleared after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the oil
>> sensor like in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check engine
>> activated and indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after I have
>> it done...
>
> There appears to be mention of any oil-life minder in your Owner's Manual.

I have not found anything like that in my manual...
Which model year starts to have these electronic "minders"? Is it 2007?

Pszemol wrote:
> Well,
> I changed the ATF and engine oil this weekend on my 4-cyl accord coupe
> as a part of the 60k maintenance.
>
> This was my first time doing this with Honda Accord and it was much
> easier than I have anticipated. Knowing that the oil filter is on the
> engine rear side, next to the firewall (not like in my '95 Camry in
> front of the engine, smiling at you when you pop the hood open) I was
> sure I will have to put
> the car on the jack stands and crawl under the car or I will make a big
> mess replacing this filter. Something I wanted to avoid if possible.
>
> I found the easier access to the oil filter and the drain plug from the
> side of the car: everything is within hands reach when you remove the
> front right wheel. With the wheel removed and car supported at one
> corner on
> the scissor jack and the wheel blocks on the rear wheels it is really
> easy to reach for the drain plug or the filter *without* putting
> yourself under the car at all. I put 4.5 qrts of Mobil 1 synthetic 5W20
> for the incoming
> winter season.
>
> The drain plug for the ATF is so close to the front bumper that you also
> do not need to crawl under the car at all. My ATF drain plug was for
> some reason put too tight so I had a hard time to crack it open even
> with a 24" breaker bar, but that only proves that *Honda dealerships do
> not follow the torque recommendations from the manufacturers* when they
> work on our cars.

no it doesn't - it shows that the screw has been exposed to an
environment that has caused it to seize.



> Engine oil drain plug (17mm) was also too tight. With
> only 33 ft-lb torque required by manufacturer to fasten it they put it
> in so hard that the aluminum washer under the plug looked like the
> souvenir penny crushed in the gift shop at Niagara Falls

dude, that washer is soft annealed aluminum. you can deform a new one
easily with your teeth, let alone under the action of a drain plug screw.



> :-) If the ATF
> drain plug was not put too tight then the fluid change could be done
> without even lifting the car up at all. This is what I do with my Toyota
> Camry routinely. I do not lift it at all neither for oil nor for ATF
> change. Everything what is needed for that job is easily accessible
> without lifting the car.
>
> I had one problem with filling AT back with the 3 qrts of fluid - I've
> done it too quickly and the flow of fluid blocked the displaced air
> escape and the ATF barfed from the top of the dipstick tube soiling my
> transmission body and the floor under the car. Lesson learned: fill ATF
> very slowly next time :-) Especially at the price above $6 a quart this
> is a precious liquid you do not want to spill on your floor...

why does this little tale not surprise me?


> I
> consider this price a nice rip off if you compare this to a price of
> regular Dextron fluids.

but honda z1 is not like regular dexron. [note spelling: d-e-x-r-o-n]



> .. but what can you do about it, right?
>
> BTW - is there any cheaper source for the Mobil 1 than a big 5 quarts
> bottle of it @ Wal-Mart for less than $25?
>

he http://www.just****inggoogleit.com

Pszemol wrote:
> Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be
> cleared after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the oil
> sensor like in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check engine
> activated and indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after I have it
> done...

google the archive for this group - or tegger.com. resetting the
maintenance minder light is constantly asked my people like yourself
that can't be bothered to read their owners manual or look the
information up online. best place to start is by opening your glove box.

"Pszemol" > wrote in
:

> "Tegger" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Pszemol" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be
>>> cleared after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the
>>> oil sensor like in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check
>>> engine activated and indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after
>>> I have it done...
>>
>> There appears to be mention of any oil-life minder in your Owner's
>> Manual.
>
> I have not found anything like that in my manual...
> Which model year starts to have these electronic "minders"? Is it
> 2007?
>


Check page 73.

You do have a "Maintenance Required" lamp that requires to be reset. I
forgot about that.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Tegger" > wrote in message
...
> "Pszemol" > wrote in
> :
>
>> "Tegger" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Pszemol" > wrote in
>>> :
>>>
>>>> Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be
>>>> cleared after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the
>>>> oil sensor like in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check
>>>> engine activated and indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after
>>>> I have it done...
>>>
>>> There appears to be mention of any oil-life minder in your Owner's
>>> Manual.
>>
>> I have not found anything like that in my manual...
>> Which model year starts to have these electronic "minders"? Is it
>> 2007?
>
>
> Check page 73.
>
> You do have a "Maintenance Required" lamp that requires to be reset. I
> forgot about that.

Page 73 in my Owner's Manual is about rear window defogger.
Are you sure you are looking at 2004 accord coupe, 4-cyl?

Pszemol wrote:
> "Tegger" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Pszemol" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> "Tegger" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Pszemol" > wrote in
>>>> :
>>>>
>>>>> Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be
>>>>> cleared after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the
>>>>> oil sensor like in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check
>>>>> engine activated and indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after
>>>>> I have it done...
>>>>
>>>> There appears to be mention of any oil-life minder in your Owner's
>>>> Manual.
>>>
>>> I have not found anything like that in my manual...
>>> Which model year starts to have these electronic "minders"? Is it
>>> 2007?
>>
>>
>> Check page 73.
>>
>> You do have a "Maintenance Required" lamp that requires to be reset. I
>> forgot about that.
>
> Page 73 in my Owner's Manual is about rear window defogger.
> Are you sure you are looking at 2004 accord coupe, 4-cyl?

the point is that it's in your book if you bother to look for the right
page.

"Pszemol" > wrote in :

> "Tegger" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Pszemol" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> "Tegger" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Pszemol" > wrote in
>>>> :
>>>>
>>>>> Oh, I forgot to ask you - is there any computer code on 2004 to be
>>>>> cleared after oil or ATF change? I do not think 2004 came with the
>>>>> oil sensor like in 2007 and newer, but I would not like the check
>>>>> engine activated and indicating need for oil change 1000 miles after
>>>>> I have it done...
>>>>
>>>> There appears to be mention of any oil-life minder in your Owner's
>>>> Manual.
>>>
>>> I have not found anything like that in my manual...
>>> Which model year starts to have these electronic "minders"? Is it
>>> 2007?
>>
>>
>> Check page 73.
>>
>> You do have a "Maintenance Required" lamp that requires to be reset. I
>> forgot about that.
>
> Page 73 in my Owner's Manual is about rear window defogger.
> Are you sure you are looking at 2004 accord coupe, 4-cyl?
>



Ah, the coupe. You never said. Page 73 is for the sedan.

Check the Index under "M" for "Maintenance Required Indicator". The online
manual shows it to be page 63, but your paper manual may be different. You
may need to look in your own Index, which you evidently haven't done up to
now.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/