Any trick to the tranny filler bolt?

doitdubdoitdub familEE
in Engine & Drivetrain
I HATE the damn transmission filler bolts on most ever Honda I've owned. Either they've been over-torqued by previous owners/shops, or they just seize easily, but most of the times I can't get it out, end up stripping it.

I want to change the fluid in my transmission, but having bad experience in the past, I always try for the 17mm filler bolt first. Sprayed with PB blaster the day before, let it soak. Gave it a go with an open ended wrench. Nada. Torch. Nada. Got some 'Freeze off' stuff. Nada. Even tried grabbing onto it with a big pipe wrench. Now it's fairly stripped and the thing still won't budge.

ANY advice? I can't imagine how old that fluid is in there...

p.s. The rear diff went without a hitch and it was the first I've ever tried. Something with the filler bolts on these old trannies. :x

Comments

  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    Never had a prob with mine.
    :idea: Maybe try this.Drive on the highway for a while.Maybe this will heat up the casing enough to loosen it .Even better wait till a hot Summer day to do it.
    :arrow: Shop manual does say to drain at operating temp.
  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    K I'll try that.
  • deceptakhandeceptakhan Wagonist
    I've never had a problem with it good luck!
  • sobe_deathsobe_death New Wagonist
    Remove VSS and fill. No mess, and a straight shot down into the transmission.
  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    sobe_death wrote:
    Remove VSS and fill. No mess, and a straight shot down into the transmission.
    Now we're talkin. Ok I'm going to try that....thanks.

    I really feel like a dumbass for being the only one with this problem, but I've seen it on a couple of these and didn't think I was the only one. Oh well...
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    doitdub wrote:
    sobe_death wrote:
    Remove VSS and fill. No mess, and a straight shot down into the transmission.
    Now we're talkin. Ok I'm going to try that....thanks.

    I really feel like a dumbass for being the only one with this problem, but I've seen it on a couple of these and didn't think I was the only one. Oh well...

    Only one problem with that method: how do you know when it is filled to the proper level? I've filled thru the VSS several times, but had the fill plug out to determine amount.
    You could remove the right axle :lol: same fluid level...
  • pandorasboxpandorasbox New Wagonist
    ^true story

    my buddy filled his GSR trans that way but overfilled badly. The breather had like a steam coming out and it shifted funky.

    Bam-Bam has the right idea. If that is your last resort then do it up, pull that axle and the VSS. Just make sure the vehicle is level when filling.

    Good luck bud
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    What you need is a 'twist socket'. I had to use mine to remove this plug once (where some goober used a "big pipe wrench" :P It's a 6-fluted reverse-tapered deal that just grabs tighter the harder you pull. Mine are Snap-on and expensive, but Irwin/Hanson makes some decent ones that I've seen at Advance and the like. Problem is I think they're in a set of 6 or 8.
    :idea: Do you have a buddy at the tire place? This is a very common tool for a tire guy to own. They use them to remove locking lugnuts when they don't have the key. Maybe you could borrow one? Or just come on by and borrow mine!
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    The real lesson here is to try after the car is at operating temperature, then that filler hole pops open very easily.
  • evol911evol911 familEE
    The problem is a steel bolt in the aluminum trans. The heating and cooling cycles pretty much lock them together. I usually use a big wrench turned the opposite way so its angled towards the trans if that makes sense.
  • Eagle BeagleEagle Beagle familEE
    temperature and expansion (any kind)
    aka thermodynamics...

    anyway...
    work that thing...
    good luck...
    be carefull...
    :mrgreen:
  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    bam-bam wrote:
    What you need is a 'twist socket'. I had to use mine to remove this plug once (where some goober used a "big pipe wrench" :P It's a 6-fluted reverse-tapered deal that just grabs tighter the harder you pull. Mine are Snap-on and expensive, but Irwin/Hanson makes some decent ones that I've seen at Advance and the like. Problem is I think they're in a set of 6 or 8.
    :idea: Do you have a buddy at the tire place? This is a very common tool for a tire guy to own. They use them to remove locking lugnuts when they don't have the key. Maybe you could borrow one? Or just come on by and borrow mine!
    I big pipe wrench...now who would do something silly like that. I've actually got a set, but when I tried to get a socket on there, I didn't think there was enough room, which is why I went to an open wrench.

    I'll just have to get under there again.....after it's nice and hot...and get at it. Thanks for the insight guys.
  • sobe_deathsobe_death New Wagonist
    If all else fails and you have to do the VSS option, only fill it until you can see the fluid inside the transmission. When I've done it before, it only overfills it by maybe 1/4" (double checked by pulling the plug). Mine isn't stuck but I don't like dealing with all the tubing snaking down through there.

    Another option is to measure how much fluid you put in, but that would be too easy :wink:
  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    Ended up using a twist socket and turned it with an adjustable wrench while applying pressure with a pry bar. Note to self...open when hot. Not I need to get another bolt, but that's ok...

    Thanks for the ideas guys - felt like a total noob.
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    I had the same issue with my old crx and had to solve it with alligator pliers!
  • NengchangNengchang New Wagonist
    Try useing a visegrip on it that's what I did
    and it worked. Good luck
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