I just did a transmission fluid change as part of a collision repair job and to deal with the classic judder issue with the CVT transmissions.

The car was sitting in the driveway with the radiator off when I came out one night and started the car. After a few seconds I realized I was hearing the transmission pumping fluid. I immediately turned off the car realizing my error and got out of the car to discover a puddle of fluid on the ground.

When I drained the transmission I measured right at 2 quarts. I only ordered 3 quarts online (can't get it locally) since that was what an internet search turned up for quantity. The manual calls for 3.5 quarts but at this point I have no way of knowing how much came out but based on size of the puddle on the ground and what I measured I would say that I did drain all 3.5 quarts.

What is confusing is that the Hot/Cold markings are on the bottom of the dip stick. When I carefully follow the procedures specified in the manual for checking the fluid level it shows almost nothing on the unmarked side that faces you when you pull the stick out but as best I can tell the fluid is covering the bottom hot dot on the other (marked) side.

After the drain/refill the judder disappeared rapidly. By the next day it was and still is, one week later, completely gone.

A few days ago I noticed that after putting the car in gear there is a 3 or 4 second hesitation before the transmission fully engages. Sometimes the transmission seems to really stick and give a nice thud when engaging.

 

Are you sure the manual says 3.5qt? I would have sworn it was 3.0.

That delay you describe is indicative of low fluid.

If this is the first fluid change you've done, I would recommend two more at 1 week intervals and then continue changing fluid every other oil change (12-15K miles).

The easiest way is to drain it and put 3qt in it. I barely pay attention to the dipstick.

Good luck,

Steve

 

Steve thank you! You confirmed my suspicions on the multiple drain and fills.

But on the capacity this is straight from the owners manual:

Automatic Change transmission Total fluid (CVT)
3.4 US qt change
5.7 US qt total

???

 

Yep... confirmed here...

http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/p...u/CH0505OM.pdf

Make sure you're using CVT fluid and not the ATF-Z1 the owner's manual references.

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-08200-9...ords=honda+cvt

 

I used Honda OEM CVT fluid.

but if when I started the car it pumped out fluid it could be somewhere between 3.4 and 5.7 quarts since I didn't just do a drain and fill.

 

Added 1 more quart.... still bumping/hesitating on takeoff

 

I've had the issue even at only 1/4 qt low. I would shoot for the hot line when cold.

 

Again when I pull my stick out I'm looking at the unlabeled side of the stick I'm assuming that's the side of the stick I'm supposed to be taking my reading from even though the other side is labeled??? I'm still confused about the dipstick reading.

 

I don't know what the '05 dipstick looks like. I'm assuming it's similar to my '06s (back when I owned them).