🔧 Accord - Manual Transmission Fluid Change

This service drains the old manual transmission fluid and refills with fresh Honda-spec fluid. Fresh fluid helps smooth shifting and reduces wear inside the transmission.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.0-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car on jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🔥 Let the transmission cool; fluid and exhaust parts can be hot.
• 🧱 Keep the car level while filling so the fluid level is correct.
• 🧤 Wear gloves and safety glasses; fluid can splash when the plug comes out.
• 🔒 Set the parking brake and use wheel chocks before lifting.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (pair, rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks (pair)
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (at least 6-quart)
• Shop rags
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive extension (6")
• 17mm socket
• Torque wrench (10–80 ft-lbs range)
• Fluid transfer pump (hand pump) (specialty)
• Funnel
• Flat trim tool

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Honda Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF) - Qty: 3 quarts
• Transmission drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1
• Transmission fill plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧭 Park on level ground, key off, parking brake on, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• 🛠️ If your Accord has an underbody splash shield, plan to remove it for access.
• 🧼 Clean around the fill and drain plugs with a shop rag so dirt can’t fall in.
• 📌 A fluid transfer pump is a hand pump that lets you push new fluid into the side fill hole.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Warm the fluid slightly

• Drive 5–10 minutes, then park on level ground.
• Turn the engine off and let the car sit 5 minutes so the fluid isn’t scorching hot.

Step 2: Lift and level the car

• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Use a floor jack to lift the front of the car at the proper front jack point.
• Set the car down onto jack stands on both sides. Keep the car level (don’t lift only one corner).

Step 3: Remove the splash shield (if equipped)

• Use a flat trim tool to pop out the plastic clips.
• Use a 10mm socket on a 3/8" drive ratchet to remove any bolts (some shields use bolts; if yours has none, skip this).
• Set the shield and clips aside.

Step 4: Locate the fill plug and drain plug

• The fill plug is on the side of the manual transmission case.
• The drain plug is at the bottom of the transmission case.
• Always loosen the fill plug first.

Step 5: Loosen the fill plug FIRST

• Try one of these (your Accord will use one style):
• Use a 3/8" drive ratchet (no socket) if the plug has a square recess.
• Use a 17mm socket on a 3/8" drive ratchet if the plug has a hex head.
• Crack it loose, then leave it threaded in a few turns (do not remove yet).

Step 6: Drain the old fluid

• Place a drain pan under the drain plug.
• Remove the drain plug using either:
• Use a 3/8" drive ratchet if it’s a square-drive plug, or use a 17mm socket if it’s a hex-head plug.
• Let it drain until it slows to a drip (usually 5–10 minutes).

Step 7: Reinstall the drain plug with a new crush washer

• Wipe the drain plug clean using shop rags.
• Install a new drain plug crush washer.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench to tighten: Torque to 39 N·m (29 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Fill the transmission with new fluid

• Remove the fill plug fully using the same tool you used to loosen it (3/8" drive ratchet or 17mm socket).
• Put the hose from the fluid transfer pump (hand pump) into the fill hole.
• Pump in Honda Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF) until fluid just begins to seep/dribble out of the fill hole.
• Slow down near the end to avoid a mess.

Step 9: Reinstall the fill plug with a new crush washer

• Install a new fill plug crush washer on the fill plug.
• Thread the fill plug in by hand first.
• Use a torque wrench to tighten: Torque to 39 N·m (29 ft-lbs).
• Wipe any spilled fluid using shop rags.

Step 10: Reinstall the splash shield and lower the car

• Reinstall the shield using the flat trim tool for clips and a 10mm socket if bolts were removed.
• Use the floor jack to lift slightly, remove the jack stands, then lower the car.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Start the engine and with the clutch pressed, shift through all gears (1–6 and Reverse) while parked.
• 🚗 Take a short test drive and confirm smooth shifting and no abnormal noises.
• 🔍 Park and check underneath for leaks around the fill and drain plugs.
• 🛢️ Dispose of used fluid at a recycling center/parts store that accepts waste oil/fluids.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $180-$320 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$75 (parts only)

You Save: $105-$285 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.2 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.