🔧 Fit - Manual Transmission Fluid Change

On your Fit’s 6-speed manual transmission, changing the fluid helps the gears and synchronizers shift smoothly and reduces wear. The job is mostly about safely lifting the car, draining the old fluid, and refilling to the correct level.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands on solid, level ground (never rely on a jack alone).
• ⚠️ Let the exhaust cool; the drain/fill area can be near hot parts.
• ⚠️ Keep the car level while filling, or the fluid level can be wrong.
• ⚠️ Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses; gear oil can irritate skin/eyes.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this service.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) x2
• Wheel chocks
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive short extension
• Torque wrench (10-100 Nm range)
• Drain pan (at least 6-quart)
• Fluid transfer pump (hand pump) (specialty)
• Shop rags
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Honda Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF) - Qty: 2 quarts
• Manual transmission drain/fill plug crush washers - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Do a short 5–10 minute drive to warm the fluid slightly so it drains better.
• Lift the front using a floor jack and support with jack stands at the proper front lift points.
• Tip: Always loosen the fill plug first.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Locate the fill and drain plugs

• Slide under the front with safety glasses.
• Find the manual transmission case. The fill plug is on the side of the case; the drain plug is at the lowest point.
• On your Fit, the plugs commonly accept a 3/8" drive ratchet directly (no socket). This means the square end of the ratchet goes into the plug.

Step 2: Remove the fill plug first

• Place the drain pan under the transmission area (in case of drips).
• Use a 3/8" drive ratchet and 3/8" drive short extension to loosen and remove the fill plug.
• Remove and discard the old crush washer from the fill plug.

Step 3: Drain the old transmission fluid

• Reposition the drain pan directly under the drain plug.
• Use a 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen and remove the drain plug.
• Let the fluid drain until it slows to an occasional drip.
• Remove and discard the old crush washer from the drain plug.

Step 4: Reinstall the drain plug with a new crush washer

• Wipe the drain hole area clean using shop rags.
• Install a new crush washer on the drain plug, then thread the plug in by hand.
• Use a torque wrench to tighten: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Fill the transmission with new Honda MTF

• Insert the hose from the fluid transfer pump (hand pump) (specialty) into the fill hole.
• Pump in Honda Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF) until fluid just begins to seep/dribble back out of the fill hole (this is the correct level when the car is level).
• Wait 30 seconds, then top off again until it barely dribbles out.

Step 6: Reinstall the fill plug with a new crush washer

• Install a new crush washer on the fill plug, then thread it in by hand.
• Use a torque wrench to tighten: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs).
• Wipe the area clean with shop rags so leaks are easy to spot later.

Step 7: Lower the car

• Use the floor jack to raise the car slightly, remove the jack stands, and lower the car to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and, with the clutch pressed, shift through all gears with the car stationary (feel for smooth engagement).
• Take a short 5–10 minute test drive and verify shifting feels normal.
• Park on clean pavement and check underneath for any seepage at the fill/drain plugs.
• Dispose of used fluid at a recycling center or auto parts store that accepts waste oil/fluids.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $140-$250 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $25-$60 (parts only)

You Save: $80-$190 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.