🔧 CR-V - Transmission Fluid Drain & Refill

This service drains the old automatic transmission fluid (ATF) from the transmission pan and refills with fresh Honda-spec fluid. Fresh ATF helps shifting quality and protects the transmission from wear and overheating.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.5-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface and support the CR-V on jack stands (never rely on a jack).
• ⚠️ ATF can be hot—wear gloves and safety glasses.
• ⚠️ Chock the rear wheels and keep the shifter in P with the parking brake set.
• ⚠️ Do not use “universal” ATF—use Honda ATF spec to avoid shift issues.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (at least 8-quart)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-100 ft-lbs range)
• Funnel with long flexible neck
• Shop rags
• Measuring container (at least 4-quart)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Automatic transmission fluid (Honda ATF DW-1) - Qty: 4 quarts
• Transmission drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Warm the transmission: take a 10-minute drive so the ATF drains more completely.
• Raise the front and support it securely on jack stands. Keep the CR-V as level as possible.
• Open the hood and locate the ATF dipstick (this is the transmission fluid level stick).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the ATF dipstick

• Open the hood and pull out the transmission ATF dipstick.
• Wipe it with shop rags and set it aside (this also vents the case so it drains faster).

Step 2: Position the drain pan

• Slide your drain pan under the transmission drain plug area.
• ATF can shoot out a little at first.

Step 3: Remove the transmission drain plug

• Use a 3/8" drive ratchet (no socket) and insert it directly into the square drain plug.
• Loosen and remove the drain plug by hand, then let the ATF drain fully (usually 5–10 minutes).

Step 4: Measure how much fluid came out

• Carefully pour the drained ATF from the drain pan into a measuring container.
• Write down the amount—your goal is to refill the same amount you drained.

Step 5: Reinstall drain plug with a new crush washer

• Remove the old washer from the drain plug and install the new crush washer.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 3/8" drive torque wrench to tighten the drain plug: Torque to 49 N·m (36 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Refill with Honda ATF

• Insert a funnel with long flexible neck into the dipstick tube.
• Pour in the same amount of Honda ATF DW-1 that you measured in Step 4.
• Reinstall the dipstick fully.

Step 7: Circulate fluid and recheck level

• Start the engine and, with your foot on the brake, slowly shift through P-R-N-D-2-1, pausing ~3 seconds in each position.
• Return the shifter to P.
• Shut the engine off and wait about 60 seconds.
• Pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop rags, reinsert fully, then pull again to read the level.
• If low, add ATF in small amounts (about 0.1–0.2 qt at a time) using the funnel, and recheck.
• Don’t overfill—shifting can get worse.

Step 8: Lower the vehicle and clean up

• Remove tools from underneath.
• Use the floor jack to lift slightly, remove jack stands, then lower the CR-V.
• Pour used ATF into a sealed container and take it to a recycling/auto parts store.

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✅ After Repair

• Test drive 10–15 minutes and confirm smooth shifts.
• Park on level ground and recheck the ATF dipstick level once more (top off only if needed).
• Look under the CR-V for any drips around the drain plug.
• If your fluid was very dark/burnt, consider doing 2 more drain-and-refills a few days apart (this gradually replaces more old fluid without a flush).

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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 0.7-1.2 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.