HELP! Trouble after trans fluid change

[MtnPilot]

Sunday I changed the engine oil & filter, trans fluid and VTM fluid. No problems, all went smooth (or so I thought).

So, I leave for two weeks in Mexico dark & early Monday morning (work, not pleasure). I talk to the wife Monday afternoon and she tells me the Pilot is sluggish and making "clicking" noises while accelerating when she drove to work Monday (about 35 miles). My son went to look at it and he said he thinks it is the transmission.

I had checked the fluid level after the refill Sunday and it showed a little over full. On another forum a thread had stated multiple times it took four quarts so that's what I put in. In the trans fluid change thread here, it states 3.2 qts.. Would a 0.8 quart over-fill cause the noise and apparent slippage?

This is an '03 which has the second gear cooling reroute. To fill the transmission I pulled the coolant tube out of the fill plug and filled through that hole. The coolant tube went back in fine and my wife said there was no fluid drips in our garage or the garage at work were the Pilot is currently parked (she's not driving it now).

Yes, I used trans & VTM fluids from Honda (and they were put in the appropriate mechanical device).

Any thoughts on why there is noise and apparent slippage?

Thanks.

Leo

[mchan]

Didn't you find it difficult to fill through the dipstick? When you filled it, did you spill a lot of it on the ground? Just wondering.

I filled it through the 17mm or 19mm bolt in the back of the tranny (close to the fire wall), I could not find anything small enough to fill through the dipstick hole.

[jestmaty]

Ticking noises, as you probably already know, typically are valve related. I can only suggest a drain and fill with 3.2 to know for sure.
Remember to run the gear shift lever through all gears before checking the level again. Good luck, keep us informed.

[Dano]

I'm guessing that it might by the rear diff. Sometimes, when the fluid is old or there is not enough fluid, you will hear clicking, especially when turning.

Topping off the fluid can fix this problem. If she's not experiencing any shifting problems, it's probably not the trans.

[MtnPilot]

My main problem is the Pilot is in Denver and I'm stuck in Mexico for two weeks so I haven't heard or felt the problem. So you're getting second and third hand information. She did say the Pilot felt sluggish and she and my son thought the the noise was coming from the front of the car. So, my first impression was possible transmission slippage.

Thinking about it over night, I'm wondering if I don't have an air leak. I didn't mention it before but I also changed the air filter and now wonder if there's an air leak causing the lack of power........

I did not fill the trans though the dipstick tube. I pulled the 2nd gear coolant line ('03 recall issue) out of the fill plug and filled it through the hole for the cooling tube. No spills or subsequent leaks seen under the car.

Thanks for the responses.

Leo

[john802]

Originally posted by MtnPilot
My main problem is the Pilot is in Denver and I'm stuck in Mexico for two weeks so I haven't heard or felt the problem. So you're getting second and third hand information. She did say the Pilot felt sluggish and she and my son thought the the noise was coming from the front of the car. So, my first impression was possible transmission slippage.

Thinking about it over night, I'm wondering if I don't have an air leak. I didn't mention it before but I also changed the air filter and now wonder if there's an air leak causing the lack of power........

I did not fill the trans though the dipstick tube. I pulled the 2nd gear coolant line ('03 recall issue) out of the fill plug and filled it through the hole for the cooling tube. No spills or subsequent leaks seen under the car.

Thanks for the responses.

Leo

Check if you have a vacuum leak. Check if the 2 vacuum tubing are connected properly to the intake air duct.

[Sunday Rider]

The best thing is to let it sit where it is until you get back. Sounds like you have done this kind of maintenance before, and double/triple checked all. I am with John802 on this.The screws holding the air filter are sticky on my '03, so maybe it is not tight. But I would guess they would hear a sucking sound (a closer one than the one from Mexico ) if your son checked with the hood up.

On my motorbike, I try to spray some WD40 when checking for leaks, but I don't think I want to try that with the Pilot with all the sensors in the intake area.

I know it is tough, but best you take care of business in Mexico, and then take care of the Pilot when you get home.

[MtnPilot]

Well, got home and went to check out the problem. Sad to say that it ended up being an error on my part.

When I had jacked up the Pilot I thought I would save a little time and jack the front end up from a centeral point. I used the crossmember behind the transmission. Of course it started to bend. I let the car down and jacked off each corner. I noticed it was bent but there was space and I figured no real problem. Wrong!

The engine/transmission twists quite a bit when put in gear, especially under load. So, when accelerating the transmission case was touching the crossmember and transmitting all the vibration to the frame. So, it was rather loud and apparently my wife was subconsciously letting off the throttle giving the appearance of low power.

Anyway, took it home, removed the CM, "adjusted" it with the help of a sledgehammer and reinstalled. Everything is fine except my pride...

Thanks for the suggestions.

[humanoid]

Gotta love that sledgehammer !

[Roger]

I jack mine up from the center point behind the bumper.

Roger
'04 MBP