"07 4WD-rear diff.fluid change

[Frank B]

Do all my own oil/filter changes; how difficult to change rear differental fluid??
Possible without a lift?? Have the '07 OEM service manual for visual reference but any additional input appreciated..Is this even something anyone should attempt..??

[gcturp]

http://www.crvownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=412

Check out the the above thread (link is above). It includes great tips (i.e. have two replacement crush washers, make sure the 'fill' plug opens before draining, have a 3/8" rachet, etc); and it also has a video-youtube link.

I haven't done it yet, but it looks like it will be easy. I have used a creeper to slide under and inspect much of the underside of my '07 - and I was able to access the rear axle area without raising the CRV (same goes for the oil and oil filter).

[Black Pearl]

Last summer I slithered under the Pearl's tush and had a look. The rear differential is easily accessed and you don't have to jack the car up. I took some pictures but unfortunately only have one of the differential. 2RedV's included a short procedure in post # 15 in this thread:

http://www.crvownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852&page=2

He made a point to loosen the fill plug first. Sometimes they are over torqued and you don't want to drain the fluid and find out you can't get the fill plug out.

The picture below shows the drain plug. The fill plug was on the other side about 2/3 the way up. The only problem I can see is that you may have to fill the differential with a squeeze bottle. I don't recall for sure but it seemed that there was insufficient room to raise the fluid container above the fill plug. Be sure to use the correct Honda Dual pump oil.

[Frank B]

Not quite ready for the differental maintenance; had the rear "clutches/pump" replaced per service bulletin at 9000..Presently at 16,000....Next time I order something from H&A Honda I'll include some of the new diff.fluid...
Thanks again..;)

[AWDnoise]

Don't do the maintenance yourself! It's covered under warranty, see:
http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A07-024.PDF
If your warranty is expired, it can be pre-approved for goodwill consideration. This is a known huge problem by Honda. The service advisor at Scott Robinson Honda (Torrance, CA) charged my fiancee for the fluid change for our '05 CRV still under warranty. Before knowing of TSB 07-024, I went to the dealer the next day suspecting somethying fishy. The same person stated the fluid should be changed every 15k miles and that it's in the owners manual and not covered by warranty. After leaving the dealer, I read the owners manual and it states 60k miles for fluid change. He lied right to my face. That got me hunting on the web and there are numerous owner complaints. Finally, I found the TSB. The service advisor also lied that only the fluid needs to be changed. The clutches must be burnished first and it must be followed up w/ a test drive. Now I have to go back to the dealer to have the charges reversed. Grrrrrrrrr

[Frank B]

Don't do the maintenance yourself! It's covered under warranty, see:
http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A07-024.PDF
If your warranty is expired, it can be pre-approved for goodwill consideration. This is a known huge problem by Honda. The service advisor at Scott Robinson Honda (Torrance, CA) charged my fiancee for the fluid change for our '05 CRV still under warranty. Before knowing of TSB 07-024, I went to the dealer the next day suspecting somethying fishy. The same person stated the fluid should be changed every 15k miles and that it's in the owners manual and not covered by warranty. After leaving the dealer, I read the owners manual and it states 60k miles for fluid change. He lied right to my face. That got me hunting on the web and there are numerous owner complaints. Finally, I found the TSB. The service advisor also lied that only the fluid needs to be changed. The clutches must be burnished first and it must be followed up w/ a test drive. Now I have to go back to the dealer to have the charges reversed. Grrrrrrrrr

Actually had the "entire differential fix".. NEW clutch pac/fluid, etc. at 9000 under warranty...Was not looking to change until at least 24,000+..just want to include a couple of qts. of differential fluid in one of my next orders from
H & A Honda...Will most probably "eye-ball" the differential the next time I change Oil...Everyone's input much appreciated....:p