Had a similar issue on my 2011 PIlot with 5 speed AT. A fairly common Honda idiosyncrasy from what I have heard and is from the torque converter. Has the ATF been changed recently or at all? The recommendations I found said to change the ATF (NO FLUSHING, just drain and refill) two or three times. I did two ATF changes over 5000 miles, Valvoline Max-Life Synthetic ATF was used, and the issue is essentially gone. Honda's recommended ATF change interval is probably a bit too generous for real life. My wife's 2014 CR-V has 60K miles (bought used Dec 2016 with 21K miles) and we are going to have the ATF changed next week along with it's oil change.

 

Hi....I bought the CRV new in 2012 and have gone to Honda for most all service. The first transmission service was at in 2017 at 56,500 miles. But the MM didn't ask for it sooner!. Then when they did the service they only drain about 30 % of the ATF anyway! So here I am 8 years and 86,000 miles from when it was new with what amounts to 2/3 of the system with 8 year old ATF! (they do include an additive to help the ATF that didn't drain out at that first "change).

So at 8 years and 86K I feel the shutter. I go to the dealer and they confirm it and they will do the software upgrade and said they will also change out ALL the ATF for $293 total. I argue they should have TOLD ME ABOUT THIS back in 2017 when I was in warranty! They lower the price to $220 and I pay it and drive away.

I get home and look at my receipt and they only did a standard 1/3 ATF change!! I call them back and they say...our bad....you're right.....come back in Monday morning August 17th and we will do the 1/3 2/3/ 3/3 thing to try and "get it all". (by the way can you explain that to me...what exactly is the procedure?...can it be done in one visit by driving the car few miles between the changes)?

When I left the dealer Friday August 14th, the tranny felt great even though they did the 1/3 change and the "software upgrade". Today..not so much...it's back already!

After they do the entire ATF replacement....if it still has a shutter....it might be or it IS the torque converter? It it is I bet that's gonna be a 2K bill?? How much will it be?.... The part online is $500-$700 plus 5 hours labor plus misc little parts!

Whats your thoughts on this? The car is in perfect condition feels like new almost. thanks

 

If the tranny is simply drained only a portion of the ATF will come out. I think that's the reason 2 or 3 changes in succession were recommended on the info I saw. If the unit is opened up for service or is power flushed all the fluid will empty. It seems power flushing is not recommended because it can dislodge matter that will cause more problems. Bear in mind this info came from sources like the Pilot owners forum, Youtube videos, and Scotty Kilmer's page. What the Honda dealers and Honda USA say may not necessarily agree with these opinions.. After I digested the researched info it seemed plausible to me and it was not going to make things any worse. At most I'd be out for six quarts of ATF and some labor time. Fortunately the procedure did work in my case so I did not have to venture into any major work on the torque converter.

 

Winston whats the recommended mileage between the first partial trans fluid change and the second one in this process...a few days of driving? Should it be done more than twice? Seems like 3 would be the minimum) Can the changes be done all on one trip to the dealer?

 

Here's the TSB for the trans shudder if you need it plus a short list of my experience with my 2012.

The following is from one of my earlier posts.....

Software update only required once. Only use Honda trans fluid. Do not use Lubeguard Red or any other additive. If the shudder returns change the fluid a second time within a couple of days. I have become accustomed to changing my trans fluid every 25-30,000 kms on my 2012 AWD to keep the shudder from returning. This is my experience and opinion.

68657 kms - change trans fluid
134413 kms - shudder starts change trans fluid
155682 kms - shudder back change trans fluid
156200 kms - change trans fluid and software update
183825 kms - change trans fluid no apparent shudder

Now at 200,000kms and no shudder. Plan to change the fluid again at 208,000 kms .

 

Here's the TSB for the trans shudder if you need it plus a short list of my experience with my 2012.

The following is from one of my earlier posts.....

Software update only required once. Only use Honda trans fluid. Do not use Lubeguard Red or any other additive. If the shudder returns change the fluid twice within a couple of days. I have become accustomed to changing my trans fluid every 25-30,000 kms on my 2012 AWD to keep the shudder from returning. This is my experience and opinion.

68657 kms - change trans fluid
134413 kms - shudder starts change trans fluid
155682 kms - shudder back change trans fluid
156200 kms - change trans fluid and software update
183825 kms - change trans fluid no apparent shudder

Now at 200,000kms and no shudder. Plan to change the fluid again at 208,000 kms .

THIS IS

 

I had the converter replaced 5y in in both, 2008 Civic and 2008 CR-V, I also have a faint shudder in my gen4 at 78kkm. Seems like I should buy a lottery ticket.

 

About hi how much is a torque converter replacement at the dealer ???

 

GREAT INFO...JUST TO CLARIFY...WHEN YOU SAY "CHANGE" TRANS FLUID....YOU MEAN CHANGE IT ALL EACH TIME...RIGHT? .....IE DO IT 3 TIMES EACH TIME ….BTW IS THERE A RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE FOR THIS...WHEN IT GETS DRAINED THE FIRST TIME....THEN FILLED....ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THE CAR A CERTAIN MINIMUM NUMBER OF MILES.....BEFORE YOU DRAIN IT A SECOND TIME...THEN REFILL ...THEN DRIVE IT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILES AGAIN ......THEN DRAIN IT FOR THE LAST (THIRD) TIME AND REFILL?

 

NO, I'm only draining once at the mileage indicated. When you change the fluid you are only draining out approximately 30% . That is why I did it again after a few hundred kms. I'm not sure you can remove all of the fluid since a there is a large portion in the torque converter that cannot be accessed. There seems to be some properties in the Honda fluid that dissipate over time and changing it twice in a short period of time has allowed me to keep the shudder from returning so far. If it returns before my planned change at 208,000kms I'll repost.

 

€1700 IIRC, I paid for labor only, the converter was covered by Honda for the Civic.

 

Been having the dreaded transmission "shudder/vibration" on light acceleration for a year now; finally took the car to the local repair shop. They drained the old transmission fluid and replaced with new fluid and performed the software update. Shudder is gone and the car seems to perform better....perhaps because the shifting points may have changed.

 

I have never changed fluids on a vehicle according to the owners manual or manufacturers reccomendations. I have always changed all the fluids earlier than reccomended. Been doing this for over 50 years and it has worked well.
My son is a mechanic of 20+ years. Well known that the trans is the least serviced part on vehicles.

 

Drain tranny and refill with Valvoline MaxLife fluid. Solved shudder issues in m '13 CRV and my '09 Odyssey.

 

I have a 2012 CRV purchased new back in 2012.

You guys need to drain/fill your transmission every 2-3 engine oil changes. Its easier to change the transmission fluid than the engine oil. I even changed the transmission filter one time, the transmission filter is an external filter located to the right of the transmission.

Doing the first drain/fill at 60k miles is waaaay to late IMO. I do it every 15k miles. Only 2.5 - 3 quarts go into the transmission when you do a drain/fill. VERY cheap to do this on your own.

I have 120k miles on my vehicle and the transmission performs as it was brand new. I did do a drain/fill many times, lost count probably 6-8 times. Also you want to use OEM fluid do yourself a favor and DO NOT buy aftermarket fluids. Transmissions can get very temperamental when using an aftermarket fluild.