What is the most accurate way to check the automatic transmission fluid on my 2010 Fit Sport? I know that Honda says to run the engine til the fan comes on once, but I have also heard people advise to drive the vehicle a distance before checking the fluid. Also I have tried to let my vehicle idle to get the fan to turn on but the engine does not seem to get hot enough to kick the fan on while the car is just parked at idle.

 

The thing to be careful about is each car has different instructions, so don't use instructions you found from a different manufacturer or even from Honda but a different model. Some say while the engine is on, some say with engine off. Some have hot measurements, others cold.

So you need to check the manual. Anyone have it handy?


Most do say, you should row through the gears, including park/reverse before measuring.
If it is a hot measurement, just need to get to Operating temp. If you went for a drive to get to operating temperature, don't worry sooo much if the fan kicked on or not.

If you have fluid on the dipstick at all though, you're probably in OK shape compared to if you're hitting nothing, or the thing is overflowing you are in trouble.

 

for the fit its the following (from the 09 service manual):

start engine from cold (overnight). then wait until the fan kicks in twice (it'll take a bit and make sure your ac is off and the fan is set to without defrost.


once it kicks in twice, turn it off and you have 60 sec to check the level. Any longer and the level may seem higher than it actually it.

 

I think it says "wait 60 seconds after shutting off the engine, but not more than 90 seconds"

 

thanks for sharing...