I want to do all the basic routine maintenance that I can without taking it into a Honda dealership (I've had bad experiences with all local Honda service departments). I'm coming up on my third oil change, and would also like to change the diff fluid, but (I've never done this before) how do you get the fluid INTO the differential once the old fluid is drained? The fill plug looks to be pretty horizontal - is it normally pumped in?

 

Invest in a service manual:

http://www.helminc.com/helm/Result.asp?Sty...0A3HVE053W2DPRC

 

If you go to NAPA or Trak Auto (if you have either one of those nearby) they sell Sta-Lube pumps which are what I use. It fits right on the top of the Mobil 1 bottle and I assume the bottle of whatever type you might use.

Usually they keep them near the diff and tranny fluids. I dont have the NAPA part number on me right now but I dont think theyre that hard to find. Cost about $3-4. You might also want to try a syringe. The diff doesnt hold that much (1 liter or so) so it wont be that slow.

 

Kevin - like jws626 says, invest a few bucks in a pump. I purchased mine from Discount Auto Parts, so I bet you could find one at most any auto parts store. To change the diff fluid, I just put the car up on jack stands and there was plenty of room to wiggle around under the car. Note that you'll need a 24mm socket to access the drain plug (a spanner/wrench won't work) and a 23mm spanner for the fill plug (an adjustable wrench worked fine for me). Be sure to use fluid that meets GL5 or GL6 specifications. I used Valvoline SynPower 75/90, and others have used Mobil 1, Castrol and Redline fluids. Here are a couple of links to earlier discussions on this http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...p?threadid=7458
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...p?threadid=7980

[Edited by CoralDoc on 03-20-2001 at 03:32 AM]

 

Oh you know what? While you're at it you should buy two pumps. You'll want another one to change your tranny fluid. At least I like to have two seperate ones to insure no contamination.