This procedure drains and refills the front differential fluid (integrated into the transaxle) on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic with the 1.5L Turbo engine, ensuring proper lubrication and extending component life.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Drain plug washer/gasket × 1 — 90471-PX4-000 or equivalent

Fluids

• Honda DW-1 ATF — 2.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Allow engine and transaxle to cool if recently driven
4. Raise front of vehicle using jack and secure on jack stands
5. Remove driver side front wheel for better access to drain plug
6. Locate the transaxle drain plug on the bottom of the transaxle housing, facing downward

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove driver side front wheel
   Using a 19mm socket, loosen and remove all lug nuts. Remove the wheel to provide access to the transaxle drain plug area.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Position drain pan
   Place the drain pan directly under the transaxle drain plug. The plug is located on the lower front section of the transaxle case, approximately centered under the engine bay.
3. 3

   Remove drain plug
   Using a 17mm socket or wrench, slowly loosen the drain plug. Once loose, quickly remove it by hand and allow fluid to drain completely into the pan. This will take approximately 5-10 minutes. Inspect the drain plug washer for damage.
   ⚠Fluid may come out with force initially. Keep hands clear of the stream to avoid burns if fluid is warm.
4. 4

   Inspect and replace drain plug washer
   Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and discard. Install a new washer onto the drain plug. Inspect the drain plug threads for damage.
5. 5

   Reinstall drain plug
   Thread the drain plug with new washer into the transaxle case by hand to avoid cross-threading. Once hand-tight, use a torque wrench and 17mm socket to tighten to 26 Nm (19 lb-ft).
   ℹ️The drain plug uses the Mounting Bolts specification. Do not overtighten as this can strip the aluminum threads in the transaxle case.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts26 Nm (19 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Locate fill plug
   The fill plug is located on the driver side of the transaxle, accessible from the wheel well. It is positioned higher up on the transaxle case. Clean the area around the fill plug before removal.
7. 7

   Remove fill plug and add fluid
   Using a 17mm wrench, remove the fill plug. Using a fluid pump with extension hose or funnel, add approximately 2.5 quarts of Honda DW-1 ATF fluid through the fill hole. Fill until fluid begins to drip from the fill hole, indicating proper level.
8. 8

   Reinstall fill plug
   Once fluid level is correct (dripping from fill hole), reinstall the fill plug and tighten to 26 Nm (19 lb-ft) using a torque wrench and 17mm socket.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts26 Nm (19 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reinstall wheel
   Mount the wheel back onto the hub. Hand-thread all lug nuts, then tighten in a star pattern to 129 Nm (95 lb-ft) using a torque wrench.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Lower vehicle and verify
    Carefully lower the vehicle from jack stands. Remove jack stands and lower completely. Check under the vehicle for any fluid leaks around the drain and fill plugs.

Reassembly

1. Ensure both drain and fill plugs are torqued to specification with new washers installed
2. Verify no fluid leaks are present after lowering vehicle
3. Dispose of old transaxle fluid at an appropriate recycling facility

Verification

• Start the engine and allow it to idle for 2-3 minutes
• With the engine running and parking brake engaged, cycle through all gear positions (P-R-N-D-L) pausing 2 seconds in each
• Return to Park and check fluid level is still at the fill hole (should drip slightly when fill plug is loosened)
• Check underneath vehicle for any leaks around drain and fill plugs
• Test drive vehicle for 5-10 minutes and recheck for leaks after test drive
• Verify smooth shifting and normal transaxle operation

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