[pknowles]

Hay guys. I just got a 98 Civc EX auto for my wife and I want to change out all the fluids since it has probably never been done (oil being the exception). I've always flushed my own automatics by dropping the pan and fitting a hose to the pump inlet (most cars and trucks you cut the filter neck off and clamp a hose to it) and letting the pump flush new fluid from a bucket through the trans. I was told that the Civic's trans filter is not at the bottom of the pan like I'm used to and you can't reach it unless you rebuild the trans. Is this true? Does the trans have a pick-up tube going to the bottom of the pan that I can attach my hose too so I can flush the trans? I was going to drop the pan and look myself, but figured someone out there has probably done it before. Thanks.

[nape]

I would pull a cooler line, but it's not worth braking one which on an 8 year old car is very possible considering the lines have probably never been apart.

Just a comment as far as pulling the lines apart, use PB blaster and a line wrench and chances are it will come apart without breaking. I've had great success on my old '78 Nova, '90 Firebird and a friend's '89 Mustang using that method. Just go slow and work the fittings in and out as they're coming off.

8 years isn't anything, my '96 Beretta is the newest and least rusty car I've ever owned. It's nice comparitively (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)