Honda 2006 & Newer AT/2WD Front Transfer Case

[Lyondellic]

This is a heads up for those of you who own 2006 & newer Honda vehicles. Your 2WD Automatic Transmission vehicle may have a Front Transfer Case.

I found out tonight that my wife's 2006 Pilot 2WD with Automatic Transmission (50K miles) has a front Transfer Case. This was news to me, as well as many other folks at the hondapilot.org site. I have been very diligent about performing drain & fills using Amsoil ATF on the Automatic Transmission, but have never touched the Transfer Case.

For those of you with 2006 model Honda Pilots, the instructions for replacing the Transfer Case fluid are listed in section #14, page #200 of the Helm shop manual. Servicing the Transfer Case requires ~1/2 quart of SAE 80W-90 for applications below 32°F, or SAE-90 for applications above 32°F.

 

[firemachine69]

I've never heard of a front transfer case... Pictures? Are you sure there's no confusion with the torque converter?

 

[94MaxGXE]

My 99 Camry has a front transfer case with its own drain & fill plugs. Takes Dex II ATF. It's great to have a FSM to find things like this.

 

[Lyondellic]

Originally Posted By: firemachine69
I've never heard of a front transfer case... Pictures? Are you sure there's no confusion with the torque converter?


Absolutely certain, but no pictures yet. I will take some soon and post them here. As stated above, replacing this fluid is covered in the 2006 Pilot Helm shop manual on 14-200 if you know someone who has it. My scanner is down at the moment, otherwise I would post the drawing and steps here. Apparently this change was made in the 2006 & newer models, with the prior models using ATF from the transmission instead.

I need to order some 80W-90 from Amsoil, though I need to confirm which one to use. Here is the listing & capacity from the Amsoil site:

Transfer Case,.....GL-5
Above 0°C......90
SAE 80W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube
Severe Gear 75W-90
SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube

Note how Amsoil breaks it down the capacities:

Differential, with 4WD Rear..........5.5 pints
Transfer Case,..........0.8 pints

Here is a link to the thread on the hondapilot.org site forum:

http://www.hondapilot.org/forums/showthread.php?s=d233a99515a41819c22c3701eb952096&threadid=23216

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Lyondellic
This is a heads up for those of you who own 2006 & newer Honda vehicles. Your 2WD Automatic Transmission vehicle may have a Front Transfer Case.


2006 is a totally different transmission than 2007+. 2wd and 4wd share the exact same transmission. Same trans as the Ridgeline and Odyssey. Typically 2wd wouldn't have a xfer case bolted to it? Odd that Honda would install one only to have a output flange spinning in the breeze?!? That doesn't make sense. Check your parts here: http://www.slhondaparts.com/browse.asp

Joel

 

[firemachine69]

I'm still trying to figure out how a transfer case for the front (only) would be beneficial. I can only think it would add parasitic (sp?) loss.

 

[Lyondellic]

I'm assuming that the Saturn Vue would have one as well.

 

[Lyondellic]

This is from the Acura forum, but it discusses the Pilot's Transfer Case. Note that the pictures are dated from 2005, so I am assuming that this is a 4WD Pilot.

http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=23082&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

From all of the information I have read, the 4WD setup requires 5.5 quarts of lubricant & the 2WD Front Transfer Case seems to use 1/2 quart, which is different that the .8 pint fill capacity listed on the Amsoil site. I will climb under my wife's pilot today and try to take some pictures.

The drawings of the Transfer case Helm manual for the 2006 Pilot look the same, so these should be used for reference only. The OP discusses his experience at a dealership service center. Even the less experienced service techs were not aware of the need to drain & replace this fluid.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Lyondellic
This is from the Acura forum, but it discusses the Pilot's Transfer Case. Note that the pictures are dated from 2005, so I am assuming that this is a 4WD Pilot.


Yep, you can see a prop shaft going to the rear. You gotta be careful with Honda transmission though, the 2004, '05 and 06's all have subtle differences. The transfer case was changed in 2006, has it's own breather, etc.. and a major trans overhaul in 2007.

2005 xfer case:

2006 xfer case:

Joel

 

[Lyondellic]

Okay, I just climbed under my wife's 2006 Pilot 2WD and I can confirm that there was NOT a Transfer Case (Just the mounting flange). Apparently there is a Transfer Case on some models, but not on others. I took a picture with the camera on my cell phone, but it came out too dark. I would advise everyone with a Honda vehicle to take a peek to see if your model utilizes a Transfer Case that requires periodic servicing.

 

[JTK]

That makes sense. The transfer case is a 'bolt on' unit. Honda uses the same AT for FWD and 4wd.

Joel

 

[ryan2022]

Yes, it probably will on a V6 model. The transfer case should sit basically tucked up against the oil pan.

I had a 5 cyl vigor years ago, and it had a T-Case (FWD) because the transmission was mounted similar to a 6 cylinder, behind the motor. The transfer case brought the power back up to the front wheels.

 

[VK56VD]

We have a '06 Pilot 4WD with a Transfer case. I used Amsoil Severe Gear in it, at the time of service.

It's odd a 2WD model will have a transfer case. You're lucky you don't have to service your rear differential with the super expensive VTM-4 Honda fluid.

 

[gtoracer]

I have a 07 acura MDX(same as pilot) with Super handling all wheel drive which also has a transfer case which I changed with amsoil severe gear 75w-90. Took 1/2 QT.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: firemachine69
I've never heard of a front transfer case... Pictures? Are you sure there's no confusion with the torque converter?


My 95 Corolla has it on a 3spd auto transmission. Probably because it was originally designed for a 4WD system.

 

[VK56VD]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: firemachine69
I've never heard of a front transfer case... Pictures? Are you sure there's no confusion with the torque converter?


My 95 Corolla has it on a 3spd auto transmission. Probably because it was originally designed for a 4WD system.


I think your Corolla has a separate differential drain, not a transfer case.