Honda CR-V Differential Fluid change

Read the service schedule but 23k seems way too soon.

$280 is also 3x what the oil change is worth.

You can purchase the fluid on Amazon for less than $25 $280 is a total ripoff.

Rear diff fluid is about $65 to change...if you life in a cold climate in the winter the rear diff fluid congeals and needs replacing sooner. The best way to tell (I’ve had 2 crv’s) is to make a sharp turn like into a parking space and if your car bucks or jerks while your turn that is the sign.

I had the exact same experience as Joan with my Honda dealer. However, after scouring the Honda manual I was unable to find any service schedule for changing rear differential fluid. The only pertinent information the manual recommends is relying on the Maintenance Minder sub-codes to inform you that this change is needed. The sub-code is 6 on the Maintenance Minder information display which is on your dashboard.

You can ask a friend to change for you, its real simple and easy. There's videos on YouTube on how to do it. Like this guy said in this post is a total rip off. You only less than 2 quarts to fill and only takes less than 30 minutes to do it.

Our Honda Dealer charges $99 and our manual advises replacing the fluid every 15,000 miles, so i'm gathering the materials to do it myself. They also wanted to replace both the Brake Fluid and Transmission Fluids as per the maintenance manual. If they say you need a new Cabin Filter and Engine Filter, do it yourself, it's super easy and will save you $100 or more.

Hi, I am researching this very same deal on my 2017 CRV, and if you know anyone who is at least a bit hands on a six pack of their favorite beverage should suffice for this job it is no kidding about 30 minutes for someone who is taking their time doing it. I hate to hear about garage mechanics who take advantage of folks who don't know what it should cost. 280 is down right THIEVERY and they should be ashamed to even look you in the eye when they say it. The exuberant costs for the fluid is about 20 a quart and the job only requires 1.3 qts. When I say a half hour that is for someone who doesn't do this for a living no for someone who does it takes no longer than 10 minutes as they have lifts and all the right tools at hand to make the job go easy and quick. maybe 20 if they want to milk it for all its worth. Good luck and never go back to that garage again for ANYTHING. THEY ARE THIEVES

Be forewarned that removing the fill plug and drain plug can be hard (they get very tight for some reason). Make sure to always do the FILL plug first so that you aren't left stranded.

My honda dealer is also quoting me $199 for differential fluid change, $199 for brake fluid flush and $199 for coolant flush on 2015 CRV with 21K miles. Looking into DIY options and/or local auto repair stores for better pricing.

The service underwriters at dealerships get paid a percentage of the money you pay for service. It is in their best interest to get you to do more service, more often. Therefore there is a conflict of interest. They often tell you you need more work done then you really do in order to pad their wallets, of course, st your expense. Every time I go to a dealer I am given a long laundry list of things that need to be done (according to them). Upon inspection by myself or a trusted mechanic, many, if not most, of the list is unnecessary. For this reason it is a good idea to find a good and honest independent mechanic. I only use A dealer for warranty repairs and recalls and if my trusted mechanic refers me to them for some strange reason. A quart of dual pump fluid costs between $12-$15 a quart. You probably need 2 with some left over. This job is doable if you are mechanically inclined and can operate a wrench and have jack stands. If not I would not attempt it. I recommend finding an honest mechanic to do the work at the recommended mileage, paying a reasonable fee. Remember you will have to pay him for his (or her) time on top of the $25-$30 for the fluid. Good luck!

my 2000 Honda CRV only takes 1.1 quarts of Dual Pump II fluid. VERY easy to do yourself.

1.1 quarts of Dual Pump II; Take rear drivers side rear wheel off for easier fill access. Right rear is where the drain plug is...fill plug left upper side of differential. Jack up rear, remove wheel, loosen fill plug first to assure you can fill it after draining, then on the right side of differential is the drain plug, Both plugs accept 3//8 in ratchet in the socket. Drain into drain pain completely. Use new washer and reinstall drain plug. tighten. Use a hose rigged to fit fill hole with 1.1 quarts of Honda Dual Pump II fluid. Reinstall plug with new Honda washer, tighten and you are done. 30 min. tops. I have it down to 20 minutes after doing 3 changes.

My 2013 Honda CR-V with 15,000 miles came for A1 service. The advisor told me that the rear differential fluid needs to be changed. I declined, because it seems too soon. Wonder what you would do if being told to do so by Honda dealership service advisor. Thanks!

I have a 2018 honda cr-v and when I went in for my first (or second) oil change at 12000 there was a code A on my dash. The service dept said I needed my rear differential oil replace. So they did. It cost me $180. But now it's time to get my oil change again at 17000 and the same code A is on my dash. Wondering what they will say as they just replaced it....maybe a recall of a sort if the oil is low or something wrong with the actual differential causing to much metal scrapes.. I'd appreciate any advice from anyone who knows more about this issue..Thanks

A is engine oil replacement. They screwed you

I have a 2018 AWD CRV that also required A16 code at around $18K miles. A16 is oil, tire rotation, and rear diff fluid. When I asked the dealer why I would need rear diff fluid so soon, I was told the break in of new vehicle metal components causes small shards of metal to get into the diff fluid. I didn't like it but I spent the $180 to have it done. I have just purchased an older 2009 CRV AWD and noticed a shutter when turning the wheel to the extreme right or left like when backing out of a parking spot or making a U-turn. Concerned I had a power steering problem, I took it in and my non-dealer mechanic informed me that the rear differential fluid replacement is needed to fix the problem. Sure enough, I have found many resources that explain this steering shutter to be a well known defect in CRVs, that requires diff fluid change to fix. Here's a good article that explains it. I feel a bit ripped off by what may be design defect. https://www.gdlauto.com.au/honda-crv-shudder-when-turning/

Today is December 2020 and brought my 2019 crv in for oil change with only 16,000 miles and they just toll me I have to change the differential oil and toll them ok do it and went to waiting room but then I thought this is a ripoff so I went back to tell them I don’t have enough money in my account and then he went is ok and went back to the waiting room to look for better ideas and I found this website very happy I saved lots of money

Better change that AWD fluid at 20k or 30k and it will cost u 60 or 100 $ then spend like me over 800$, because I changed my AWD fluid when it was too late when the AWD light came on and drove like that for a while, now I have to spend another 700 CAD, to do rear differential solenoid replacement EDPS, because just changing the fluid it did not help, I mean if the Honda garage did a good scanning job in the very first place I would have known the issue and fix the car long time ago.

Just had a service at Honda and they wanted to charge me $110 for the differential service- My 2018 CR-V only has 22k Miles - Told them no ---- I will plan to do it myself (hoping it is not too difficult to open the drain point!)

ID HAVE A 2014 HONDA CRV WHERE'S THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCATION., TRY TO CHANGE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID BUT I DID NOT FIND THE DIFFERENTIAL.