Overhaul gaskets and seals, friction plates and steels to rebuild the MDMA four-speed automatic in the 1997-2001 Honda CR-V (RD1) with the 2.0L.
The first-generation Honda CR-V (RD1, 1997-2001) is still a popular small SUV, and by now most of them have well over 150,000 miles on the four-speed automatic. The calls we get are consistent: a CR-V that slips into third, flares on the 2-3 shift, takes a second or two to engage Drive, or shows black fluid with grit in it. This kit is the soft-parts set for rebuilding that transmission. It packages the overhaul gasket and seal kit with friction plates and steel plates, manufacturer part number BL00302, for the MDMA, MDLA, M4TA and SDMA cases.
Honda did not use planetary gears or bands in this unit. Like the Civic and del Sol automatics it shares a family with, it runs gear pairs on parallel shafts and applies one hydraulic clutch per gear. Every shift is a hand-off: the valve body exhausts the clutch for the gear you are leaving and fills the clutch for the gear you are going to. That design is simple and durable, but it means the clutch frictions and the seals in each drum carry the whole load. CR-Vs that towed, spent life in stop-and-go traffic, or ran on old fluid tend to glaze the packs, and once the material is gone the gear slips no matter what the fluid looks like. Replacing every friction, steel and seal brings each gear back to a tight, positive apply. The CR-V also used Grade Logic shift control, which changes shift points on hills, so a worn unit often shows up first on grades.
Check the fluid level with the engine warm and read any stored codes. A flashing D4 light can come from a solenoid or speed sensor fault as well as from slipping clutches, so match the code to the symptom before you pull the transmission. If the fluid is burnt and there is friction debris on the plug, the packs are worn and this kit is the repair; additives and flushes will not restore material that has already burned away. Our slipping diagnosis guide lays out the checks in order, and the rebuild versus replacement cost breakdown helps if you are weighing a used unit against an overhaul.
This kit is listed for the 1997-2001 Honda CR-V (RD1) with the 2.0L engine and the four-speed automatic, case codes MDMA, MDLA, M4TA and SDMA. Honda assigned different codes by year and by front-drive versus Real Time 4WD, so do not order by model year alone. The code is stamped on the transmission case; read it before you buy, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm. The 2002-and-later CR-V uses a different transmission and does not take this kit. Other Honda sets are in our rebuild kits category.
Work one clutch drum at a time and keep the old plate stack beside the new one so the order and count stay right. Soak the new frictions for at least 30 minutes in Honda ATF DW-1, inspect each drum and piston for scoring or blue heat marks, and measure clutch pack clearance before the drums go back in the case. A clutch spring compressor makes the return-spring snap rings much easier to handle. Use TransJel to hold thrust washers and sealing rings during assembly. Replace the axle seals while the unit is out. The kit does not include the filter, bushings, hard parts, the valve body or the torque converter, so order a filter with it. Flush the cooler and lines before startup, fill with DW-1, and set the level hot.
| Type | Automatic transmission rebuild kit (overhaul kit, frictions, steels) |
| Transmission codes | MDMA, MDLA, M4TA, SDMA |
| Fits | Honda CR-V 1997-2001 (RD1) |
| Includes | Overhaul gasket and seal kit, friction plates, steel plates |
| Does not include | Filter, bushings, hard parts, valve body, torque converter |
| Manufacturer part number | BL00302 |
| Shipping weight | 4.84 lb |
| Box dimensions | 14.96 x 8.98 x 1.14 in |
No. It is built for the 1997-2001 first-generation CR-V four-speed automatic with case codes MDMA, MDLA, M4TA or SDMA. The 2002-up CR-V uses a different transmission.
The code is stamped on the transmission case. Honda used different codes by year and by front-drive versus Real Time 4WD, so read the case or send us your year and VIN before ordering.
The filter, bushings, hard parts, the valve body and the torque converter are not included. The kit is the overhaul gaskets and seals plus friction and steel plates.
Honda ATF DW-1. Pre-soak the frictions in it, fill with it after installation, and check the level with the transmission at operating temperature.
Not always. The flashing light means a fault code is stored, and it can be a solenoid or sensor. Read the code and check the fluid; burnt fluid with clutch debris is what points to a rebuild.
