Automatic Transmission/Transaxle: Service and Repair

1. Disconnect battery ground cable, release steering lock and place gear selector in Neutral.
2. Disconnect battery cable and black/white wire connector from starter.
3. Drain transaxle fluid, then reinstall drain plug and washer.
4. Disconnect speedometer cable and transaxle cooler lines. Wire cooler lines up next to radiator to prevent ATF from running out.
5. Remove center console, then the shift cable adjuster lock pin.
6. Remove shift cable guide attaching bolts, then pull shift cable from passenger compartment.
7. Remove front axles as follows:
a. Loosen front wheel spindle nuts, then raise and support front of vehicle.
b. Remove front wheels, then the spindle nuts.
c. Working at one side at a time, position suitable floor jack under lower control arm, then remove lower ball joint cotter pin and nut. Position floor jack under control arm at the ball joint.
d. Using suitable puller, separate ball joint from front hub.
e. Slowly lower floor jack to lower the control arm, then pull front hub outward to completely separate drive axle from front hub spindle.
f. Using suitable pry tool, pry CV joint outward 1/2 inch from differential side gear to release spring clip from side gear groove. Use caution not to damage oil seal. Do not pull drive axle from side gear prior to releasing spring clip, as CV joint damage may occur.
g. Pull drive axles from side gear or intermediate shaft. When pulling axle shafts, hold inboard CV joint horizontal to prevent damaging oil seal.
8. Remove drive axle intermediate shaft as follows:
a. Remove three attaching bolts from outer intermediate shaft support bearing.
b. Lower outer intermediate shaft and support bearing to steering gear and pull shaft from differential. When pulling intermediate shaft, hold shaft horizontal until clear of the differential to prevent damaging oil seal.
9. Attach suitable engine lifting equipment, then raise engine slightly to unload mounts.
10. Remove engine under cover and splash shield.
11. Remove header pipe attaching bolts, then separate header pipe from manifold.
12. Position suitable jack under transaxle, then raise transaxle slightly to unload mounts.
13. Remove front engine mount and the rear transaxle mount bracket attaching bolts.
14. Remove transaxle housing attaching bolts from front transaxle mount bracket.
15. Remove torque converter cover, then the torque converter attaching bolts. The torque converter attaching bolts are located around the circumference of the flex plate. Rotate the crankshaft pulley bolt as necessary to gain access to these bolts. Ensure crankshaft bolt is tightened securely after procedure.
16. Remove starter motor attaching bolts, then the starter.
17. Remove remaining transaxle mount bolts, then pull transaxle away from engine until it clears dowel pins and lower transaxle from vehicle.
18. Reverse procedure to install.