Transmission Replacement

Transmission Replacement (LL8) (4.2L)

Special Tools

J 21366 Converter Holding Strap

Removal Procedure

1. Disconnect the battery. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and Connection (Service and Repair).




2. Remove the filler tube nut (2) located on the right side of the engine.
3. Remove the filler tube from the stud (1) on the right side of the engine.
4. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle (Service and Repair).
5. Drain the transmission fluid if necessary. Refer to Automatic Transmission Fluid and Filter Replacement (Removal and Replacement).
6. If equipped with 2 wheel drive (2WD) remove the rear propeller shaft. Refer to Rear Propeller Shaft Replacement (Rear Propeller Shaft Replacement).
7. If equipped with 4 wheel drive (4WD) remove the transfer case. Refer to Transfer Case Assembly Replacement ().
8. Support the transmission with a transmission jack.
9. Remove the fuel tank shield if equipped. Refer to Fuel Tank Shield Replacement (Service and Repair).




10. Remove the transmission support. Refer to Transmission Support Replacement (Transmission Support Replacement).




11. Remove the transmission mount. Refer to Transmission Mount Replacement (4.2L) (Removal and Replacement)Transmission Mount Replacement (5.3L) (Removal and Replacement).




12. Remove the catalytic converter assembly. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement (LL8) (Service and Repair)Catalytic Converter Replacement (LH6/LS2) (Service and Repair).
13. Lower the transmission to gain access to the top and sides of the transmission.




14. Remove the range selector cable end from the transmission range selector lever ball stud (6) and the bracket (1). Refer to Range Selector Lever Cable Replacement (Range Selector Lever Cable Replacement).
15. Remove the transmission heat shield. Refer to Transmission Heat Shield Replacement (Removal and Replacement).




16. Disconnect the transmission vent hose (2) from the transmission.




17. Disconnect the main electrical connector from the transmission.
18. Disconnect the park/neutral position switch connector. Refer to Park/Neutral Position Switch Replacement (Park/Neutral Position Switch Replacement).




19. Remove the bolts (2, 3) that secure the fuel line brackets to the left side of the transmission.
20. Remove the starter motor for access to the torque converter bolts. Refer to Starter Replacement (4.2L Engine) (Service and Repair)Starter Replacement (5.3L and 6.0L Engines) (Service and Repair).




21. Remove the torque converter access plug.
22. Mark the flywheel and torque converter orientation for reassembly.
23. Remove the flywheel to torque converter bolts. Use care not to drop the bolts into the bell housing.
24. Disconnect the transmission oil cooler lines from the transmission.
25. Plug the transmission oil cooler line connectors in the transmission case.




26. Remove the bolt that secures the fuel line bracket to the bell housing.




27. Remove the bolts (1, 2) that secure the coolant pipe to the bell housing.
28. Install a safety chain around the transmission.




29. Remove the remaining nuts, studs and/or bolts that secure the transmission to the engine.
30. Install the J 21366 onto the transmission bell housing to retain the torque converter.
31. Pull the transmission straight back to clear the torque converter.
32. Lower the transmission away from the vehicle.

Installation Procedure

1. Install the J 21366 onto the transmission bell housing to retain the torque converter.
2. Raise the transmission into place and remove the J 21366 from the transmission.




3. Slide the transmission straight onto the locating pins while lining up the marks on the flywheel and the torque converter made during removal. The torque converter must be flush onto the flywheel and rotate freely by hand.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution (Fastener Caution).

4. Install nuts, studs and/or bolts securing the transmission to the engine.

Tighten the studs and/or bolts to 50 Nm (37 lb ft).




5. Install the flywheel to torque converter bolts. Use care not to drop the bolts into the bell housing.

Tighten the bolts to 60 Nm (44 lb ft).

6. Install the torque converter access plug.
7. Install the starter motor. Refer to Starter Replacement (4.2L Engine) (Service and Repair)Starter Replacement (5.3L and 6.0L Engines) (Service and Repair).
8. Remove the safety chain from the transmission.




9. Install the bolts (2, 3) that secure the fuel line brackets to the left side of the transmission.

* Tighten bolt (3) to 10 Nm (89 lb in).
* Tighten bolt (2) to 45 Nm (33 lb ft).




10. Connect the main electrical connector to the transmission.
11. Connect the park/neutral position switch connector. Refer to Park/Neutral Position Switch Replacement (Park/Neutral Position Switch Replacement).




12. Connect the transmission vent hose (2) to the transmission.
13. Install the transmission heat shield. Refer to Transmission Heat Shield Replacement (Removal and Replacement).




14. Install the range selector cable end to the transmission range selector ball stud (6) and the bracket (1). Refer to Range Selector Lever Cable Replacement (Range Selector Lever Cable Replacement).
15. Raise the transmission to the normal installed height.




16. Install the catalytic converter assembly. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement (LL8) (Service and Repair)Catalytic Converter Replacement (LH6/LS2) (Service and Repair).




17. Install the transmission mount. Refer to Transmission Mount Replacement (4.2L) (Removal and Replacement)Transmission Mount Replacement (5.3L) (Removal and Replacement).




18. Install the transmission support. Refer to Transmission Support Replacement (Transmission Support Replacement).
19. Remove the transmission jack.
20. Install the fuel tank shield if equipped. Refer to Fuel Tank Shield Replacement (Service and Repair).
21. If equipped with 4WD install the transfer case. Refer to Transfer Case Assembly Replacement ().
22. If equipped with 2WD install the rear propeller shaft. Refer to Rear Propeller Shaft Replacement (Rear Propeller Shaft Replacement).




23. Flush the transmission oil cooler and cooling lines at this time, if necessary. Refer to Transmission Fluid Cooler Flushing and Flow Test (J 45096) (Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Flushing and Flow Test (J 45096))Transmission Fluid Cooler Flushing and Flow Test (J 35944-A) (Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Flushing and Flow Test (J 35944-A)).
24. Connect the transmission oil cooler lines (4) to the transmission.
25. Lower the vehicle.




26. Install the filler tube to the stud (1) on the right side of the engine.
27. Install the filler tube nut (2).

Tighten the nut to 10 Nm (7 lb ft).

28. Connect the battery. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and Connection (Service and Repair).
29. Fill the transmission to the proper level with DEXRON(R) VI transmission fluid and check for leaks. Refer to Transmission Fluid Check (Transmission Fluid Checking Procedure).

Note: It is recommended that transmission adaptive pressure (TAP) information be reset.

Resetting the TAP values using a scan tool will erase all learned values in all cells. As a result, the engine control module (ECM), powertrain control module (PCM) or transmission control module (TCM) will need to relearn TAP values. Transmission performance may be affected as new TAP values are learned.

30. Reset the TAP values. Refer to Transmission Adaptive Functions (TCM) (Transmission Adaptive Functions (TCM)).
31. Road test the vehicle and check for proper operation.