Removal

REMOVAL
Transaxle - 3.5L

Special Tools:

Special Tools:

All vehicles
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.
2. Remove the battery and battery tray.
3. Remove the air cleaner and the outlet pipe.
4. Remove the upper intake manifold.
5. Disconnect the shift cable end.





6. Remove the 2 bolts and the nut for the shift cable bracket and position the cable and bracket aside.





7. Disconnect the wire harness from the transmission control module (TCM).





8. Disconnect the wiring harness fasteners from the torque converter housing stud bolt and the starter motor.





9. Remove the 2 ground strap bolts and position aside the ground straps.





10. Position the boot back and remove the starter terminals from the starter.





11. Remove the 2 bolts and the starter.





12. Remove the 4 upper torque converter housing bolts.





13. Install the special tool on the LH cylinder head.





14. Install the special tools and support the engine.





15. Remove the transaxle support insulator through bolt.





16. Using the special tools, lower the transaxle and remove the 2 transaxle support insulator bracket nuts, the bolt and the bracket.





17. Remove the 4 screws and position the RH fender splash shield aside.





18. Remove the 6 pin-type retainers and remove the RH front structure to subframe splash shield.





19. Remove the 4 screws and position the LH fender splash shield aside.





20. Remove the pin-type retainers and remove the LH front structure-to-subframe splash shield.





21. Remove the 6 Y-pipe nuts and the Y-pipe assembly.





22. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the nuts and separate the sway bar links from the struts.





23. If a transaxle exchange or overhaul is required, the transmission fluid must be drained.
- Remove the drain plug and allow the fluid to drain.





24. If removed, install the transmission fluid drain plug.
- Tighten to 47 Nm (35 ft. lbs.).





25. Remove the LH halfshaft.

All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles

26. Remove and discard the front wheel hub nut.





All vehicles
27. Remove the RH lower control arm nuts.





28. CAUTION: When the lower ball joint is separated from the wheel knuckle, the lower arm may strike the outer constant velocity (CV) joint boot with enough force to damage the boot clamp. This will result in a loss of grease from the outer CV joint. Place a block of wood, or similar item, between the lower arm and the outer CV joint to prevent the lower arm from striking the outer CV joint.

NOTE: Once pressure is applied to the ball joint with the special tool, it may be necessary to tap the wheel knuckle at the ball joint area to separate the ball joint from the wheel knuckle.

Using the special tools, separate the 2 lower ball joints from the wheel knuckle and remove the wheel knuckle.





29. Remove the bolt connecting the RH damper fork to the lower control arm.





30. Remove the 2 engine roll restrictor bracket bolts.





31. Remove the bolts and position the power steering cooler tube aside.





32. Remove the 3 steering gear bolts and position the steering gear aside with mechanic's wire.





33. Position a suitable drivetrain lift table under the subframe.
34. Remove the 2 rear subframe nuts.





35. Remove the 4 bolts and the 2 subframe support brackets.





36. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the 2 front subframe nuts and remove the subframe.





Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
37. Remove the 2 catalytic converter bracket bolts.





38. Remove the 2 nuts and remove the catalytic converter support bracket.





39. Remove the 3 bolts and position the RH halfshaft aside.





AWD vehicles
40. Using the special tool, press the halfshaft out of the wheel hub.





41. Remove the 2 bolts and the RH halfshaft.





42. Index the driveshaft, remove the 4 bolts and position the driveshaft aside.





43. Disconnect the RH catalyst monitor electrical connector.





44. Remove the 2 catalytic converter bracket bolts.





45. Remove the 4 nuts and the RH catalytic converter.





46. Remove the 5 bolts and the power transfer unit (PTU) support bracket.





47. Remove the 5 bolts and the PTU.





All vehicles
48. Remove the 2 fasteners and the inspection cover.





49. Remove the 4 torque converter nuts.





50. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler hoses.





51. Position a suitable high-lift transmission jack under the transaxle.
52. Remove the 7 torque converter housing bolts and remove the transaxle.





53. If installing a new transaxle, the fluid cooler will need to be backflushed and cleaned. Carry out transmission fluid cooler tube backflushing and cleaning. For additional information, refer to Transmission Fluid Cooler - Backflushing and Cleaning.