Automatic Transmission/Transaxle: Service and Repair

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove air cleaner.
3. Disconnect speedometer cable and shift control linkage at transaxle.
4. Disconnect engine ground cable at cylinder head, then coolant pipe bracket.
5. Remove secondary air pipe and EGR pipe bracket, then remove wiring harness clip.
6. Disconnect neutral safety switch and kick down solenoid engine compartment electrical connectors located near ignition coil.
7. Disconnect body ground connector.
8. Remove two upper transaxle attaching bolts, then disconnect neutral safety switch wire connector from transaxle.
9. Disconnect vacuum hose from vacuum diaphragm line.
10. Loosen hose clamps and disconnect and cap transaxle fluid cooler lines from transaxle.
11. Support engine using a suitable engine support bar.
12. Raise and support vehicle, then drain fluid from transaxle and remove wheel and tire assemblies.
13. Remove engine compartment under and side covers.
14. Remove stabilizer bar, then lower ball joint and steering knuckle attaching bolt. Pull lower control arm downward and separate from steering knuckle. Use care not to damage ball joint boot.

Fig. 6 Separating Halfshaft From Transaxle:

15. Insert a suitable pry bar between halfshaft and transaxle case and separate shaft from transaxle, Fig. 6. A notch on the side bearing housing is incorporated for pry bar insertion. After disconnecting halfshafts, support shafts from body with wire.
16. Remove crossmember attaching bolts, then the crossmember.
17. Remove starter motor, then the bolts attaching end plate to transaxle.
18. Remove torque converter-to-flex plate attaching bolts.
19. Tilt engine toward transaxle, by loosening engine support hook, then support transaxle using a wooden block and suitable jack.
20. Remove nuts and bolts securing engine mount to transaxle.
21. Remove remaining bolts attaching transaxle to engine and remove transaxle assembly.
22. Reverse procedure to install.