Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Part 1

Engine

Special Tool(s):




Special Tool(s):





WARNING: Do not smoke or carry lighted tobacco or open flame of any type when working on or near any fuel-related components. Highly flammable mixtures are always present and may be ignited. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

All vehicles
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.
2. Release the fuel system pressure.
3. Disconnect the battery ground cable.
4. Recover the air conditioning system.
5. Place the steering wheel in the straight ahead position and the ignition key in the OFF position.
6. Remove the 2 nuts and the steering joint cover.





7. CAUTION: Do not allow the intermediate shaft to rotate while it is disconnected from the gear or damage to the clockspring can occur. If there is evidence that the intermediate shaft has rotated, the clockspring must be removed and recentered.

NOTE: Index-mark the steering column shaft position to the steering gear for reference during installation.

Remove the bolt and disconnect the steering column shaft from the steering gear.





8. Drain the cooling system.
9. Remove the 4 screws and position the RH fender splash shield aside.





10. Remove the 6 pin-type retainers (4 shown) and the RH splash shield.
11. Remove the 4 screws and position the LH fender splash shield aside.





12. Remove the 6 pin-type retainers (4 shown) and the LH splash shield.





13. Disconnect the power steering hose and drain the power steering fluid into a suitable drain pan.





14. Remove the exhaust flexible pipe.





All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles

15. NOTE: Index-mark the driveshaft for installation.

Remove the 4 bolts (3 shown) and support the driveshaft with a length of mechanic's wire.





All vehicles
16. CAUTION: The steering gear-to-dash seal must be removed or it will be damaged when lowering the subframe.

Release the 4 clips and slide the steering gear-to-dash seal off of the steering gear and into the passenger compartment.





17. Remove the power steering pressure (PSP) hose bracket bolt.





18. Remove and discard the PSP hose banjo bolt and the 2 seals from the steering gear.





19. If equipped, remove the 2 bolts and the heat shield.





20. Remove the 2 bolts and the engine roll restrictor.





21. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the cotter pins and nuts from the tie-rod ends.





22. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Using the special tool, separate the tie-rod ends from the steering knuckles.





23. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

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





24. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the lower ball joint nuts.





25. 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.

NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Using the special tools, separate the lower ball joints from the lower control arms.





26. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the through bolts from the lower control arms.





27. Position the special tool under the subframe assembly.





28. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the subframe bracket-to-body bolts.





29. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the subframe nuts and the subframe brackets.





30. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the front subframe nuts.





31. Lower the subframe assembly from the vehicle.
32. Disconnect the transaxle cooler hoses.





33. Remove the drain plug and drain the engine oil.
^ Install the drain plug and tighten to 26 Nm (19 ft. lbs.).





34. Remove and discard the engine oil filter.





35. Remove the engine air cleaner and air cleaner outlet pipe.
36. Remove the battery tray.
37. Remove the nut and disconnect the power feed wire from the battery terminal.





38. Disconnect the 2 engine wiring harness electrical connectors.





39. Remove the bolt and position aside the ground wire.





40. Disconnect the powertrain control module (PCM) electrical connector and the pin-type retainer.





41. Disconnect the fuel supply tube from the fuel rail.
42. Disconnect the heater hose from the thermostat housing.





43. Disconnect the heater hose inline connection.





44. Disconnect the throttle body coolant hose.





45. Disconnect the evaporative emissions (EVAP) hose.





46. Disconnect the upper and lower radiator hoses from the thermostat housing.





47. Disconnect the transaxle control cable from the transaxle selector lever.





48. Remove the 3 transaxle control cable bracket bolts and position the cable aside.





49. Remove the bolt and position the ground wire aside.





50. Remove the vacuum tube bracket bolt.





51. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the intake manifold.





52. If equipped, detach the block heater cable retaining clips from the cooling fan shroud.





53. Disconnect the power steering hose from the power steering reservoir.





54. Detach the power steering hose retaining clip from the LH valve cover stud bolt and the engine wiring harness.





55. Disconnect the coolant hose from the degas bottle.