Removal

REMOVAL
Transaxle - 3.0L

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. Disconnect the shift cable end.

5. Remove the 3 bolts for the shift cable bracket and position the cable and bracket aside.

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

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

8. Remove the electrical terminal cover for the starter motor electrical connectors.

9. Remove the starter terminals.

10. Remove the 2 bolts and the starter.

11. Remove the 3 upper torque converter housing bolts.

12. Disconnect the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve electrical connector.

13. Disconnect the EGR tube nut from the valve.

14. Remove the 2 bolts and the EGR valve. Discard the gasket.

15. Remove the bolt from the power steering line bracket and position it aside.

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

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

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

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

20. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the 2 nuts and separate the sway bar links from the struts.

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

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

23. Remove the LH halfshaft.

All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles
24. Remove and discard the front wheel hub nut.

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

26. 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.

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

28. NOTE: Front wheel drive (FWD) shown, all wheel drive (AWD) similar.

Remove the 2 Y-pipe bolts and nuts.

29. NOTE: FWD shown, AWD similar.

Remove the flexpipe nuts and the Y-pipe assembly.

30. If equipped, remove the 2 bolts and the roll restrictor heat shield.

31. NOTE: FWD shown, AWD similar.

Remove the 2 bolts from the engine roll restrictor bracket.

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

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

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

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

37. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the 2 front subframe nuts and remove the subframe.

38. NOTE: FWD shown, AWD similar.

Loosen the EGR tube nut at the RH exhaust manifold and remove the EGR tube.

Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
39. Remove the 2 bolts and the RH exhaust manifold heat shield.

40. Remove the 2 bolts and the catalytic converter band clamp.

41. Remove the 2 bolts and the catalytic converter-to-engine block bracket.

42. Disconnect the heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) electrical connector from the RH halfshaft bearing support bracket.

43. Remove the bolt retaining the brake caliper hose.

44. Remove the 2 bolts and remove the RH halfshaft from the transaxle and position it aside with mechanic's wire.

AWD vehicles
45. Using the special tool, separate the halfshaft from the wheel hub.

46. Remove the 2 bolts and the RH halfshaft.

47. Index the driveshaft, remove the 4 bolts from the driveshaft and position the driveshaft aside.

48. Disconnect the RH catalyst monitor sensor (CMS) electrical connector and detach the wiring retainer.

49. Using the special tool, remove the RH CMS.

50. Disconnect the RH heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) electrical connector.

51. Using the special tool, remove the RH HO2S.

52. Remove the 6 bolts and the RH exhaust heat shield.

53. Remove the 3 nuts and the catalytic converter band clamp RH half.

54. Remove the 2 bolts and the catalytic converter band clamp LH half.

55. Remove the nuts and the RH catalytic converter.

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

57. Remove the 5 bolts and the PTU.

All vehicles

58. NOTE: When installing the lifting bracket, it will be easier to loosely install the upper bolt first, then install the lower bolt.

Install the lower half of the lifting hook.

59. Install the upper half of the lifting hook.

60. Install the universal lifting brackets on the LH side of the engine.

61. Using the special tools, support the engine.

62. Remove the 2 bolts from the transmission insulator.

63. Lower the transaxle and remove the 2 nuts and the bolt and remove the transaxle support insulator bracket.

64. Remove the HO2S bracket bolt and disconnect the wiring harness fastener.

65. Remove the inspection cover.

66. Remove and discard the 3 torque converter nuts.

67. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler hoses.

68. Position a suitable high-lift transmission jack under the transaxle.

69. Remove the 5 torque converter housing bolts and remove the transmission.

70. 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.