Removal

Transaxle - 3.0L





All vehicles

1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Jacking and Lifting Service and Repair.

2. Remove the Air Cleaner (ACL) and the outlet pipe. For additional information, refer to Intake Air Distribution and Filtering - 3.0L (4V) Air Cleaner Outlet Pipe.

3. Remove the starter motor. For additional information, refer to Starting System Service and Repair.

4. Disconnect the selector lever cable end from the manual control lever.





5. Remove the 2 nuts and position the selector lever cable and bracket aside.





6. Disconnect the wiring harness retainers from the main control cover stud bolts.





7. Disconnect the wiring harness retainer from the transmission fluid filler tube.





8. Remove the 3 upper torque converter housing bolts.





9. Remove the EGR valve and tube. For additional information, refer to Engine Emission Control - 3.0L (4V) Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve and Service and Repair.

10. Remove the 2 bolts and the EGR valve bracket.





11. NOTE: Use a steering wheel holding device such as Hunter(R) 28-75-1 or equivalent, to hold the steering wheel.

Using a suitable holding device, hold the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.





12. Remove the 2 nuts and the steering joint cover.





13. NOTICE: 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. For additional information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System Service and Repair.

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





14. If equipped, remove the 7 screws and the underbody cover.





15. NOTE: If transaxle disassembly or installation of a new transaxle is necessary, drain the transmission fluid.

Remove the drain plug and allow the transmission fluid to drain.





16. Install the transmission fluid drain plug.
- Tighten to 12 Nm (106 lb-in).





17. NOTICE: Remove the steering gear/dash seal or damage to the seal may occur.

Release the 4 clips and slide the steering gear/dash seal off of the steering gear.





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





19. Remove the 6 pin-type retainers (4 shown) and the RH splash shield.





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





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





22. Remove the LH halfshaft. For additional information, refer to Front Drive Halfshafts Halfshaft.

Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles

23. Remove the exhaust flexible pipe. For additional information, refer to Exhaust System Service and Repair.

24. Remove the intermediate shaft. For additional information, refer to Front Drive Halfshafts Intermediate Shaft.

25. Disconnect the RH O2 sensor electrical connector.





26. Remove the 5 bolts and the RH exhaust manifold heat shield.





All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles

27. Remove the Power Transfer Unit (PTU). For additional information, refer to Transfer Case - Power Transfer Unit (PTU) .

All vehicles

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





29. NOTE: Front Wheel Drive (FWD) shown, All-Wheel Drive (AWD) similar.

Remove the 2 roll restrictor bracket bolts.





30. Disconnect the 2 in-line EPAS system electrical connectors at the front of the subframe.





31. Detach the 3 wiring harness retainers from the LH front of the subframe.





32. Remove the bolt and the Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system wiring harness ground from behind the RH splash shield.





33. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

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





34. Position the Powertrain Lift under the subframe assembly.





35. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the subframe bracket-to-body bolts.





36. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the subframe nuts and the subframe brackets.





37. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the front subframe nuts.





38. Lower the subframe assembly from the vehicle.

39. NOTE: When installing the Engine Lifting Bracket Set, it will be easier to loosely install the upper bolt first, then install the lower bolt.

Install the lower half of the Engine Lifting Bracket Set.





40. Install the upper half of the Engine Lifting Bracket Set.





41. Remove the cooling fan motor and shroud. For additional information, refer to Engine Cooling Service and Repair.

42. Install the Engine Lifting Bracket and Universal Adapter Bracket "L" hook on the LH side of the engine.





43. Install the Engine Support Bar to support the engine.





44. Remove the transaxle support insulator through bolt and lower the transaxle 19 mm (0.748 in).





45. Remove the 3 nuts, the bolt and remove the transaxle support insulator bracket.





46. Remove the inspection cover.





47. NOTE: Mark one stud and the flexplate for assembly reference.

Remove and discard the 4 torque converter nuts.





48. Disconnect the transaxle main electrical connector.





49. Disconnect the Turbine Shaft Speed (TSS) sensor electrical connector.





50. Remove the transmission fluid cooler tube secondary latches.





51. Using the Transmission Cooler Line Disconnect Tool, disconnect the transmission fluid cooler tubes.





52. Support the transaxle with a suitable transmission jack. Secure the transaxle to the transmission jack with a safety strap.

53. Remove the 2 bolts, 2 nuts and the stud from the front of the torque converter housing.





54. Remove the 2 back torque converter housing bolts and remove the transaxle from the dowel pins.





55. Separate the transaxle from the engine and install the Torque Converter Retainer.





56. Remove the transaxle from the vehicle.

57. Remove the transmission fluid level indicator.





58. Remove the transmission fluid filler tube nut.





59. Remove the transaxle vent tube from the transaxle case and remove the transmission fluid filler tube.





60. Open the transmission fluid cooler tube retainers.





61. Remove the 2 secondary latches.





62. Using the Transmission Cooler Line Disconnect Tool, disconnect and remove the transmission fluid cooler tubes from the transaxle.





63. Remove the 2 nuts and remove the transmission fluid cooler tube bracket.





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