Manual Transmission/Transaxle: Service and Repair

Figure 12:

Figure 13:

1. Disconnect battery ground cable from transaxle case and attach to upper radiator hose with wire or tape.

2. Remove two transaxle strut bracket bolts at transaxle, on left side of engine compartment, if so equipped.

3. Remove exhaust crossover pipe, if equipped.

4. Remove top four engine to transaxle bolts and one to rear of vehicle near cowl. The bolt near cowl is installed from engine side, Fig. 12.

5. Loosen but do not remove transaxle bolt near starter, at front of vehicle.

6. Disconnect speedometer cable at transaxle. On vehicles equipped with cruise control, remove transaxle speedometer cable at cruise control transducer.

7. Remove retaining clip and washer from transaxle shift linkage at transaxle.

8. Remove clips securing shift cables to mounting bosses on transaxle case.

9. Disconnect clutch cable. Install engine support fixture, Fig. 13.

10. Remove left hand side and crossmember assembly using following procedures:

a. Rotate steering wheel so that intermediate shaft to steering gear stub shaft attaching bolt is in up position and remove bolt.

b. Raise vehicle.

c. Position jack under engine to act as a support during removal and installation.

d. Remove left front tire and wheel assembly.

e. Remove power steering pressure and return line brackets.

f. Disconnect drive line vibration absorber and disconnect front stabilizer bar from left hand lower control arm.

g. Disconnect left lower ball joint at knuckle then remove both front stabilizer bar reinforcement.

h. Using a 1/2 inch drill bit, drill through spot weld located between rear holes of left hand front stabilizer bar mounting.

i. Disconnect engine and transaxle mounts from cradle.

j. Remove side to crossmember bolts also bolts from left side body mounts.

k. Remove left side and front crossmember assembly. It may be necessary to pull or gently pry crossmember loose.

11. Drain fluid from transaxle.

12. Install drive axle boot seal protectors. Disconnect drive axles from transaxle then swing left side drive axle outward from transaxle. Right side drive axle can be removed as transaxle is being removed from vehicle.

13. Remove flywheel and starter shield bolts. Remove shields.

14. Securely attach transaxle case to jack for removal.

15. Remove last transaxle to engine bolt.

16. Remove transaxle by sliding to left side, away from engine. Carefully lower jack, and move transaxle to bench.

17. Reverse procedure to install and note the following:

a. When installing the transaxle, position the right side drive axle shaft into its bore as transaxle is being installed. The right hand driveshaft cannot be readily installed after the transaxle is attached to the engine.

b. After the transaxle is attached to the engine, swing the cradle into position and immediately install the cradle to body bolts. When swinging the cradle into the installed position, guide the left side driveshaft into the case bore.