Removal
Transaxle - 3.5L
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 (ACL) and the outlet pipe.
4. Remove the upper intake manifold.
5. Disconnect the selector lever cable end.
6. Remove the 2 bolts and the nut for the selector lever cable bracket and position the cable and bracket aside.
7. Disconnect the wire harness from the Transmission Control Module (TCM).
8. Disconnect the wiring harness fasteners from the torque converter housing stud bolt and the starter motor.
9. Remove the 2 ground strap bolts and position aside the ground straps.
10. Position the boot back and remove the starter terminals from the starter.
11. Remove the 2 bolts and the starter.
12. Remove the 4 upper torque converter housing bolts.
13. Install the Engine Lifting Bracket on the LH cylinder head.
14. Install the Engine Support Bar and Spreader Bar to support the engine.
15. Remove the transaxle support insulator through bolt.
16. Using the Engine Support Bar, lower the transaxle and remove the 2 transaxle support insulator bracket nuts, the bolt and the bracket.
17. Remove the 4 screws and position the RH fender splash shield aside.
18. Remove the 6 pin-type retainers and remove the RH front structure to subframe splash shield.
19. Remove the 4 screws and position the LH fender splash shield aside.
20. Remove the pin-type retainers and remove the LH front structure-to-subframe splash shield.
21. Remove the 6 Y-pipe nuts and the Y-pipe assembly.
22. If a transaxle exchange or overhaul is required, the transmission fluid must be drained.
- Remove the transmission drain plug and allow the transmission fluid to drain.
23. If removed, install the transmission fluid drain plug.
- Tighten to 47 Nm (35 lb-ft).
24. Remove the LH and RH halfshafts.
25. Remove the 2 engine roll restrictor bracket bolts.
26. Remove the bolts and position the power steering cooler tube aside.
27. Remove the 3 steering gear bolts and position the steering gear aside with mechanic's wire.
28. Position a suitable powertrain lift table under the subframe.
29. Remove the 2 rear subframe nuts.
30. Remove the 4 bolts and the 2 subframe support brackets.
31. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.
Remove the 2 front subframe nuts and remove the subframe.
Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles
32. Remove the 2 catalytic converter bracket bolts.
33. Remove the 2 nuts and remove the catalytic converter support bracket.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles
34. Index the driveshaft, remove the 4 bolts and position the driveshaft aside.
35. Disconnect the RH catalyst monitor electrical connector.
36. Remove the 2 catalytic converter bracket bolts.
37. Remove the 4 nuts and the RH catalytic converter.
38. Remove the 5 bolts and the power transfer unit PTU support bracket.
39. NOTE: A new halfshaft seal must be installed anytime the RH halfshaft is removed.
NOTE: The seal deflector will be damaged during removal. Be careful not to damage the cover seal directly behind the seal deflector.
Remove the seal deflector.
40. Using the Bearing Cup Puller and Slide Hammer, remove the halfshaft seal from the PTU.
41. Remove the 5 bolts and the PTU.
All vehicles
42. Remove the 2 fasteners and the inspection cover.
43. Remove and discard the 4 torque converter nuts.
44. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler hoses from the transmission fluid cooler tubes.
45. Position a suitable high-lift transmission jack under the transaxle.
46. Remove the 7 torque converter housing bolts and remove the transaxle.
47. If installing a new transaxle, the transmission 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 Aisin AW21.