Removal
Transaxle - 2.3LSpecial Tool(s) (Part 1):
Special Tool(s) (Part 2):
Removal
All vehicles
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.
2. Remove the battery and the battery tray.
3. Remove the air cleaner as an assembly.
1 Remove the bolt.
2 Disconnect the mass air flow (MAF) sensor electrical connector.
3 Disconnect the brake booster vacuum hose.
4 Disconnect the wiring harness retainer.
5 Disconnect the breather tube.
6 Loosen the clamp and remove the air cleaner assembly.
4x4 vehicles
4. Disconnect the power take-off (PTO) vent hose from the clip located on the fill tube.
All vehicles
5. Remove the nut holding the wiring harness bracket and unplug the bulkhead electrical connector.
6. Remove the 2 bolts from the shift cable bracket and disconnect the shift cable from the manual lever.
7. Disconnect the transmission range (TR) sensor electrical connector.
8. Remove the 3 upper transaxle retaining bolts.
9. Install the special tools.
10. Install the special tools.
11. Remove the LH transaxle mount through bolt.
12. Remove the 2 nuts, the bolt and the through bolt and remove the rear transaxle mount.
4x4 vehicles
13. Remove the 6 bolts holding the driveshaft to the PTO.
14. Remove the 2 center bearing nuts and position the driveshaft aside with mechanic's wire.
All vehicles
15. Remove the 4 bolts and remove the cross brace.
16. Remove the 7 retainers and the LH splash shield.
17. Remove the 5 retainers and the RH splash shield.
18. Remove the bolt for the mount and the 2 bolts from the cross brace.
19. Remove the rear nut and the cross brace.
20. NOTE: If transmission disassembly or installation of a new transmission is necessary, the transmission fluid will need to be drained.
Remove the drain plug and drain the fluid.
21. Remove and discard the LH front axle wheel hub nut.
22. Remove the frame bolt from the LH and RH control arms.
23. Using the special tool, separate the LH halfshaft from the front wheel knuckle.
24. Using the special tools, remove the LH halfshaft and disconnect the RH halfshaft from the intermediate shaft.
25. Remove the 2 intermediate shaft retaining nuts.
26. Remove the intermediate shaft.
27. Remove the 2 bolts which hold the exhaust bracket to the intermediate shaft bracket.
28. Remove the 2 nuts on the other end of the exhaust-to-intermediate shaft bracket and remove the bracket.
29. Remove the 3 nuts and separate the flexpipe from the exhaust manifold.
4x4 vehicles
30. Remove the 6 bolts holding the engine bracket to the PTO and remove the bracket.
31. Remove the 3 bolts and the PTO assembly.
4x2 vehicles
32. Remove the 3 bolts and the dampener.
All vehicles
33. Remove the 3 bolts holding the transaxle front mount plate.
34. Remove the fluid cooler line.
35. Remove the fluid cooler tube.
1 Disconnect the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor electrical connector (black).
2 Disconnect the turbine shaft speed (TSS) sensor electrical connector (white).
1 Disconnect the wiring harness retainer from the transmission case and position the harness aside.
3 Remove the transmission fluid cooler line retaining bracket bolt.
4 Remove the fluid cooler tube and position it aside.
36. Remove the OSS sensor.
37. Disconnect the starter terminals.
1 Remove the battery cable nut.
2 Remove the starter solenoid terminal nut.
38. Remove the wire harness clip retainer and the ground wire from the starter bolts.
39. Remove the 3 bolts and remove the starter.
40. Remove the starter motor isolator.
41. Remove and discard the 4 torque converter nuts.
42. Using the special tool, lower the transmission.
43. Push the converter back from the flexplate. Use a suitable transmission jack to support the transaxle and remove the 3 rear bellhousing bolts.
44. Remove the 4 remaining transaxle-to-engine bolts.
45. CAUTION: The torque converter is heavy. Install the special toot before lowering the transaxle.
Move the transaxle back far enough to install the special tool.
46. Lower the transaxle from the engine compartment.