Automatic Transmission/Transaxle: Service and Repair

Fig. 5 Typical throttle control cable installation:

1. Disconnect battery ground cable, release steering lock and place gear selector in neutral.
2. Disconnect battery cable and black/white wire connector from starter.
3. Disconnect transmission cooler lines, plug lines and open fittings, and secure lines next to radiator.
4. Remove starter mounting bolts and top 3 transaxle mounting bolts.
5. Loosen wheel lugs, raise and support front of vehicle, and drain transaxle.
6. Disconnect throttle control cable from control lever, loosen locknut (B) and remove cable from bracket, Fig. 5.
7. Remove retaining clip, then pull speedometer cable from holder. Do not remove cable holder as gear may fall into transmission.
8. Remove engine and wheelwell splash shields from front end of frame.
9. Remove nuts securing exhaust header pipe and the header pipe.
10. Disconnect ball joints and tie rods as follows:
a. Position suitable jack securely under control arm, then raise jack to support control arm.
b. Remove cotter pins and nuts securing lower ball joint and tie rod to steering knuckle.
c. Separate tie rod and ball joint using suitable puller.
d. Slowly lower jack to relieve spring tension on lower control arm.
e. Repeat with opposite side.
11. Turn right steering knuckle outward as far as possible, insert suitable pry bar between right inner CV joint and transaxle, pry axle approximately 1/2 inch out of transaxle to release spring retainer, then disconnect drive axle from transaxle. Do not attempt to pull axle from transaxle without releasing spring retainer, as CV joint will be damaged.
12. Attach suitable lifting equipment to engine, then raise engine slightly to remove weight from mounts.
13. Support transaxle with suitable jack, then remove front transmission mount bolts.
14. Remove bolts securing engine torque bracket to transmission housing.
15. Remove bolts securing rear transmission mount to torque converter housing.
16. Remove torque converter dust shield and bolts securing torque converter to drive plate.
17. Remove cotter pin from shift control cable pin, then withdraw pin.
18. Remove shift control cable holder, then the cable, taking care not to loose cable bushing.
19. Remove one remaining transaxle retaining bolt from engine side.
20. Pull transaxle away from engine to clear dowel pins, pry left drive axle from transaxle to release spring retainer, then lower transaxle from vehicle.
21. Reverse procedure to install.