Service Notes and Precautions

GENERAL SERVICE NOTES
^ Before proceeding with disassembly, thoroughly clean the outside of the transaxle. It is important to prevent the internal parts from becoming contaminated by dirt or other foreign matter.
^ Disassembly should be done in a clean work area.
^ Use lint-free cloth or towels for wiping parts clean. Common shop rags can leave fibers that could interfere with the operation of the transaxle.
^ Place disassembled parts in order for easier and proper assembly.
^ All parts should be carefully cleaned with a general purpose, non-flammable solvent before inspection or reassembly.
^ Gaskets, seals and O-rings should be replaced any time the transaxle is disassembled.
^ It is very important to perform functional tests whenever they are indicated.
^ The valve body contains precision parts and requires extreme care when parts are removed and serviced. Place disassembled valve body parts in order for easier and proper assembly. Care will also prevent springs and small parts from becoming scattered or lost.
^ Properly installed valves, sleeves, plugs, etc. will slide along bores in valve body under their own weight.
^ Before assembly, apply a coat of recommended ATF to all parts. Apply petroleum jelly to protect O-rings and seals, or hold bearings and washers in place during assembly. Do not use grease.
^ Extreme care should be taken to avoid damage to O-rings, seals and gaskets when assembling.
^ Replace ATF cooler if excessive foreign material is found in oil pan or clogging strainer. Refer to "ATF COOLER SERVICE".
^ After overhaul, refill the transaxle with new ATF.
^ When the A/T drain plug is removed, only some of the fluid is drained. Old A/T fluid will remain in torque converter and ATF cooling system.


TORQUE CONVERTER SERVICE
The torque converter should be replaced under any of the following conditions:
^ External leaks in the hub weld area.
^ Converter hub is scored or damaged.
^ Converter pilot is broken, damaged or fits poorly into crankshaft.
^ Steel particles are found after flushing the cooler and cooler lines.
^ Pump is damaged or steel particles are found in the converter.
^ Vehicle has TCC shudder and/or no TCC apply. Replace only after all hydraulic and electrical diagnoses have been made. (Converter clutch material may be glazed.)
^ Converter is contaminated with engine coolant containing antifreeze.
^ Internal failure of stator roller clutch.
^ Heavy clutch debris due to overheating (blue converter).
^ Steel particles or clutch lining material found in fluid filter or on magnet when no internal parts in unit are worn or damaged - indicates that lining material came from converter.
The torque converter should not be replaced if:
^ The fluid has an odor, is discolored, and there is no evidence of metal or clutch facing particles.
^ The threads in one or more of the converter bolt holes are damaged.
^ Transaxle failure did not display evidence of damaged or worn internal parts, steel particles or clutch plate lining material in unit and inside the fluid filter.
^ Vehicle has been exposed to high mileage (only). The exception may be where the torque converter clutch dampener plate lining has seen excess wear by vehicles operated in heavy and/or constant traffic, such as taxi, delivery or police use.


ATF COOLER SERVICE
Replace ATF cooler if excessive foreign material is found in oil pan or clogging strainer. Replace radiator lower tank (which includes ATF cooler) with a new one and flush cooler line using cleaning solvent and compressed air,