Removal and Replacement
REMOVAL1. Turn air suspension switch located in luggage compartment to OFF position.
2. Position vehicle on hoist. Do not raise vehicle at this time.
3. Place drain pan under transaxle, then loosen lower pan retaining bolts and drain fluid. When fluid has drained to level of pan flange, remove remaining pan bolts working from the righthand side and allow it to drop and drain slowly.
4. After fluid has drained, reinstall pan and retaining bolts.
5. Remove engine air cleaner assembly, then disconnect and remove battery from vehicle.
6. Remove battery tray, then disconnect electrical connectors from engine assembly.
7. Remove bolt retaining main wiring harness bracket.
8. Remove shift control selector lever.
9. On models equipped with 3.0L engine, install Engine Lifting Eye tool No. D81L-6001-D or equivalent to lefthand rear cylinder with M10 x 1.5 x 2.0. The engine plant lifting eye should still be on righthand front cylinder head. If not, install as necessary.
10. On models equipped with 3.2L engine, remove bracket on back of engine that retains wiring harness and coolant line, then install Engine Lifting Bracket tool No. D89L-6001-A or equivalent.
11. Install Engine Lifting Eye tool No. D81L-6001-D or equivalent to alternator bracket.
12. On models equipped with 3.8L engine, Install Engine Lifting Eyes tool No. D81L-6001-D or equivalent, to lefthand front exhaust manifold stud, then righthand rear exhaust manifold stud.
13. On all models, position Engine Lifting Bracket tool No. D89L-6000-A or equivalent over engine assembly.
14. Secure engine wiring harness out of way, then remove radiator shield from top of radiator assembly.
15. Remove oil dipstick, then disconnect power steering pump pressure and return line bracket.
16. Remove four 15 mm torque converter housing to engine block retaining bolts.
17. Raise and support vehicle, then remove both front tires from vehicle.
18. Disconnect lefthand and righthand outer tie-rod ends from steering knuckle assemblies.
19. Remove air suspension height sensors, then disconnect brake line support brackets.
20. Remove front stabilizer bar links from strut assemblies, then disconnect righthand and lefthand lower control arms from respective steering knuckle.
21. Remove rack and pinion to sub frame retaining bolts.
22. Disconnect oxygen sensor from body harness, then remove front exhaust pipe, catalytic converter, and mounting bracket.
23. Remove two 15 mm bolts from engine and transaxle support insulator.
24. Remove four 15 mm bolts from lefthand engine support, then remove support.
25. Position Rotunda Subframe Removal Kit tool No. 014-00751 or equivalent
26. Remove steering gear from front subframe, and secure to rear of engine compartment.
27. Remove 8 mm bolt from dust cover.
28. Remove two starter retaining bolts, then position starter motor out of way.
29. Rotate engine with 1/2 inch drive rachet and 7/8 inch deep well socket on crankshaft pulley bolt to align torque converter bolts with starter drive hole. Then, remove four 15 mm torque converter to flywheel retaining nuts.
30. Remove transaxle cooler line fitting retaining clips
31. Using Cooler Line Disconnect tool No. T86P-77265-AH, disconnect transaxle cooler lines.
32. Remove engine to transaxle retaining bolts, then speedometer sensor heat shield.
33. Remove vehicle speed sensor from transaxle. Vehicles with electronic instrument cluster do not use a speedometer cable.
34. Using a transaxle jack or equivalent, support transaxle assembly.
NOTE: Due to weight differences of the front and rear of the vehicle and different types of vehicle hoists, it may be necessary to support the rear of the vehicle with jack stands or equivalents, to counterbalance the removal of transaxle assembly.
35. Remove driveshaft assemblies as follows:
CAUTION: Ensure puller does not contact transaxle speed sensor or possible damage will result. Do not pry against transaxle case.
a. Assemble Impact Slide Hammer tool No. D79P-100-A, Puller Extension tool No. T86P-3514-A2 and CV Joint Puller Adapter or equivalents, then position puller behind front wheel driveshaft joint and remove joint.
b. Install shipping plugs or equivalent into transaxle case.
36. Remove the two remaining 15 mm torque converter housing bolts.
37. Separate transaxle from engine assembly, then carefully lower transaxle out of vehicle.
INSTALLATION
1. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Place transaxle assembly on jack and raise until aligned with engine.
b. Position transaxle to engine and align torque converter bolts to flywheel.
c. Install transaxle housing bolts. Torque to 41-50 ft lbs.
d. Install four torque converter bolts though starter drive hole by rotating engine at the crankshaft pulley bolt with rachet and socket. Torque retaining bolts to 23-39 ft lbs.
e. Torque speed sensor retaining bolt to 31-39 in lbs.
f. Install transaxle cooler lines. Torque lines connecting to transaxle to 18-23 ft lbs. Torque lines at oil cooler to 8-12 ft lbs.
g. Torque subframe retaining bolts to 55-75 ft lbs.
h. Torque lefthand engine and transaxle support bolts to 41-55 ft lbs. Torque engine and transaxle support insulator retaining bolts to 60-85 ft lbs.
j. Install front exhaust pipe, then steering gear assembly. Torque steering gear retaining bolts to 85-100 ft lbs.
k. Install lefthand and righthand lower arm assemblies. Torque new pinch bolt to 40-53 ft lbs.
l. Torque stabilizer retaining bolts to 23-29 ft lbs.
m. Torque tie-rod retaining nuts to 23-35 ft lbs.