A245E Automatic Transaxle
Automatic Transaxle Removal and Installation
Removal
1. Negative (-) battery cable.
2. Positive (+) battery cable.
3. One nut, one bolt, battery hold down bracket, battery and battery tray from vehicle.
4. Intake air temperature (IAT) sensor electrical connector from IAT sensor.
5. Air cleaner (ACL) cover and ACL filter from ACL.
^ Loosen ACL intake tube clamp.
6. Three bolts and ACL from vehicle.
7. PNP switch electrical connector from PNP switch.
8. Solenoid wire harness electrical connector from solenoid wire harness.
9. One bolt and ground strap from transaxle case.
^ Loosen TV cable locknut and adjust nut.
10. TV cable from throttle linkage and TV cable bracket.
11. VSS electrical connector from VSS.
12. One nut, one lock washer and shift select cable from manual lever.
13. One E-clip and shift select cable from shift select cable bracket.
14. One bolt and TV cable guide bracket from transaxle case.
15. Two upper transaxle-to-engine bolts from transaxle.
16. Upper starter motor retaining bolt from starter motor.
17. Two bolts and left transaxle mounting bracket reinforcement from transaxle.
18. One bolt from left transaxle mounting bracket.
^ Raise and suitably support vehicle.
^ Place a drain pan or suitable container under transaxle.
19. Transaxle drain plug from transaxle fluid pan.
^ drain transaxle fluid.
20. Differential filler plug from differential cover at rear of transaxle.
21. Differential drain plug from transaxle case under differential cover and drain transaxle fluid from differential.
22. Starter motor positive (+) terminal nut, positive (+ battery cable and electrical connector from starter motor.
23. Lower starter motor retaining bolt and starter motor from transaxle case.
24. Twelve bolts, right and left splash shields from vehicle
Important: Plug the fluid cooler hoses to prevent transaxle fluid cooler leakage.
25. Two hose clamps, inner and outer fluid cooler hoses from inner and outer fluid cooler pipes at transaxle.
26. Two bolts from left transaxle mounting bracket.
27. Remove both front tire and wheel assemblies.
28. Remove both right and left drive axles from vehicle.
29. Remove two bolts from exhaust pipe support.
30. Remove one nut and exhaust pipe support from center crossmember.
31. Remove two bolts from front exhaust pipe-to-three way catalytic converter (TWC) mating flange.
32. Remove two nuts from front exhaust pipe-to-warm up three way catalytic converter (WU-TWC) mating flange and front exhaust pipe from vehicle (California specification vehicles).
33. Remove two nuts from front exhaust pipe-to-exhaust manifold mating flange and front exhaust pipe from vehicle.
34. Remove center crossmember plastic access cover from center crossmember.
35. Remove two bolts from transaxle mount.
36. Remove three nuts from rear transaxle mount.
37. Remove twelve bolts, front suspension crossmember and center crossmember from vehicle.
^ Support transaxle with a suitable hydraulic jack.
38. Remove four bolts and lower engine reinforcement brace from engine and transaxle.
39. Remove flywheel access cover from engine rear end plate.
40. Remove six flywheel-to-torque converter bolts from flywheel.
^ Remove drain pan from underneath transaxle fluid pan.
41. Remove two lower transaxle-to-engine bolts from transaxle.
42. Remove transaxle from engine by carefully moving transaxle away from engine toward the left side of the engine compartment and very slowly lowering the hydraulic jack making sure no obstructions exist.
NOTICE: Transaxle fluid cooler flushing must be performed when a transaxle is removed for service. The flushing procedure should be performed after the installation of the overhauled or replacement assembly. Failure to flush the system may cause damage to the system and its components.
Important: Before installing the transaxle assembly, these steps and precautions must be followed:
A. Apply grease around the pilot at the center of the torque converter. This will ensure ease of assembly.
B. Measure the distance between the outside edge of the torque converter housing and the torque converter lug. The distance should be more than 23 mm (0.906-inch). If it is less than 23 mm (0.906-inch), the torque converter is improperly installed. Remove the torque converter and properly seat it on the input shaft.
Installation
Tighten
1. Transaxle to engine by carefully raising the transaxle using a suitable hydraulic jack making sure no obstruction exist.
2. Two lower transaxle-to-engine bolts.
Tighten
^ Lower transaxle-to-engine bolts to 64 Nm (47 lb.ft.).
3. Six flywheel-to-torque converter bolts into flywheel.
Tighten
^ Flywheel-to-torque converter bolts to 19 Nm (14 lb.ft.).
4. Flywheel access cover into engine rear end plate.
5. Lower engine reinforcement brace to transaxle and engine secure with four bolts.
Tighten
^ Lower engine reinforcement brace bolts to 64 Nm (47 lb.ft.).
^ Remove hydraulic jack from under transaxle.
6. Front suspension crossmember and center crossmember to vehicle; secure with twelve bolts.
Tighten
^ Ten front suspension crossmember bolts to 206 Nm (152 lb.ft.).
^ Two center crossmember bolts to 61 Nm (45 lb.ft.).
7. Three nuts to rear transaxle mount.
Tighten
^ Rear transaxle mount nuts to 57 Nm (42 lb.ft.).
8. Two bolts into front transaxle mount.
Tighten
^ Front transaxle mount bolts to 64 Nm (47 lb.ft.).
9. Center crossmember plastic access cover into center crossmember.
10. Front exhaust pipe to vehicle; secure with two nuts at front exhaust pipe-to-exhaust manifold mating flange.
Tighten
^ Front exhaust pipe-to-exhaust manifold nuts to 62 Nm (46 lb.ft.).
11. Front exhaust pipe to vehicle; secure with two nuts at front exhaust pipe-to-WU-TWC mating flange (California specification vehicles).
Tighten
^ Front exhaust pipe-to-WU-TWC mating flange nuts to 62 Nm (46 lb.ft.) (California specification vehicles).
12. Two bolts to front exhaust pipe-to-TWC mating flange.
Tighten
^ Front exhaust pipe-to-TWC mating flange bolts to 43 Nm (32 lb.ft.).
13. Front exhaust pipe support to center crossmember; secure with one nut.
Tighten
^ Front exhaust pipe support nut to 19 Nm (14 lb.ft.).
14. Front exhaust pipe support to front exhaust pipe; secure with two bolts.
Tighten
^ Front exhaust pipe support bolts to 19 Nm (14 lb.ft.).
15. Right and left drive axles into vehicle.
16. Both front tire and wheel assemblies.
17. Two bolts into left transaxle mounting bracket.
Tighten
^ Left transaxle mounting bracket bolts to 48 Nm (35 lb.ft.).
18. Inner and outer fluid cooler hoses to inner and outer fluid cooler pipes; secure with two clamps.
19. Right and left splash shields to vehicle; secure with twelve bolts.
Tighten
^ Right and left splash shield bolts to 5 Nm (44 lb.in.).
20. Starter motor into transaxle case; secure with one starter motor lower retaining bolt.
Tighten
^ Starter motor lower retaining bolt to 39 Nm (29 lb.ft.).
21. Starter motor electrical connector and positive (+) battery cable to starter motor; secure with positive (+) terminal nut.
Tighten
^ Starter motor positive (+) terminal nut to 5 Nm (44 lb.ft.).
22. Differential drain plug into transaxle case.
Tighten
^ Differential drain plug to 39 Nm (29 lb.ft.).
NOTICE: The differential portion of the automatic transaxle is separated from the rest of the transaxle and must be drained and refilled separately. The differential portion of the automatic transaxle cannot be drained or refilled through the transaxle drain plug or fluid filler tube. If the differential portion is drained and not refilled as outlined in this procedure, damage to the differential due to lack of lubrication will result.
^ Refill differential with approximately 1.4 liters (1.5 qts.) of Dexron IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid GM PIN 12345881, or equivalent, into the differential filler plug hole. Fluid level should be even with the bottom of the differential filler plug hole.
Tighten
^ Differential drain plug to 39 Nm (29 lb.ft.).
^ Refill differential with approximately 1.4 liters (1.5 qts.) of Dexron� IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid GM PIN 12345881, or equivalent, into the differential filler plug hole. Fluid level should be even with the bottom of the differential filler plug hole.
23. Differential filler plug into differential cover at rear of transaxle.
24. Transaxle drain plug into trans axle fluid pan.
Tighten
^ Transaxle drain plug to 17 Nm (13 lb.ft.).
^ Lower vehicle.
25. One bolt into left transaxle mounting bracket.
Tighten
^ Left transaxle mounting bracket bolt to 48 Nm (35 lb.ft.).
26. Left transaxle mounting bracket reinforcement onto transaxle; secure with two bolts.
Tighten
^ Left trans axle mounting bracket reinforcement bolts to 21 Nm (15 lb.ft.).
27. Upper starter motor retaining bolt to starter motor.
Tighten
^ Upper starter motor retaining bolt to 39 Nm (29 lb.ft.).
28. Two upper transaxle-to-engine bolts into transaxle.
Tighten
^ Upper transaxle-to-engine bolts to 64 Nm (47 lb.ft.).
29. TV cable guide bracket onto transaxle case; secure with one bolt.
Tighten
^ TV cable guide bracket bolt to 8 Nm (71 lb. in).
30. Shift select cable into shift select cable bracket; secure with one E-clip.
31. Shift select cable into manual lever; secure with one lock washer and one nut. Do not tighten fully.
^ Adjust Shift select cable.
Tighten
^ Shift select cable nut to 13 Nm (115 lb.in.).
32. VSS electrical connector to VSS.
33. TV cable into TV cable bracket and throttle linkage.
^ Adjust TV cable.
34. Ground strap to transaxle case; secure with one bolt.
Tighten
^ Ground strap bolt to 13 Nm (115 lb.in.).
35. Solenoid wire hamess electrical connector to solenoid wire hamess.
36. PNP electrical connector to PNP switch.
37. ACL into vehicle; secure with three bolts.
Tighten
1. Air cleaner (ACL) bolts to 5 Nm (44 lb.in.).
2. Air cleaner (ACL) intake tube clamp.
38. ACL filter and ACL cover onto ACL.
39. IAT sensor electrical connector to IAT sensor.
40. Battery tray, battery and battery hold down bracket into vehicle; secure with one bolt and one nut.
Tighten
1. Battery hold down bracket bolt to 5 Nm (44 lb.in.).
2. Battery hold down bracket nut to 8 Nm (71 lb.in.).
41. Positive (+) battery cable.
42. Negative (-) battery cable.
Tighten
1. Positive (+) battery cable-to-positive (+) battery terminal retainer to 15 Nm (11 lb.ft.).
2. Negative (-) battery cable-to-negative (-) battery terminal retainer to 15 Nm (11 lb.ft.).
^ Refill transaxle as necessary:
A. Place vehicle on a level surface.
B. Remove fluid level indicator.
C. Add approximately 3.3 liters (3.5 qts.) of Dexron IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid GM P/N 12345881, or equivalent, into fluid filler tube.
D. Install fluid level indicator into fluid filler tube.
E. Apply parking brake and block vehicle wheels.
F. With selector lever in "P" (park) position, start engine. DO NOT race engine.
G. Run engine at idle and move selector lever through each range and return to the "P" (park) position.
H. With engine running at idle, remove fluid level indicator from filler tube and wipe indicator off.
J. Reinsert fluid level indicator into filler tube making sure it is seated in it's original position.
K. Remove the indicator and check the fluid level. The level should be between the full "HOT" and the low "HOT" mark. If the level is below the low "HOT" mark, add fluid to bring the level to the full "HOT" mark. Bringing the fluid level from the low "HOT" mark to the full "HOT" mark requires 0.3 liters (3.0 qts.) of fluid. Use Dexron IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid GM P/N 12345881, or equivalent.