Automatic Transmission/Transaxle: Service and Repair
REMOVAL
1. Disconnect ground cable at battery and transmission.
2. Release steering lock, and shift gear selector to N.
3. Disconnect wiring:
- Battery positive cable from starter.
- Black/white wire from starter solenoid.
4. Disconnect cooler hoses, and wire them up next to the radiator so ATF won't drain out.
5. Remove starter mounting bolts and top transmission mounting bolt.
6. Loosen front wheel nuts.
7. Apply parking brake, block rear wheels, then raise front end on jack stands and remove front wheels.
8. Drain transmission. Reinstall drain plug with a new washer.
9. Remove throttle control cable:
- Remove the cable end from the throttle lever.
- Loosen the lock nut A only.
- Remove the cable from bracket.
10. Remove power steering speed sensor complete with speedometer cable and hoses.
11. Remove two upper transmission mounting bolts.
12. Place transmission jack securely beneath transmission, and hook hanger plate with hoist; make sure hoist chain is tight.
13. Remove subframe center beam and splash pan.
14. Remove the ball joint pinch bolt from the right-side lower control arm, then use a puller to disconnect the ball joint from the knuckle. Remove the damper fork bolt.
15. Turn right side steering knuckle to its most outboard position. With screwdriver, pry CV joint out approximately 1/2", then pull CV joint out of transmission housing.
NOTE: Do not pull on the driveshaft or knuckle since this may cause the inboard CV joint to separate; pull on the inboard CV joint.
16. Remove transmission damper bracket located in front of torque converter cover plate.
17. Remove torque converter cover plate.
18. Remove center console.
19. Remove lock pin from adjuster and shift cable.
NOTE: On reassembly, check cable adjustment.
20. Remove both bolts and pull shift cable out of housing.
21. Unbolt torque converter assy from drive plate by removing eight bolts.
22. Remove the three rear engine mounting bolts from transmission housing.Remove the rear engine mount.
23. Remove the front transmission mount's two bolts.
24. Remove the lower transmission mounting bolt.
25. Pull transmission away from the engine to clear the two 14 mm dowel pins.
- Pry left-side CV joint out approximately 1/2".
- Pull transmission out and lower on transmission jack.
- Remove torque convertor from transmission.
INSTALLATION
1. Attach shift cable to shift arm with pin, then secure cable to edge of housing with cable holder and bolt, and torque to 9 lb-ft.
2. Install torque converter on transmission.
3. Place transmission on transmission lack, and raise to engine level.
4. Hook hanger plate with hoist and make hoist chain tight.
5. Check that the two 14 mm dowel pins are installed in transmission housing.
6. Install new 26 mm spring clips on the end of each axle.
7. Align the dowel pins with holes in block; align torque converter bolt head with holes in drive plate.
8. Fit the left axle into the differential as you raise the transmission to the engine.
9. Secure transmission to engine with two (10 x 1.25 x 90 mm) lower mounting bolts, torque bolts when others are installed in step 23.
10. Install rear engine mounts on transmission housing; torque to 28 lb-ft.
11. Install the front transmission mount bolts and torque to 28 lb-ft.
12. Attach torque converter to drive plate with eight (6 x 1.0 x 12 mm) bolts, and torque to 9 lb-ft. Rotate crank as necessary to tighten bolts to 1/2 torque, then the final torque, in a crisscross pattern. Check for free rotation after tightening the last bolt.
13. Remove the transmission jack.
14. Install torque converter cover plate, torque two 6 x 1.0 mm bolts (in oil pan flange) 9 lb-ft.
15. Install the wind stop rubber on the center beam, torque lOx 1.25 mm nuts 40 lb-ft, and install wind stop bracket on the transmission housing. Torque the three 8 x 1.25 mm bolts to 22 lb-ft.
16. Remove hoist from transmission.
17. Install starter mount bolts (10 x 1.25 x 125 mm) and torque to 33 lb-ft.
18. Install the rear torque rod and brackets.
19. Turn right steering knuckle fully outward, and slide axle into differential until you feel its spring clip engage the side gear.
20. Reconnect ball joint to knuckle, then torque its bolt to 40 lb-ft. Reinstall the damper fork and torque its bolt to 32 lb-ft.
21. Install speedometer cable.
22. Install front wheels, lower car to ground, and torque nuts to 80 lb-ft.
23. Install transmission mounting bolts (10 x 1.25 x 90 mm), and torque all bolts to 33 lb-ft.
24. Connect cooler hoses, and torque banjo bolts to 21 lb-ft.
25. Connect wiring:
- Battery positive cable to starter.
- Black/white wire to starter solenoid.
- Yellow/green wire to water temperature sending unit.
- Black/yellow and yellow wires to ignition timing thermosensor.
26. With ignition key in 0 position, connect ground cable to battery and transmission.
27. Unscrew the dipstick from top of transmission end cover and add 3.2 quarts DEXRON II ATF through the hole. Reinstall dipstick.
NOTE:If transmission and torque converter have been disassembled, add a total of 6.3 U.S. qts.
28. Install and reconnect shift cable.
29. Install console.
30. Start engine, set parking brake, and shift transmission through all gears three times. Check for proper shift cable adjustment.
31. Let engine reach operating temperature with transmission in Neutral or Park, then turn it off and check fluid level.
32. Install throttle control cable and adjust.
33. Road test.