Removal Procedure

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire and 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Disconnect the negative and positive battery cable ends from the battery. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnect/Connect Procedure .
Remove the retaining bolt and the battery.
Remove the washer solvent container. Refer to Washer Solvent Container Replacement .
Install the engine support fixture. Refer to the instruction manual provided with the tool.
Raise the engine enough to take pressure off of the transaxle mounts.
Remove the air inlet duct.
Remove the wire harness from the upper transaxle mount bracket.
Remove the upper transaxle mount bolts.

Fig 1: Identifying Rear Transaxle Mount Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the negative battery cable from the transaxle housing.

Fig 2: View Of Negative Battery Cable To Engine Block
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the starter. Refer to Starter Motor Replacement in Engine Electrical.
Disconnect the pressure line from the clutch actuator cylinder.

Fig 3: Identifying Clutch Actuator Cylinder Pressure Line
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Disconnect the backup light switch connector.

Fig 4: Locating Backup Light Switch Connector
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the rear transaxle mount bolts.

Fig 5: Identifying Rear Transaxle Mount Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Disconnect the vehicle speed sensor (VSS).

Fig 6: Locating Backup Light Switch Connector
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the upper transaxle mounting bolts.

Fig 7: Identifying Upper Transaxle Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Disconnect the shift cables at the transmission shift control and the bracket.

Fig 8: View Of Shift Actuator
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the cable bracket bolt and the bracket.

Fig 9: Shift Cable Bracket Bolt & Bracket View
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the rack and pinion mounting bolts.

Fig 10: Locating Rack & Pinion Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
Remove the tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
Remove the front fender liners. Refer to Front Fender Liner Replacement in Body Front End.
Remove the front suspension crossmember. Refer to Crossmember Replacement in Frame and Underbody.
Leave the steering rack in the vehicle.
Remove the flywheel support arm bracket from the flywheel cover to engine lower mount.
Remove the flywheel housing cover bolts.
Remove the flywheel housing cover.
Remove the drive axles from the transmission. Refer to Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement in Wheel Drive Shaft.
Secure the drive axles out of the way.
Remove the engine strut from the bracket.
Remove the front lower transaxle mount through-bolt.

Fig 11: View Of Engine Strut-To-Strut Bracket
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Attach the transaxle case to the support stand.

Fig 12: Identifying Transaxle Case & Support Stand
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Support the engine with a suitable axle jack.

Fig 13: View Of Transaxle Support Components
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the transaxle-to-engine mount bolts.

Fig 14: Locating Transaxle-To-Engine Mount Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Use the following procedure in order to remove the transmission:
1. Slide the transaxle away from the engine.
2. Carefully lower the trans axle jack.
3. Remove the transaxle.