Removal & Installation: Transaxle: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Saturn Vue and 2002 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Remove the battery cover.
Record all of the customer's radio station presets. Turn off all the lamps and accessories. Turn the ignition off. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Disconnect the positive battery cable.
Loosen the battery hold down screw and remove the battery. See Fig 1 .
Remove the battery cooling box. See appropriate SERVICING article as follows:
- For 2002 models, see BATTERY COOLING BOX under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION in SERVICING - VUE (VT25-E) article.
- For 2003 models, see BATTERY COOLING BOX under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION in SERVICING - VUE (VT25-E) article.
Loosen the battery tray bracket screws and remove the bracket. See Fig 2 .
Remove the air induction resonator. See Fig 3 .

Fig 1: Removing Battery Hold Down Screw
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 2: Removing Battery Tray Bracket
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 3: Removing Air Induction Resonator & Bracket
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the air induction resonator bracket.
CAUTION: The control cable must be disconnected from the transaxle range switch lever prior to disconnecting it from the control cable bracket. Otherwise damage to the manual shift shaft may result, requiring transaxle disassembly.
Using the fascia retainer remover, disconnect the shifter cable from the transaxle range switch lever. See Fig 4 .
Disconnect the shifter cable from the shifter cable bracket.
Disconnect the transaxle range switch harness from the transaxle range switch. See Fig 5 .
Disconnect the transaxle harness connector from the valve body. See Fig 6 .

Fig 4: Removing Control Cable At Transaxle
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 5: Locating Transaxle Range Switch
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 6: Disconnecting Transaxle Harness Connector
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the headlamp fasteners.
Wire the radiator to the radiator core support in order to hold the radiator in place as the cradle is removed.
Install the engine support fixture - 3-bar. See Fig 7 .
Remove one upper transaxle-to-engine bolt. See Fig 8 .
Remove the upper left transaxle mount bolts. See Fig 9 .

Fig 7: Installing Engine Support Fixture
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 8: Removing Upper Transaxle-To-Engine Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 9: Removing Upper Left Transaxle Mount Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Raise and support the vehicle.
Remove the right wheel and tire assembly.
Remove the left inner splash shield. See Fig 10 .
Remove the front air deflector-to-cradle pushpins.
Remove the lower tube assembly and drain the fluid. See Fig 11 .
Remove the transaxle oil cooler line assembly nut from the transaxle. See Fig 12 .

Fig 10: Removing Left Inner Splash Shield
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 11: Removing Lower Tube Assembly
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 12: Removing Transaxle Cooler Lines
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the transaxle oil cooler lines from the transaxle.
On AWD models, disconnect the drive shaft from the Power Take-Off Unit (PTU) and support the drive shaft. Mark the alignment position of the PTU and the drive shaft. See Fig 13 .
On all models, disconnect the lower stabilizer nut from the cradle on both sides of vehicle. See Fig 14 .
Remove the rack and pinion bolts from the cradle.
Remove the lower control arm ball stud cotter pin and nut. See Fig 15 . Discard the pin.
Separate the ball stud from the knuckle. See Fig 16 .
CAUTION: Hold the ball stud from turning when removing/installing the nut. The boot can become torn and damaged if the ball stud turns.
Remove the outer tie rod-to-knuckle nut. See Figure . Discard the nut.

Fig 13: Disconnecting Drive Shaft From PTU
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 14: Removing Rack & Pinion Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 15: Removing Lower Control Arm Ball Stud Cotter Pins & Nut
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 16: Separating Ball Stud From Knuckle
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to separate the joint using a wedge-type tool because seal may be damaged.
Using the tie rod separator or equivalent, separate the tie rod from the knuckle. See Figure .
Remove the front pitch restrictor bolts and front pitch restrictor. See Fig 17 .
Remove the rear pitch restrictor through-bolt. See Fig 18 .

Fig 17: Removing Front Pitch Restrictor
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 18: Removing Rear Pitch Restrictor Through-Bolt
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Support the cradle with cradle support.
Remove the cradle fasteners and lower the cradle onto a support table. See Fig 19 .
Using the rear wheel drive shaft removal tool and the slide hammer, separate the left axle shaft from the transaxle. Use a tie strap to keep the axle out of the way. See Fig 20 .
On FWD models, separate the right axle shaft from the intermediate drive shaft. See Fig 21 .
Remove the intermediate drive shaft bearing retainer-to-intermediate drive shaft support bracket bolts. See Fig 22 .
CAUTION: Remove the retaining ring from the stub shaft prior to tool installation. Discard the ring.
Separate the intermediate drive shaft from the transaxle. If the shaft is difficult to remove, use the stub shaft assembly remover and the axle seal puller. See Fig 23 .
On AWD models, using the rear wheel drive shaft removal tool and the slide hammer, separate the right axle shaft from the PTU. See Fig 24 .
CAUTION: If the stub shaft disengages from the PTU, separate the PTU from the axle and plug the stub shaft hole to prevent fluid loss.

Fig 19: Removing Cradle Fasteners
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 20: Removing Left-Side Axle Shaft
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 21: Separating Right-Side Axle Shaft
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 22: Removing Intermediate Axle Shaft Bearing Retainer
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 23: Removing Retaining Ring
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 24: Replacing Axle Shaft "O" Ring
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
On all models, remove the axle shaft "O" ring seal. Discard the seal.
Remove the starter wiring harness.
Remove the starter bolts and starter. See Fig 25 .
Turn the crankshaft clockwise to gain access to the torque converter-to-flexplate bolts.
Remove the torque converter-to-flexplate bolts through the starter hole. See Fig 26 .
On AWD models, remove the PTU-to-engine bracket assembly. See Fig 27 .
Remove the PTU vent hose.
Remove the PTU bolts and separate the PTU from the transaxle. See Fig 28 .
Remove the stub shaft from the transaxle if not already removed. See Fig 29 .

Fig 25: Removing Starter Bolts & Starter
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 26: Removing Torque Converter-To-Flexplate Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 27: Removing PTU-To-Engine Bracket Assembly
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 28: Separating PTU From Transaxle
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 29: Removing Stub Shaft
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
On all models, secure the transaxle to a transaxle jack.
Remove the lower transaxle-to-engine bolts. See Fig 30 .
CAUTION: The torque converter has a long pilot shaft. Do not put excessive load on the shaft. Do not lower the transaxle until the shaft is clear of the engine crankshaft. Do not damage the mating surfaces of the engine or transaxle.
Separate the transaxle from the engine.
Lower the transaxle carefully.
Remove the torque converter and differential housing "O" ring seal. See Fig 31 . Discard the seal.

Fig 30: Removing Lower Transaxle-To-Engine Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Fig 31: Removing Torque Converter & Differential Housing "O" Ring Seal
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.