Removal (Tempo & Topaz)
- Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove air cleaner assembly. Disconnect wiring from neutral safety switch. Harness connector is near distributor. Disconnect throttle valve linkage and manual lever cable at transaxle.
- Cover timing window in torque converter housing to prevent contamination. Remove bolts retaining air injection system hoses (if equipped). Position valve and hoses away from tubing and master cylinder.
- Remove ground strap above engine mount (if equipped). Remove coil and bracket assembly. Remove 2 upper transaxle-to-engine bolts. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels.CAUTION: DO NOT damage ball joint boot. DO NOT use hammer on ball joints.
- Remove control arm-to-ball joint bolts and discard. Use NEW bolt and nut during transaxle installation. Using pry bar, carefully separate control arms from steering knuckles.
- Remove stabilizer bar brackets-to-frame bolts. Remove stabilizer bar-to-control arm nut and washer. Discard bolts and washer. Manufacturer recommends using NEW hardware on installation.
- Pull stabilizer bar out of control arms. Remove bolts attaching brake hose routing clips to suspension strut brackets. Disconnect tie rod ends from steering knuckles.
- Pry right axle shaft out of transaxle using Halfshaft Remover (D83P-4026-A). Position shaft on transaxle housing.
- Insert Differential Rotator (T81P-4026-A) into right differential side gear. Drive left axle shaft from differential side gear. Pull axle shaft from transaxle and support aside.CAUTION: DO NOT let axle shaft hang unsupported. Damage to outboard CV joint may result.
- Install Seal Plugs (T81P-1177-B) into differential seals to prevent spline misalignment. On all-wheel drive vehicles, disconnect drive shaft to rear wheels. Tie drive shaft to underbody. On all models, remove starter. Disconnect hoses.
- Remove transaxle support bracket. Remove torque converter housing dust cover. Remove flexplate-to-torque converter nuts. Position transmission jack under transaxle. Remove rear support bracket nuts. Remove left front insulator-to-body bracket nuts. Remove bracket-to-body bolts and remove bracket.
- Disconnect oil cooler lines at transaxle using Cooler Line Disconnector (T82L-9500-AH). Remove manual lever bracket-to-transaxle case bolts. Support engine. Position transmission jack under transaxle and remove 4 remaining transaxle-to-engine bolts.
- Insert screwdriver between flexplate and torque converter. Carefully move transaxle and torque converter away from engine. When torque converter studs are clear of flexplate, lower transaxle about 3". Disconnect speedometer cable and lower transaxle from vehicle.
NOTE:
If left-front insulator contacts body before torque converter studs clear flexplate, remove left-front insulator.