Transmission Removal

Special Tools Required 

• Engine hanger adapter VSB02C000015
• Engine support hanger, A and Reds AAR-T-12566
• Front subframe adapter VSB02C000016

These special tools are available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program 1-888-424-6857.

1. Make sure you have the anti-theft codes for the audio system and the navigation system (if equipped), and write down the audio presets.
2. Set the wheels in the straight ahead position.
3. Lock the steering wheel.
4. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
   Fig 1: Identifying Steering Joint Cover, Joint Yoke, Steering Joint Bolt And Slider Shaft

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
5. Make a reference mark (B) across the steering joint and the steering gearbox pinion shaft. Remove the steering joint bolt (C), and disconnect the steering joint (D) by removing the steering joint toward the steering column. Hold the slider shaft (E) on the column with a piece of wire (F) between the joint yoke (G) on the slider shaft to the joint yoke on the upper shaft (see step 10 on STEERING COLUMN REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).
6. Remove the power steering pump outlet line (A) from the power steering pump (B). Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.
   Fig 2: Identifying Power Steering Pump Outlet Line And Power Steering Pump

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
7. Remove the bolt securing the power steering hose clamp (C).
8. Raise the vehicle on a lift, and make sure it is supported securely.
9. Remove the splash shield.
10. Remove the drain plug (A), and drain the automatic transmission fluid (ATF).
    Fig 3: Drain Plug And Sealing Washer W/Torque Specification

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
11. Reinstall the drain plug with a new sealing washer (B).
12. Disconnect the negative cable, from the battery first, then disconnect the positive cable.
13. Remove the battery hold-down bracket, then remove the battery cover, the battery, and the battery tray.
14. Remove the intake air duct and the air cleaner assembly.
15. Loosen the two bolts securing the battery base from under the vehicle, and remove the two bolts securing the battery base in the engine compartment, then remove the battery base.
16. Disconnect the A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve A connector (A), and the 2nd clutch transmission fluid pressure switch connector (B), and remove the harness clamps (C) from the clamp brackets (D).
    Fig 4: Identifying 2nd Clutch Transmission Fluid Pressure Switch Connector, Harness Clamps And Clamp Brackets

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
17. Remove the transmission range switch connector (A) from its bracket (B), then disconnect it.

    '04-05 Models 

    Fig 5: Identifying A/F Sensor Connector And Input Shaft (Mainshaft) Speed Sensor Connector ('04-05 Models)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

    '06-08 Models 

    Fig 6: Identifying A/F Sensor Connector And Input Shaft (Mainshaft) Speed Sensor Connector ('06-08 Models)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
18. Remove the A/F sensor connector (C) from its bracket (D), then disconnect it.
19. Disconnect the input shaft (mainshaft) speed sensor connector (E) and the output shaft (countershaft) speed sensor connector (F), and remove the harness clamps (G) from the clamp brackets (H).
20. Disconnect the 3rd clutch transmission fluid pressure switch connector (A), and remove the harness clamp (B) from the clamp bracket (C).
    Fig 7: Identifying 3rd Clutch Transmission Fluid Pressure Switch Connector And Harness Clamp

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
21. Disconnect the shift solenoid harness connector (A), the A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve B connector (B), and the A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve C connector (C), and remove the harness clamp (D) from the clamp bracket (E).
    Fig 8: Identifying Shift Solenoid Harness Connector And A/T Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Valves Connectors

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
22. Remove the ATF cooler hoses (A) from the ATF cooler lines (B). Turn the ends of the ATF cooler hoses up to prevent ATF from flowing out, then plug the ATF cooler hoses and the lines.
    Fig 9: Identifying ATF Cooler Hoses And ATF Cooler Lines

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
23. Check for any signs of leakage at the hose joints.
24. Remove the ATF cooler hose (A) from the hose clamp (B).
    Fig 10: Identifying ATF Cooler Hose And Hose Clamp

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
25. Disconnect the ATF cooler hose (C) from the ATF cooler line (D), then plug the hose end.
26. Remove the ground cable (A), the transmission upper mount bracket plate (B), and the transmission upper mount bracket (C).
    Fig 11: Identifying Ground Cable, Transmission Upper Mount Bracket Plate And Transmission Upper Mount Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
27. Remove the harness clamp (A) and the hose (B), and remove the bolts (C) securing the hose clamps. Remove the mounting nuts (D) and the strut brace (E).
    Fig 12: Identifying Harness Clamp, Strut Brace And Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
28. To attach the engine hanger adapter, remove the clamp bracket.
    Fig 13: Identifying Clamp Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
29. Attach the engine hanger adapter (VSB02C000015) to the threaded hole in the cylinder head.
    Fig 14: Attaching Engine Hanger Adapter To Threaded Hole In Cylinder Head

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
30. Install the engine support hanger (AAR-T-12566) to the vehicle, and attach the hook (A) to the engine hanger adapter (VSB02C000015). Tighten the wing nut (B) by hand, and lift and support the engine.
    Fig 15: Identifying Engine Support Hanger Hook

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
31. Remove the vacuum hose (A) from its clamp (B), then disconnect the hose from the vacuum line (C).
    Fig 16: Identifying Vacuum Hose, Clamp, Vacuum Line And Front Engine Mount Stop

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
32. Remove the front engine mount stop (D) and the clamp bracket (E), and remove the front engine mount bolt (F).
33. Remove the rear engine mount stop (A), and remove the rear engine mount bolt (B).
    Fig 17: Identifying Rear Engine Mount Stop And Rear Engine Mount Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
34. Insert a 6 mm Allen wrench (A) in the top of the ball joint pin (B), and remove the nuts (C), then separate the stabilizer link (D) from the lower arms (E).
    Fig 18: Identifying Stabilizer Link, Cotter Pins, Damper Forks And Ball Joint Pin

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
35. Remove the cotter pins (F), the castle nuts (G), the damper pinch bolts (H), the self-locking nuts (I), the bolts (J), and the damper forks (K), then separate the ball joints from the lower arms (see step 12 on KNUCKLE/HUB/WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT ).
36. Remove the cotter pins (L) and nuts (M), and separate the tie-rod end ball joints (N) from the knuckles (see step 10 on KNUCKLE/HUB/WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT ).
37. Remove exhaust pipe A and its mount rubber (B).
    Fig 19: Identifying Exhaust Pipe A And Mount Rubber

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
38. Remove the power steering fluid hose (A) from the power steering fluid line (B). Turn the end of the hose up to prevent power steering fluid from flowing out, then plug the hose and the line.
    Fig 20: Identifying Power Steering Fluid Hose And Power Steering Fluid Line

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
39. Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector.
    Fig 21: Identifying Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
40. Remove the engine stiffener (A), and remove the drive plate bolts (B) while rotating the crankshaft pulley.
    Fig 22: Identifying Engine Stiffener And Drive Plate Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
41. Remove the three bolts securing the shift cable holder (A), then remove the shift cable cover (B).
    Fig 23: Identifying Shift Cable Holder, Shift Cable Cover, Control Pin, Shift Cable And Control Lever

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
42. Remove the spring clip (C) and the control pin (D), then separate the shift cable (E) from the control lever (F). Do not bend the shift cable excessively.
43. Remove the transmission lower mounts nuts.
    Fig 24: Identifying Transmission Lower Mounts Nuts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
44. Remove the front subframe middle mount.
    Fig 25: Identifying Front Subframe Middle Mount

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
45. Make the appropriate reference lines (A) at both ends of the front subframe (B) that line up with the edge (C) of the stiffeners (D).
    Fig 26: Identifying Reference Lines At Both Ends Of Front Subframe

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
46. Attach the front subframe adapter (VSB02C000016) to the front subframe with the front subframe adapter belt hanging over the front of the front subframe, then secure the belt with its stop.
    Fig 27: Identifying Front Subframe Adapter (VSB02C000016)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
47. Raise the jack, and line up the slots in the arms with the bolt holes on the corner of the jack base, then securely attach them with the bolts.
48. Remove the four bolts securing the stiffeners (A), and the four bolts securing the subframe (B), and lower the front subframe.
    Fig 28: Identifying Stiffeners And Subframe Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
49. Remove the transmission lower mounts.
    Fig 29: Identifying Transmission Lower Mounts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
50. Pry out the driveshaft from the differential and the intermediate shaft.
51. Remove the intermediate shaft.
    Fig 30: Identifying Intermediate Shaft

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
52. Coat all precision finished surfaces with clean engine oil, then put plastic bags over the driveshaft ends and the intermediate shaft ends.
53. Remove the rear engine mount bracket.
    Fig 31: Identifying Rear Engine Mount Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
54. Place a jack under the transmission.
55. Remove the upper transmission housing mounting bolts.
    Fig 32: Identifying Upper Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
56. Remove the front engine mount bracket.
    Fig 33: Identifying Front Engine Mount Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
57. Remove the front transmission housing mounting bolts on the front of the transmission.
    Fig 34: Identifying Front Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
58. Remove the rear transmission housing mounting bolts on the rear of the transmission.
    Fig 35: Identifying Rear Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
59. Slide the transmission away from the engine to remove it from the vehicle.
60. Remove the torque converter and the 14 x 20 mm dowel pins.
    Fig 36: Identifying Torque Converter And Dowel Pins

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
61. Inspect the drive plate, and replace it if it's damaged.
62. Check the transmission lower front mount (A) and the lower rear mount (B). If the mount rubber (C) is worn or damaged, replace the mount. There is no need to replace the lower rear mount if its sub mount rubber (D) has superficial cracks.
    Fig 37: Identifying Transmission Lower Front Mount, Lower Rear Mount And Mount Rubber

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.