Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Automatic Transaxle Removal/Installation: Notes
The oil pan could contain small chips, shavings, and other particles helpful in checking the condition of the transaxle and diagnosing certain problems.
To ensure that all foreign particles stay in the oil pan, make sure that the transaxle is never tipped completely over while the oil pan is still installed.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable.
- Drain the ATF into a container. (See AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID (ATF) REPLACEMENTΒ .)
- Remove the battery, battery tray, and battery carrier.
- Remove the air cleaner component. (See INTAKE-AIR SYSTEM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
- Remove the front wheel and tire.
- Remove the splash shield.
- Remove the starter.
- Remove in the order indicated in the figure.
- After removal, remove the oil pan to inspect the condition of the transaxle.
- Install in the reverse order of removal.
- Install the starter.
- Install the splash shield.
- Install the wheel and tire.
- Install the air cleaner component. (See INTAKE-AIR SYSTEM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
- Install the battery carrier, and battery.
- Fill the transaxle with the specified ATF after installation. (See AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID (ATF) REPLACEMENTΒ .)
- Inspect for leakage of ATF from all connecting points.
- Connect the negative battery cable.
- Inspect the operation of the TR switch. (See TRANSAXLE RANGE (TR) SWITCH INSPECTIONΒ .)
- Inspect the operation of the selector lever. (See SELECTOR LEVER INSPECTION .)
- Carry out the mechanical system test. (See MECHANICAL SYSTEM TESTΒ .)
- Carry out the road test. (See ROAD TESTΒ .)
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.