Removal and Installation

NOTE: The transaxle can be removed from the vehicle without having to remove the engine.

All transaxle components are serviced with the transaxle out of the vehicle with the exception of-
- Selector shaft seal
- Crossover shaft seal
- End plate
- Axle shaft seals
- Shift levers
- Back up lamp switch
- Vehicle speed sensor

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect the battery.
2. Pull Power Distribution Center up and out of its holding bracket. Set Power Distribution Center aside to gain clearance.
3. Remove battery heat shield and remove battery from engine compartment. Remove battery tray from engine compartment. Disconnect cruise control (if equipped).
4. Remove vehicle speed sensor wire.
5. Disconnect back-up lamp switch wiring at transaxle.

CAUTION: Pry up with equal force on both sides of shifter cable isolator bushing to avoid damaging cable isolator bushing.

Fig. 20:

6. Disconnect both gear shift cables ends from transaxle shift levers.

Fig. 21:

Fig. 22:

7. Remove clutch housing vent cap, exposing the clutch cable end and clutch release lever. Then remove clutch cable from transaxle bellhousing.

Fig. 23:

8. Remove shift cable mounting bracket.
9. Remove Accelerator cable shield (if equipped).
10. Remove intake manifold support bracket (if equipped) and upper starter bolt,
11. Remove upper bellhousing bolts.
12. Install engine bridge fixture and support engine.
13. Lift vehicle on hoist and remove front wheels.
14. Drain fluid from transaxle.
15. Remove both front driveshafts.

CAUTION: When reinstalling driveshafts, new driveshaft retaining clips must be used. Do not reuse old clips. Failure to use new clips may result in disengagement of inner constant-velocity joint.

16. Remove power hop damper and bracket.

Fig. 24:

17. Remove lower starter bolt.

Fig. 25:

18. Remove transaxle to rear lateral bending strut from engine and transaxle.
19. Support transaxle with a transmission jack.
20. Remove front motor mount through-bolt. Remove front motor mount bolts from engine and transaxle.
21. Remove lower dust-shield screw and dust shield.
22. Rotate engine crankshaft clockwise to expose driveplate-to-modular clutch bolts.

NOTE: Before removal of bolts, mark the driveplate and clutch pressure plate for ease of assembly alignment.

23. Remove four driveplate-to-modular clutch bolts to separate driveplate from clutch assembly.
24. Push modular clutch assembly into the transaxle bellhousing for easier transaxle removal.

Fig. 26:

25. Remove frame rail to left transaxle mount through-bolt.
26. Remove left transaxle mount from transaxle. Then push mount up to gain clearance for transaxle removal.
27. Remove transaxle from vehicle.
28. Remove modular clutch assembly from transaxle input shaft.

INSTALLATION
1. To install transaxle, reverse removal procedure.
2. After installing transaxle, fill transaxle to bottom of fill plug hole (vehicle level on hoist). Fill transaxle with MOPAR type M.S. 9417 Manual Transaxle Fluid before lowering vehicle to floor.
3. Verify that vehicle's back-up lights and speedometer are functioning properly. Crossover cable adjustment procedure is required after installing transaxle in car to ensure proper shifter adjustment. Road test vehicle for proper transaxle function.