Removal and Installation

REMOVAL

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

Most transaxle components are serviced with the transaxle out of the vehicle. The components that are serviceable in the vehicle are:
- Selector shaft seal
- Crossover shaft seal
- End plate
- Axle shaft seals
- Shift levers
- Back up lamp switch
- Vehicle speed sensor
1. Disconnect the battery negative cable at strut tower.
2. Remove air cleaner at throttle body base inlet.

Fig. 17:

3. Remove clutch housing vent cap, exposing the clutch cable end and clutch release lever. Then remove clutch cable from transaxle bellhousing (Fig. 17).

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

Fig. 18:

4. Remove selector lever cable at transaxle (Fig. 18).
5. Remove crossover lever cable at transaxle (Fig. 18).

Fig. 19:

6. Remove shift cable mounting bracket (Fig. 19).

Fig. 20:

7. Disconnect accelerator cables ends from throttle body (Fig. 20).

Fig. 21:

8. Remove accelerator cable bracket at throttle body (Fig. 21).

Fig. 22:

Fig. 23:

9. Remove upper starter bolt and upper bellhousing stud nut at bellhousing (Fig. 22). Remove throttle body support bracket (Fig. 23).

Fig. 24:

10. Remove left transaxle mount upper bolts (Fig. 24).

Fig. 25:

11. Remove upper bellhousing bolts (Fig. 25).
12. Remove vehicle speed sensor.
13. Remove back up lamp wiring at transaxle.

Fig. 26:

14. Install engine bridge fixture and support engine (Fig. 26).
15. Lift vehicle on hoist and remove front wheels.
16. Drain fluid from transaxle.
17. 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.

18. Remove left lower splash shield/battery cover.

Fig. 27:

19. Remove left transaxle mount lower bracket bolts (Fig. 27).

Fig. 28:

Fig. 29:

20. Remove bolts retaining engine lower crossbar (Fig. 28) (Fig. 29).
21. Remove front steel engine mount bracket.

Fig. 30:

22. Remove 3 bolts on front engine mount bracket (aluminum) (Fig. 30).

Fig. 31:

23. Remove lower starter bolt (Fig. 31).

Fig. 32:

24. Remove rear transaxle mount bracket (Fig. 32).

Fig. 33:

25. Remove transaxle to rear lateral bending strut from engine and transaxle (Fig. 33).
26. Remove lower dust shield screw.
27. Support transaxle with a transmission jack.

Fig. 34:

Fig. 35:

28. Rotate engine clockwise to gain access to driveplate clutch bolts (Fig. 34). Remove driveplate clutch bolts (Fig. 35).

Fig. 36:

29. Remove lower transaxle to engine bellhousing bolts (Fig. 36).
30. Remove transaxle from vehicle.


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 assure proper shifter adjustment. Road test vehicle for proper transaxle function.