Tools Required

J 36850 Transjel Lubricant

1. Remove the engine dress cover.
2. Disconnect the mass air flow (MAF) sensor harness connector from the MAF and disconnect the air intake duct from throttle body.
3. Disconnect the evaporative (EVAP) emission hose from the EVAP valve.



4. Remove the shift cable from the transaxle range selector.
5. Remove the transaxle shift cable bracket bolts and the bracket from the transaxle.
6. Disconnect the transaxle wiring harness connector.
7. Remove both engine supports from the engine and radiator support.



8. Remove top side cover bolt (56, 58).
9. Install the engine support fixture. Refer to Engine Support Fixture in Engine Mechanical - 3.8L or Engine Support Fixture in Engine Mechanical - 5.3L.
10. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
11. Remove the left front wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
12. Remove the inner fender splash shield.
13. Remove the wheel speed sensor harness from 4 retainers on lower control arm.
14. Remove the transmission mount-to-frame nuts (2).
15. Remove the air deflector. Refer to Radiator Air Lower Baffle and Deflector Replacement in Engine Cooling.
16. For V-8 equipped vehicles, remove the front cradle to radiator support brackets on each side.
17. Remove both stabilizer links from the stabilizer and reposition stabilizer to access steering gear- to-frame bolts.
18. Remove steering gear-to-frame bolts and support steering gear.
19. Remove the positive battery cable center retainer at front rail.
20. Remove the left side ball joint from the steering knuckle.
21. Support the left frame rail with a jack stand.
22. Remove only the left two frame-to-body bolts. DO NOT LOOSEN RIGHT SIDE FRAME-TO-BODY BOLTS.
23. Lower the frame with jack stand and remove jack stand.
24. Position the drain pan under transaxle side cover.
25. Remove the left drive axle from the transaxle. Refer to Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement in Wheel Drive Shafts.
26. Secure the drive axle to the strut assembly.
27. Lower the vehicle.
28. Using the engine support fixture lower the engine assembly to access the transaxle case side cover.
29. Raise the vehicle.



30. Remove the transaxle mount bracket bolts and the bracket from the transaxle.



31. Remove the remaining case side cover bolts (56,57,58).



32. Remove the case side cover (53).
33. Remove the case side cover gasket (54).
34. Remove the case side cover O-ring (59).
35. Clean the side cover gasket mating surfaces.

1. Install the J 36850 to the case side cover O-ring (59).
2. Install the O-ring (59) to the case side cover.
3. Install the case side cover gasket (54).
4. Install the case side cover (53).

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.




5. Install the case side cover bolts (56, 57, 58) except top bolt.

Tighten
Tighten bolts to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).




6. Install the transaxle mount bracket
7. Install the transaxle mount bracket bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 95 N·m (70 lb ft)

8. Install a jack stand under the left frame rail and raise frame while aligning transaxle mount bolts with frame and ball joint with the steering knuckle.
9. Install and tighten the left side frame-to-body bolts (2).
10. For V-8 equipped vehicles, install front cradle to radiator support brackets and bolts to both sides.
11. Install the lower air deflector. Refer to Radiator Air Lower Baffle and Deflector Replacement in Engine Cooling.
12. Install drive axle to transaxle.
13. Install transaxle mount nuts (2).
14. Install the ball joint nut and cotter pin.
15. Install the steering gear-to-frame bolts.
16. Install the positive battery cable center retainer on front frame rail.
17. Reposition the stabilizer bar and install bolts to stabilizer.
18. Install the wheel speed sensor harness to four retainers on the lower control arm.
19. Install the inner fender splash shield.
20. Install the left front wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
21. Lower the vehicle and remove the engine support fixture.



22. Install the top case side cover bolt.

Tighten
Tighten bolts to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).




23. Install the transaxle shift cable bracket and shift cable bracket bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 30 N·m (22 lb ft).

24. Install the transaxle shift cable to the transaxle range selector.
25. Connect the transaxle wiring harness connector.
26. Install the engine mount struts. Refer to Engine Mount Strut Replacement - Right Side and Engine Mount Strut Replacement - Left Side in Engine Mechanical - 3.8L.
27. Install the air intake duct and connect the MAF sensor wiring harness.
28. Install the EVAP hose to EVAP valve.
29. Install the engine dress cover.

Notice: Do not overfill the transmission. Overfilling will result in foaming, loss of fluid, and possible damage to the transmission.

30. Check and fill the transaxle as necessary.
31. Inspect for fluid leaks.