Engine Removal

Special Tools Required 

• Engine Hanger Adapter Set VSB02C000031*
• Engine Hanger Balance Bar VSB02C000019*
• Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256*
• Front Subframe Adapter EQS02BMDXSB0*

*: Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment program, 888-424-6857.

1. Disconnect the support struts from both sides of the pivot ball (bolted to the hood). Secure the hood in a vertical position. Install the left side pivot ball into the lower threaded hole.
   NOTE: Do not attempt to close the hood with the support strut in the vertical position, as it will damage the support strut and hood.
   Fig 1: Installing Left Side Pivot Ball Into Lower Threaded Hole

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
2. Relieve the fuel pressure (see FUEL PRESSURE RELIEVING ).
3. Drain the power steering system fluid, then plug the fluid reservoir and the return hose (see FLUID CHECK/REPLACEMENT ).
4. Remove the bulkhead cover (see FRONT BULKHEAD COVER REPLACEMENT ).
5. Do the battery removal procedure (see RECONNECTION ).
6. Remove the engine cover.
   Fig 2: Identifying Engine Cover

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
7. Disconnect the breather pipe (A), then remove the intake air duct (B).
   Fig 3: Locating Breather Pipe And Intake Air Duct

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
8. Remove the air cleaner (see AIR CLEANER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
9. Disconnect the positive alternator cable (A) from the main under-hood fuse box.
   Fig 4: Locating Positive Alternator Cable And Main Under-Hood Fuse Box

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
10. Remove the main under-hood fuse box (A), then remove the harness clamp (B).
    Fig 5: Locating Main Under-Hood Fuse Box And Harness Clamp

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
11. Remove the harness clamps (A), then remove the battery base (B).
    Fig 6: Locating Harness Clamps And Battery Base

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
12. Remove the shift cable (see SHIFT CABLE REPLACEMENT ).
13. Remove the quick-connect fitting cover (A), then disconnect the fuel feed hose (B) (see FUEL LINE/QUICK-CONNECT FITTING REMOVAL ).
    Fig 7: Locating Quick-Connect Fitting Cover And Fuel Feed Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
14. Disconnect the brake booster vacuum hose (A), and EVAP canister hose (B).
    Fig 8: Locating Brake Booster Vacuum Hose And EVAP Canister Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
15. Disconnect the EVAP canister purge valve connector (C).
16. Remove the steering joint cover, then disconnect the steering joint from the steering gearbox pinion shaft (see step 8 under STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL ).
    NOTE: Hold the steering wheel in the steering wheel holder tool.
17. Remove the coolant reservoir from the bracket.
18. Remove the PCM cover (see HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT CIRCUITS AT THE PCM CONNECTORS ).
19. Disconnect the PCM connectors (see HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT CIRCUITS AT THE PCM CONNECTORS ).
20. Remove the drive belt (see DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT ).
21. Disconnect the power steering pump inlet hose (A) and power steering pump outlet hose (B) from the power steering pump, then plug the power steering hoses and power steering pump.
    Fig 9: Locating Power Steering Pump Inlet Hose And Power Steering Pump Outlet Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
22. Remove the power steering hose bracket (C) from the rear cylinder head cover.
23. Wait until the engine is cool, then carefully remove the radiator cap.
24. Raise the vehicle on the lift.
25. Remove the front wheels.
26. Remove the splash shield (see SPLASH SHIELD REPLACEMENT ) and the front undercover (see FRONT UNDERCOVER REPLACEMENT ).
27. Loosen the drain plug in the radiator, and drain the engine coolant (see COOLANT CHECK ).
28. Drain the engine oil (see OIL PRESSURE TEST ).
29. Drain the ATF (see ATF REPLACEMENT ).
30. Remove the front subframe stiffener.
    Fig 10: Identifying Front Subframe Stiffener

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
31. Remove exhaust pipe A.
    Fig 11: Locating Exhaust Pipe A

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
32. Separate the stabilizer links from the dampers (see BUSHING REPLACEMENT ).
33. Separate the tie-rod end ball joints from the knuckles (see step 4 under KNUCKLE/HUB BEARING UNIT REPLACEMENT ).
34. Separate the knuckles from the lower arms (see step 7 under KNUCKLE/HUB BEARING UNIT REPLACEMENT ).
35. Remove the driveshafts (see DRIVESHAFT INSPECTION ). Coat all precision-finished surfaces with new engine oil. Tie plastic bags over the driveshaft ends.
36. Remove the propeller shaft (see PROPELLER SHAFT REMOVAL ).
37. Remove the transfer assembly (see TRANSFER ASSEMBLY REMOVAL ).
38. Disconnect the power steering hose (A), then plug the line and hose.
    Fig 12: Locating Power Steering Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
39. Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector (A).
    Fig 13: Locating Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
40. Lower the vehicle on the lift.
41. Disconnect the A/C compressor clutch connector (A), then remove the A/C compressor (B) without disconnecting the A/C hoses. Do not bend the A/C hoses excessively.
    NOTE: Hang the A/C compressor with a wire tie.
    Fig 14: Locating A/C Compressor Clutch Connector And A/C Compressor

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
42. Disconnect the heater hoses (A).
    Fig 15: Locating Heater Hoses

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
43. Disconnect the upper radiator hose (A) and the lower radiator hose (B).
    Fig 16: Locating Upper Radiator Hose And Lower Radiator Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
44. Disconnect the ATF cooler hoses (A) from the transmission, then plug the ATF cooler hoses and lines.
    Fig 17: Locating ATF Cooler Hoses

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
45. Remove the radiator (see RADIATOR AND FAN REPLACEMENT ).
46. Remove the connector bracket (A) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine balance bar front arm.
    Fig 18: Locating Connector Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
47. Remove the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (A) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar rear arm.
    Fig 19: Locating Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
48. Remove the service caps (A) for the front damper flange nuts from the cowl cover (B). Position the engine hanger adapter set (VSB02C000031) with the FRONT mark facing forward over the damper flange nuts.
    Fig 20: Locating Service Caps And Cowl Cover

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
49. Install the engine hanger balance bar (VSB02C000019). Attach the front arm (A) to the front cylinder head with a several spacer (B) and a 10 x 1.25 mm bolt (C) attach the rear arm (D) to the rear cylinder head with an 8 x 1.25 mm bolt (E).
    Fig 21: Attaching Front Arm To Front Cylinder Head

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
50. Install the engine support hanger (AAR-T1256) onto the vehicle as shown, and attach the hook to the slotted hole in the engine hanger balance bar. Tighten the wing nut (F) by hand, and lift and support the engine/transmission.
    NOTE:

    • Be careful when working around the windshield.
    • Be careful not to damage the hood opener cable when installing the engine support hanger at the front bulkhead.
    • AAR-T1256 two sets required for stacking two cross section bars.
51. Raise the vehicle on the lift.
52. Disconnect the front engine mount control solenoid valve tube (A), then remove the front engine mount bolts (B).
    Fig 22: Locating Front Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Tube And Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
53. With active damper system/With headlight leveling system left side: Disconnect the front suspension stroke sensor connectors (A) and remove the harness clamps (B) on both sides.
    Fig 23: Locating Front Suspension Stroke Sensor Connectors And Harness Clamps

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
54. Remove the lower transmission mount mounting bolts (A) and the ground cable (B).
    Fig 24: Locating Lower Transmission Mount Mounting Bolts And Ground Cable

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
55. Remove the rear engine mount base mounting bolts (A).
    Fig 25: Locating Rear Engine Mount Base Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
56. Loosen the four bolts (A) holding the adjustable arms (B) of the front subframe adapter (EQS02BMDXSBO) to its center plate.
    Fig 26: Identifying Front Subframe Adapter

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
57. Line up the slots on the subframe adapter arms with the bolt holes on the jack base, then securely attach them with four bolts (A).
    Fig 27: Locating Subframe Adapter Arms With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
58. Raise the transmission jack to vehicle height, then attach the front subframe adapter to the front subframe using the subframe stiffener mounting bolts (B) and bolt holes.
59. Remove the six 12 x 1.25 mm bolts (A) securing the subframe stiffeners (B), the four subframe mounting bolts (C), and the stiffeners, then lower the front subframe (D).
    Fig 28: Identifying Subframe Assembly

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
60. Lower the vehicle on the lift.
61. Attach a chain hoist (A) to the engine hanger (B) and the transmission hanger (C), then lift the engine/transmission until it is securely supported by the chain hoist, and remove the engine support hanger, the engine hanger balance bar, and the hanger adapter set.
    Fig 29: Attaching Chain Hoist To Engine Hanger And Transmission Hanger

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
62. Remove the mounting bolts (A) from the upper half of the side engine mount bracket.
    Fig 30: Locating Side Engine Mount Bracket Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
63. Check that the engine/transmission is completely free of the vacuum hoses, the fuel hoses, the coolant hoses, and the electrical wiring.
64. Slowly lower the engine/transmission about 150 mm (6 in). Check once again that all the hoses and the electrical wiring are disconnected and free from the engine/transmission, then lower it all the way and support it.
65. Disconnect the chain hoist from the engine/transmission.
66. Raise the vehicle, and remove the engine/transmission from under the vehicle.