Draining & Refilling
WARNING:
Make sure vehicle is properly supported and squarely positioned on hoist. To help avoid personal injury when a vehicle is on a hoist, provide additional support for vehicle on opposite end from which components are being removed.
- Position vehicle on a hoist and raise vehicle. Place a drain pan under transaxle oil pan. Remove oil pan bolts from front and sides only.
- Loosen rear oil pan bolts approximately 4 turns. Lightly tap oil pan with a rubber mallet or carefully pry in order to allow oil to drain. On vehicles equipped with 2.2L engine, remove clamp from A.I.R. hose behind cooling fan. Separate A.I.R. tube from hose and push tube back toward transaxle. See Figure. Note original position of A.I.R. components.
- Inspect fluid color. See FLUID DIAGNOSIS . Remove remaining oil pan bolts, and oil pan. Remove oil pan gasket.
- Remove oil level control valve. Remove oil filter, and oil filter O-ring seal. See Fig 1. Seal may remain in case when filter is removed.
- Using a chisel, indent top of filter neck seal to relax press fit. See Fig 2. Remove filter neck seal from transaxle case and discard. Remove all traces of old gasket material. Clean transaxle case and oil pan gasket surfaces with solvent, and allow to air dry.
- Install new filter neck seal. A large socket can be used as an installation tool as shown or 2 mallets can be used as well. See Fig 3.
- Coat new filter O-ring seal with a small amount of petroleum jelly, and install filter into case. Install oil level control valve. Push straight up on center of valve in order to prevent damage to case bore.
- Install oil pan gasket, oil pan, and hand start oil pan bolts. Tighten oil pan bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Lower vehicle. Refill transaxle using DEXRON-III ATF to specified refill capacity. See FLUID CAPACITIES .
- Start engine, warm up transaxle, and check for leaks. Check for proper fluid level. See CHECKING FLUID LEVELS .
CAUTION:
Pry oil pan carefully in order to prevent damage to transaxle case or oil pan sealing surfaces.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to score or damage transaxle case when removing filter neck seal.
CAUTION:
Use petroleum jelly when lubricating components. Greases other than petroleum jelly will change transaxle fluid characteristics and will cause undesirable shift conditions or filter clogging.