GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Tools Required

J 43653 Flywheel Holding Tool

Removal Procedure

  1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and Connection in Engine Electrical.
  2. Disconnect the air inlet duct hose from the intake plenum.
  3. Install the engine support fixture. Refer to Engine Support Fixture in Engine Mechanical - 3.1L.

  4. Object Number: 104580  Size: SH
  5. Disconnect the transaxle wiring harness from the transaxle and the PNP switch.
  6. Remove the upper transmission to engine bolts and stud.
  7. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
  8. Remove the front wheel and tire assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
  9. Remove the left front fender liner. Refer to Front Fender Liner Replacement in Body Front End.
  10. Remove the Frame Replacement in Frame and Underbody.

  11. Object Number: 510437  Size: SH
  12. Remove the 2 bolts from the transmission brace.

  13. Object Number: 494775  Size: SH
  14. Disconnect the shift cable from the shift linkage.
  15. Disconnect the cable from the bracket.

  16. Object Number: 510441  Size: SH
  17. Remove the flywheel inspection cover.
  18. Remove the starter. Refer to Starter Motor Replacement in Engine Electrical.
  19. Mark the relationship of the flywheel to the torque converter for reassembly.

  20. Object Number: 475919  Size: SH
  21. Using J 43653 remove the torque converter to flywheel bolts.
  22. Remove the transmission cooler lines by removing the nut holding the bracket to the transaxle case.
  23. Disconnect the VSS wiring harness from the sensor.
  24. Disconnect the wheel drive shafts from the transaxle. Refer to Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement in Front Wheel Drive Shafts.
  25. Lower the vehicle.
  26. Remove the body to transmission mount bolts.
  27. Lower the transmission with the engine support fixture enough to remove the transmission.
  28. Raise the vehicle.
  29. Support the transmission with a suitable jack.

  30. Object Number: 104581  Size: SH
  31. Remove the transaxle to engine nut.
  32. Separate the engine and the transaxle.
  33. Remove the transaxle from the vehicle.
  34. Remove the PNP switch.
  35. Remove the shifter cable bracket.
  36. Remove the lower transmission to engine stud.
  37. Remove the transmission mount.
  38. Flush the transmission cooler and the lines. Refer to Transmission Fluid Cooler Flushing and Flow Test.

Installation Procedure

  1. Install the PNP switch.
  2. Install the shifter cable bracket.
  3. Install the lower transmission to engine stud.
  4. Install the transmission mount.

  5. Object Number: 104581  Size: SH
  6. Position the transaxle in the vehicle.
  7. Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.


    Object Number: 104580  Size: SH
  8. Install the lower transmission to engine bolts and nuts.
  9. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts and nuts to 90 N·m (66 lb ft).

  10. Connect the transaxle cooler pipes to the transaxle.
  11. Tighten
    Tighten the cooler pipes to 8 N·m (71 lb in).


    Object Number: 475919  Size: SH
  12. Install the torque converter to flywheel bolts.
  13. Tighten
    Tighten the torque converter bolts to 62 N·m (46 lb ft).

  14. Install the wheel drive shafts to the transaxle. Refer to Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement in Front Wheel Drive Shafts.
  15. Connect the wiring harness to the VSS.

  16. Object Number: 510441  Size: SH
  17. Install the starter. Refer to Starter Motor Replacement in Engine Electrical.
  18. Tighten
    Tighten the starter bolts to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

  19. Install the battery cable to the starter and the nut.
  20. Tighten
    Tighten the nut to 15 N·m (11 lb ft).

  21. Install the starter wire and the nut to the starter solenoid.
  22. Tighten
    Tighten the nut to 11 N·m (97 lb in).

  23. Install the flywheel inspection cover.

  24. Object Number: 104328  Size: SH
  25. Lower the vehicle.
  26. Use the engine support fixture to raise the engine and transmission assembly.
  27. Install the transaxle mount to body bolts.
  28. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 90 N·m (66 lb ft).

  29. Raise the vehicle.
  30. Install the Frame Replacement in Frame and Underbody.

  31. Object Number: 510437  Size: SH
  32. Install the transmission to engine brace bolts.
  33. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 72 N·m (53 lb ft).

  34. Install the left front fender liner. Refer to Front Fender Liner Replacement in Body Front End.
  35. Install the front wheel and tire assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
  36. Lower the vehicle.

  37. Object Number: 104580  Size: SH
  38. Install the upper transmission to engine bolts and stud.
  39. Tighten
    Tighten all of the bolts to 90 N·m (66 lb ft).

  40. Install the engine wiring harness grounds to the transaxle to engine mount stud and nut.
  41. Tighten
    Tighten the nut to 8 N·m (71 lb in).

  42. Remove the engine support fixture. Refer to Engine Support Fixture in Engine Mechanical - 3.1L.

  43. Object Number: 494775  Size: SH
  44. Connect the electrical connectors to the PNP switch and transaxle.
  45. Install the shift linkage to the transmission.
  46. Connect the air duct hose to the intake plenum.
  47. Connect the negative battery cable. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and Connection in Engine Electrical.
  48. Inspect the transmission fluid level.
  49. Important: It is recommended that transmission adaptive pressure (TAP) information be reset.

    Resetting the TAP values using a scan tool will erase all learned values in all cells. As a result, The ECM, PCM or TCM will need to relearn TAP values. Transmission performance may be affected as new TAP values are learned.

  50. Reset the TAP values. Refer to Adapt Function.