Transmission Removal

Special Tools Required 

• Engine support hanger, A and Reds AAR-T-12566
• Engine hanger balance bar VSB02C000019
• Front subframe adapter VSB02C000016

These special tools are available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program 1-888-424-6857.

1. Make sure you have the anti-theft codes for the radio and navigation system, and write down the audio presets.
2. Disconnect the support strut from both sides of the pivot ball (bolted to the hood). Secure the hood (A) in a vertical position. Remove the right side pivot ball and install it into the lower threaded hole (B), then reattach the support strut.
   NOTE: Do not attempt to close the hood with the support strut in the vertical position; it will damage the support strut and the hood.
   Fig 1: Identifying Hood (A) And Lower Threaded Hole (B)

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
3. Set the wheels in the straight ahead position.
4. Lock the steering wheel.
5. Drain the power steering system fluid from the reservoir (see FLUID REPLACEMENT ).
6. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
   Fig 2: Removing Steering Joint Cover (A)

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
7. Make a reference mark (B) across the steering joint and steering gearbox pinion shaft. Remove the steering joint bolt (C), and disconnect the steering joint (D) by removing the steering joint toward the steering column. Hold the slider shaft (E) on the column with a peace of wire (F) between the joint yoke (G) on the slider shaft to the joint yoke on the upper shaft (see step 8 on STEERING COLUMN REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).
8. Remove the covers in the order presented; left side engine compartment cover (A), left rear engine compartment cover (B), right fender trim (C), right side engine compartment cover (D), right rear engine compartment cover (E), left fender trim (F), front bulkhead cover (G), and intake manifold cover (H).
   Fig 3: Identifying Cover Removal Sequence

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9. Remove the harness clamp (A) and two 6.0 mm bolts (B), and remove the strut brace (C).
   Fig 4: Identifying Harness Clamp (A), Bolts (B) And Strut Brace (C)

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
10. Remove the power steering pump outlet line (A) from the power steering pump, and remove the hose (B) from its clamp (C).
    Fig 5: Identifying Power Steering Pump Outlet Line (A), Hose (B) And Clamp (C)

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11. Lift the vehicle up on a lift or apply the parking brake, block rear wheels, and raise the front of the vehicle. Make sure it is securely supported.
12. Remove the engine under cover.
    Fig 6: Removing Engine Under Cover

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13. Remove the splash shield.
    Fig 7: Removing Splash Shield

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14. Remove the drain plug (A), and drain the automatic transmission fluid (ATF).
    Fig 8: Identifying Drain Plug (A) And Sealing Washer (B)

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15. Reinstall the drain plug with a new sealing washer (B).
16. Make sure the ignition switch is OFF. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery first, then disconnect the positive cable.
17. Remove the battery hold-down bracket, then remove the battery and battery tray.
18. Remove the resonator cover and resonator.
19. Remove the air intake duct and air cleaner housing.
20. Remove the two bolts securing the battery base from under the vehicle, and remove the two bolts securing the battery base in the engine compartment, then remove the battery base.
21. Remove the starter cables (A) from the starter (B), then remove the starter.
    Fig 9: Removing Starter Cables (A) From Starter (B)

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22. Remove the transmission upper mount bracket (A) and bracket plate (B).
    Fig 10: Removing Transmission Upper Mount Bracket (A) And Bracket Plate (B)

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23. Remove the transmission subharness connector (A) from its bracket (B), then disconnect it.
    Fig 11: Removing Transmission Subharness Connector (A) From Bracket (B)

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24. Disconnect the input shaft (mainshaft) speed sensor connector (C) and 4th clutch transmission fluid pressure switch connector (D), and disconnect the vacuum hose (E) from the vacuum line (F).
25. Disconnect shift solenoid valve A connector, shift solenoid valve C connector, and A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve C connector (B), and remove the harness clamps (D) from the clamp brackets (E).
    Fig 12: Identifying Valve Connectors (A, B, C), Harness Clamps (D) And Clamp Brackets (E)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
26. Disconnect the A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve A connector, and solenoid valve B connector, and remove the harness clamp (C) from the clamp bracket (D).
    Fig 13: Identifying A/T Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Valves (A, B), Harness Clamp (C) And Clamp Bracket (D)

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27. Disconnect the connectors from the torque converter clutch solenoid valve (A) and shift solenoid valve B.
    Fig 14: Identifying Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid Valve (A) And Shift Solenoid Valve (B)

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28. Remove the transmission range switch connector (A) from its bracket (B), and disconnect it.
    Fig 15: Removing Transmission Range Switch Connector (A) From Bracket (B)

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29. Disconnect the output shaft (countershaft) speed sensor connector (C), and remove the harness clamps (D) from the brackets. Disconnect the vacuum hose (E) from the vacuum line (F).
30. Remove the harness clamps (A) from the brackets (B), remove the harness cover (C) from the bracket (B), and remove the bolt securing the bracket.
    Fig 16: Identifying Harness Clamps (A), Brackets (B) And Harness Cover (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
31. Remove the transmission ground cable (A), and disconnect the breather tube (B).
    Fig 17: Identifying Transmission Ground Cable (A), Breather Tube (B), ATF Warmer (C) And Bracket (D)

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32. Put shop rags around the ATF warmer (C) to remove the ATF that flows out.
33. Remove the bolts securing the ATF warmer and the bracket (D), then remove the ATF warmer from the transmission housing. Cover the fluid passages on the transmission and ATF warmer with tape. Do not disconnect the hoses.
34. Remove the connector bracket from the engine front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt to attach engine balancer bar front arm.
    Fig 18: Removing Connector Bracket From Engine Front Cylinder Head

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35. Remove the harness clamp bracket from the engine rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt to attach engine balancer bar rear arm.
    Fig 19: Removing Harness Clamp Bracket From Engine Rear Cylinder Head

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36. Lift and support the engine with engine hanger (A) and engine balancer bar (B).

    Attach the front arm (C) to the front cylinder head with a spacer (D) and the connector bracket bolt (10 x 1.25 mm) (E). Attach the rear arm (F) to the rear cylinder head with the harness clamp bracket bolt (8 x 1.25 mm) (G).

    Fig 20: Lifting And Supporting Engine With Engine Hanger (A) And Engine Balancer Bar (B)

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37. Remove the front engine mount stop (A), and remove the front engine mount bolt (B).
    Fig 21: Removing Front Engine Mount Stop (A) And Front Engine Mount Bolt (B)

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38. Insert a 6 mm Allen wrench (A) in the top of the ball joint pin (B), and remove the nuts (C), then separate the stabilizer link (D) from the lower arms (E).
    Fig 22: Inserting Wrench (A) Into Top Of Ball Joint Pin (B)

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39. Remove the cotter pins (F), castle nuts (G), damper pinch bolt (H), self-locking nut (I), bolt (J), and damper forks (K), then separate the ball joints from the lower arms (see step 1 on 07AAF-SEPA100 ).
40. Remove the cotter pins (L) and nuts (M), and separate the tie-rod end ball joints (N) from the knuckles (see step 1 on 07AAF-SEPA100 ).
41. Remove exhaust pipe A and its mount.
    Fig 23: Removing Exhaust Pipe A And Mount

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42. Remove the steering gearbox heat shield (A).
    Fig 24: Removing Steering Gearbox Heat Shield (A)

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43. Remove the power steering fluid hose from its line on the front subframe.
    Fig 25: Removing Power Steering Fluid Hose From Line On Front Subframe

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44. Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector.
    Fig 26: Disconnecting Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector

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45. Remove the torque converter cover (A), and remove the drive plate bolts (B) while rotating the crankshaft pulley.
    Fig 27: Identifying Torque Converter Cover (A), Drive Plate Bolts (B) And Mounting Bolts (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
46. Remove the engine-to-torque converter housing mounting bolts (C).
47. Remove the bolts securing shift cable holder (A), then remove shift cable cover (B).
    NOTE: To prevent damage to the control lever joint, remove the bolts securing the holder before removing the bolts securing the cover.
    Fig 28: Identifying Shift Cable Holder (A), Cable Cover (B), Lock Bolt (C), Control Lever (D) And Shift Cable (E)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
48. Remove the lock bolt (C) securing the selector control lever (D), then remove the shift cable (E) and the control lever. Do not bend the shift cable excessively.
49. Install a 6 x 1.0-14 mm bolt (A) and nut (B) on the shift cable cover (C), then reinstall the shift cable cover to the torque converter housing.

    If you don't do this, the bolt head of the cable cover may prevent you from removing the torque converter during transmission removal.

    Fig 29: Installing Bolt (A) And Nut (B) On Shift Cable Cover (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
50. Remove the rear engine mount base bracket bolts.
    Fig 30: Removing Rear Engine Mount Base Bracket Bolts

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51. Remove the transmission lower mount nuts.
    Fig 31: Removing Transmission Lower Mount Nuts

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52. Remove subframe middle mount.
    Fig 32: Removing Subframe Middle Mount

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53. Make the appropriate reference lines (A) at both ends of the subframe (B) that line up with the edge (C) of the stiffeners (D).
    Fig 33: Identifying Reference Lines (A), Subframe (B) And Edge (C) Of Stiffeners (D)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
54. Attach the special tool to the subframe by hanging the strap of the special tool over the front of the subframe, then secure the strap with its stop.
    Fig 34: Attaching Special Tool To Subframe

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
55. Raise the jack and line up the slots in the arms with the bolt holes on the corner of the jack base, then attach them with bolts securely.
56. Remove the four bolts securing the stiffeners (A), and four bolts securing the front subframe (B), and lower the front subframe.
    Fig 35: Identifying Stiffeners (A) And Front Subframe (B)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
57. Remove the transmission lower mounts.
    Fig 36: Removing Transmission Lower Mounts

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58. Remove the driveshafts from the differential and intermediate shaft (see step 11 on DRIVESHAFT DISASSEMBLY ).
59. Remove the exhaust manifold bracket (A) and heat shield (B).
    Fig 37: Identifying Exhaust Manifold Bracket (A), Heat Shield (B) And Intermediate Shaft (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
60. Remove the intermediate shaft (C).
61. Coat all precision finished surfaces with clean engine oil, then tie plastic bags over both ends of driveshaft and intermediate shaft.
62. Place a jack under the transmission.
63. Remove the upper and front transmission housing mounting bolts.
    Fig 38: Removing Upper And Front Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
64. Remove the bolt (A) securing the harness clamp bracket, and remove the front engine mount bracket (B).
    Fig 39: Identifying Bolt (A) And Front Engine Mount Bracket (B)

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65. Remove the rear transmission housing mounting bolts.
    Fig 40: Removing Rear Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts

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66. Slide the transmission away from the engine to remove it from the vehicle.
67. Remove the shift cable cover, then remove the torque converter and dowel pins.
    Fig 41: Removing Shift Cable Cover, Torque Converter And Dowel Pins

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68. Remove the vacuum line from the transmission.
    Fig 42: Removing Vacuum Line From Transmission

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69. Remove the 6 x 1.0-14 mm bolt (A) and nut (B) that you installed on the shift cable cover (C) in step 49.
    Fig 43: Identifying Bolt (A), Nut (B) And Shift Cable Cover (C)

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70. Inspect the drive plate, and replace it if it's damaged.