230 Manual Drive Trains and Axles Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 6. Once one of the CV axles is removed, allow the transmission oil to drip into a drip pan. Then, remove the other CV axle from the transaxle. Plug the CV axle openings to reduce oil leakage. 7. Remove the speedometer cable assembly. 8. Remove the dust cover in front of the clutch and flywheel. Remove the starter if it is bolted to the transaxle clutch housing. 9. Remove the exhaust pipes if necessary to gain clearance for transaxle removal. On some vehicles, it may also be necessary to unbolt and swing out the front frame extension or engine cradle to remove the transaxle. On other vehicles, some suspension parts must be removed to gain enough clearance to lower the transaxle. Consult the specific service manual to be sure you perform this procedure properly. 10. If an engine holding fixture is not already in place, support the engine with a jack placed under the rear of the engine. 11. Loosen the remaining transaxle case-to-engine bolts. Warning: Always leave at least two bolts holding the transaxle to the engine until you have a transmission jack under the transaxle. Although most transaxle cases are aluminum, they are heavy. You should always use a transmission jack to support and lower the transaxle. 12. Place the transmission jack under the transaxle and raise it slightly to remove weight from the lower transaxle mounts. See Figure 11-5. Then, remove the lower transaxle mounts and any other parts holding the transaxle to the vehicle body. Adjustment wing handle Holding fixture Hook on engine Mechanic's wire holding CV joint Weight of CV axle supported Figure 11-3. This engine holding fixture can be used to remove engine weight from the engine and transaxle mounts. (Chrysler) Figure 11-4. The CV axles are usually removed from the vehi- cle to remove the transaxle. A few can be removed from the transaxle without being disconnected at the wheels, as shown here. The CV axle should be tied to the vehicle body to prevent excessive CV joint angles and damage. (Ford) always refer to the manufacturer’s service information for specific procedures. 1. Disconnect the battery negative cable to prevent shorting wires or accidentally operating the starter. 2. While under the hood, remove the upper transaxle case-to-engine bolts, clutch and shift linkages, elec- trical connectors, and ground straps. In many cases, it will be necessary to install an engine holding fixture to remove the engine weight from the lower engine and transaxle mounts. A typical engine holding fixture is shown in Figure 11-3. 3. Raise the vehicle to get enough clearance to remove the transaxle. If you do not have access to a hydraulic lift, use a good hydraulic floor jack and approved jack stands. Warning: Never support the vehicle with wooden crates or cement blocks. Be sure the vehicle is secure before working underneath it. 4. Check the engine mounts to ensure they are not broken. Broken mounts could be the cause of shifting or clutch problems. 5. Remove the splash shields and any other hardware that will be in the way during CV axle or transaxle removal. Then, remove or disconnect one of the CV axles. In some cases, it is possible to remove the CV axle from the transaxle without removing it completely from the vehicle, as in Figure 11-4. Be sure to securely wire the axle in place to prevent damage. CV axle removal is covered in detail in Chapter 15. Caution: Be sure to remove the CV axles in the proper manner, or the axles or other vehicle parts can be damaged.