Engine Removal

Special Tools Required 

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

  * Available through the Honda Tool and Equipment program, 1-888-424-6857.

1. Make sure you have the anti-theft codes for the audio system and navigation system. Make sure the ignition switch is OFF.
2. Remove the windshield wiper arms (see WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT ).
3. Remove the engine cover (A), right upper fender trim (B), battery trim (C), and left upper fender trim (D).
   Fig 1: Identifying Engine Cover, Upper Fender Trim, Battery Trim, Upper Grille Cover And Cowl Cover

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
4. Remove the upper grille cover (E) and cowl cover (F).
5. Disconnect the support struts from both sides of the pivot ball (bolted to the hood). Secure the hood in a vertical position. Remove the right side pivot ball and install it into the lower threaded hole, then reattach the support strut.
   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 2: Removing Right Side Pivot Ball

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
6. Relieve the fuel pressure (see FUEL PRESSURE RELIEVING ).
7. Drain the power steering system fluid, then plug the fluid reservoir and return hose (see POWER STEERING HOSE, LINE, AND PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACEMENT ).
8. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery, then disconnect the positive cable.
9. Remove the battery.
10. Remove the air cleaner (see AIR CLEANER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
11. Remove the air intake duct cover.
    Fig 3: Identifying Air Intake Duct Cover

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
12. Remove the harness clamps (A), starter cable (B), and ground cable (C).
    Fig 4: Identifying Harness Clamps, Starter Cable And Ground Cable

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
13. Remove the two upper bolts (A), and loosen the two lower bolts (B), then remove the battery base (C).
    Fig 5: Identifying Battery Base

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
14. Remove the battery cable (A) from the under-hood fuse/relay box.
    Fig 6: Identifying Battery Cable, Harness Clamp, Harness Connector And Under-Hood Fuse/Relay Box Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
15. Remove the harness clamp (B), then disconnect the harness connector (C).
16. Remove the two bolts (D) securing the under-hood fuse/relay box, then remove the under-hood fuse/ relay box.
17. Remove the harness clamp (A), and disconnect the engine wire harness connectors (B) on the left side of the engine compartment.
    Fig 7: Identifying Harness Clamp And Engine Wire Harness Connectors

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
18. Remove the connector (A) and transfer breather hose (B), then remove the strut brace (C).
    Fig 8: Identifying Connector, Transfer Breather Hose And Strut Brace

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
19. Remove the quick-connect fitting cover (A), then disconnect the fuel feed hose (B) (see FUEL LINE/QUICK-CONNECT FITTING REMOVAL ).
    Fig 9: Removing Quick-Connect Fitting Cover

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
20. Disconnect the brake booster vacuum hose (A) and evaporative emission (EVAP) canister hose (B).
    Fig 10: Identifying Brake Booster Vacuum Hose And Evaporative Emission Canister Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
21. Remove the shift cable (see step 24 under TRANSMISSION REMOVAL ).
22. Remove the drive belt (see DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT ).
23. Remove the power steering (P/S) pump outlet line (A) from the P/S pump, then plug the outlet line and P/S pump.
    Fig 11: Identifying Power Steering Pump Outlet Line And Power Steering Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
24. Remove the P/S hose (B) from the clamp.
25. Remove the power steering system fluid reservoir from the clamp.
26. Remove the heat shield.
    Fig 12: Identifying Heat Shield

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
27. Remove the steering wheel (see STEERING WHEEL REMOVAL ).
28. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
    Fig 13: Identifying Steering Joint Cover, Steering Joint Bolt And Steering Gearbox Pinion Shaft

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
29. 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 from the steering gearbox pinion shaft (D).
30. Remove the radiator cap.
31. Raise the vehicle on the lift to full height.
32. Remove the front wheels.
33. Remove the splash shield.
    Fig 14: Identifying Splash Shield

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
34. Loosen the drain plug in the radiator, and drain the engine coolant (see COOLANT CHECK ).
35. Drain the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) (see ATF REPLACEMENT ).
36. Drain the engine oil (see ENGINE OIL REPLACEMENT ).
37. Disconnect the stabilizer links from the stabilizer bar (see STABILIZER LINK REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
38. Remove the damper fork (see DAMPER/SPRING REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
39. Separate the tie-rod end ball joints from the knuckles (see step 13 under STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL ).
40. Separate the knuckles from the lower arms (see LOWER ARM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
41. Remove the driveshafts (see step 10 under FRONT DRIVESHAFT REMOVAL ). Coat all precision-finished surfaces with clean engine oil. Tie plastic bags over the driveshaft ends.
42. Remove the exhaust pipe assembly.
    Fig 15: Identifying Exhaust Pipe Assembly

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
43. Remove the propeller shaft (see PROPELLER SHAFT REMOVAL ).
44. Remove the transfer assembly (see TRANSFER ASSEMBLY REMOVAL ).
45. Disconnect the ATF cooler hoses from the transmission (see step 34 under TRANSMISSION REMOVAL ).
46. Disconnect the P/S hose, then plug the line and hose.
    Fig 16: Identifying Power Steering Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
47. Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector.
    Fig 17: Identifying Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
48. Disconnect the connector from the steering gearbox.
    Fig 18: Identifying Steering Gearbox Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
49. Remove the bolts securing the transmission lower mount.
    Fig 19: Identifying Transmission Lower Mount Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
50. Lower the vehicle on the lift.
51. Disconnect the upper radiator hose (A) and lower radiator hose (B).
    Fig 20: Identifying Upper Radiator Hose And Lower Radiator Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
52. Disconnect the heater hoses.
    Fig 21: Identifying Heater Hoses

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
53. Remove the radiator (see RADIATOR AND FAN REPLACEMENT ).
54. Remove the four bolts securing the A/C compressor.
    Fig 22: Identifying A/C Compressor Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
55. Remove the connector bracket from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine balance bar front arm.
    Fig 23: Identifying Connector Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
56. Remove the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine balance bar rear arm.
    Fig 24: Identifying Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
57. Lift and support the engine with the engine hanger (A) and engine balance bar (B). Attach the front arm (C) to the front cylinder head with a spacer (D) and the 10 x 1.25 mm bolt (E). Attach the rear arm (F)to the rear cylinder head with the 8 x 1.25 mm bolt (G).
    Fig 25: Identifying Engine Hanger And Engine Balance Bar

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
58. Disconnect the vacuum hose (A), then remove the front mount stop (B) and the front mount bolt (C).
    Fig 26: Identifying Vacuum Hose, Front Mount Stop And Front Mount Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
59. Disconnect the vacuum hose (A), then remove the rear mount stop (B) and the rear mount bolt (C).
    Fig 27: Identifying Vacuum Hose, Rear Mount Stop And Rear Mount Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
60. Remove the bolt (D) securing the shift cable bracket.
61. Raise the vehicle on the lift to full height.
62. Attach the front subframe adapter to the subframe by hanging the belt (A) over the front of the subframe (B), then secure the belt with its stop (C).
    Fig 28: Identifying Subframe And Belt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
63. Raise the jack and line up the slots in the special tool arms with the bolt holes on the jack base, then securely attach them with four bolts.
64. Remove the subframe.
    Fig 29: Identifying Subframe

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
65. Lower the vehicle and attach a chain hoist (A) to the engine hook (B) and transmission hook (C). Lift up on the engine/transmission assembly until it's securely supported by the chain hoist, and remove the engine support hanger and the engine balance bar from the engine and vehicle.
    Fig 30: Identifying Chain Hoist, Engine Hook And Transmission Hook

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
66. Remove the two bolts securing the upper bracket.
    Fig 31: Identifying Upper Bracket Bolts

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