Special Tools Required

Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256*
Engine Hanger Balance Bar VSB02C000019*
Engine Hanger Adapter Set VSB02C000031*
Front Subframe Adapter EQS02BMDXSB0*
*: Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program 888-424-6857.

NOTE:

Use fender covers to avoid damaging painted surfaces.
Special tool. Reds engine support hanger (AAR-T1256) must be used with the side engine mount installed.

Secure the hood in the wide open position with the support rod.
Set the wheels in the straight ahead position, and lock the steering wheel.
Drain the power steering system fluid from the reservoir (see FLUID CHECK/REPLACEMENT ).
Do the battery removal procedure (see RECONNECTION ).
Remove the engine cover (see step 6 under ENGINE REMOVAL
Remove the intake air duct and the air cleaner housing.
Remove the main under-hood fuse box from the battery base.
Remove the battery base and the battery base bracket.
Remove the front bulkhead cover (see FRONT BULKHEAD COVER REPLACEMENT ).
Raise the vehicle on a lift, and make sure it is securely supported. Remove the front wheels.
Remove the front undercover (A) and the splash shield (B).

Fig 1: Locating Front Undercover And Splash Shield
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the drain plug (A), and drain the automatic transmission fluid (ATF).

Fig 2: Locating Drain Plug And Sealing Washer With Torque Specifications
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Reinstall the drain plug with a new sealing washer (B).
Disconnect the steering joint (see step 9 under STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL and remove the center guide (if equipped) (see step 11 under STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL
Install the steering wheel holder tool (see step 10 under STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL
Cover the drive belt auto-tensioner, the alternator, and the A/C compressor with several shop towels to protect them from spilled power steering fluid. Remove the power steering pump outlet hose (A) from the power steering pump, and remove the hose clamp bolt (B). Cover the opening of the pump and the pump outlet hose with a piece of tape to prevent foreign material from entering either the pump or the outlet hose. Take care not to spill fluid on the vehicle. Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.

Fig 3: Locating Power Steering Pump Outlet Hose And Hose Clamp Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the positive starter cable (A) from the starter, and remove the harness clamp (B) from the clamp bracket. Disconnect the S terminal connector (C).

Fig 4: Locating Positive Starter Cable, Starter, Harness Clamp, Clamp Bracket And S Terminal Connector
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the starter (D) and the gasket (E).
Disconnect the transmission range switch connector.

Fig 5: Identifying Transmission Range Switch Connector
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the transfer breather box bracket (A), and disconnect the breather hose (B) from the clamp (C).

Fig 6: Locating Transfer Breather Box Bracket, Breather Hose And Clamp
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the spring clip (A) and the control pin (B), then separate the shift cable end (C) from the control lever (D).

Fig 7: Locating Spring Clip, Control Pin, Shift Cable End And Control Lever
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Check the bushing (E) in the shift cable end for proper fit and wear. If the bushing is loose or worn, replace the shift cable (see SHIFT CABLE REPLACEMENT ).
Remove the nuts (A) securing the shift cable bracket (B).

Fig 8: Locating Nuts And Shift Cable Bracket
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the ATF temperature sensor connector (A), then remove the harness clamps (B).

Fig 9: Locating ATF Temperature Sensor Connector And Harness Clamps
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the shift solenoid valve C connector (A).

Fig 10: Locating Shift Solenoid Valve C Connector And Harness Clamp
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the harness clamp (B) from the dipstick guide tube.
Disconnect the transmission fluid pressure switch C (4th clutch) connector (A), then remove the harness clamp (B).

Fig 11: Locating Transmission Fluid Pressure Switch C (4th Clutch) Connector And Harness Clamp
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the input shaft (mainshaft) speed sensor connector (A) and the output shaft (countershaft) speed sensor connector (B), then remove the harness clamp (C).

Fig 12: Locating Input Shaft (Mainshaft) Speed Sensor Connector, Output Shaft (Countershaft) Speed Sensor Connector And Harness Clamp
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the harness cover (A) from the ATF filter holder (B).

Fig 13: Locating Harness Cover And ATF Filter Holder
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect these connectors:
- Transmission fluid pressure switch E (6th clutch) connector (A)
- Transmission fluid pressure switch B (3rd clutch) connector (B)
- A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve D connector (C)
- A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve A connector (D)
- A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve B connector (E)
- A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve C connector (F)
- Line pressure switch connector (G)
- Line pressure solenoid valve A connector (H)
- Shift solenoid valve B connector (I)
- Shift solenoid valve A connector (J)
  
  Fig 14: Locating A/T Connectors
  Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the harness cover mounting bolts (K) and the harness cover bracket (L), then remove the harness cover (M).
Remove the harness bracket (A), then disconnect the transmission breather hose (B) from the breather pipe (C).

Fig 15: Locating Harness Bracket, Transmission Breather Hose And Breather Pipe
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the bolt securing the harness cover (A).

Fig 16: Locating Bolt And Harness Cover
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the bolt securing the harness cover (A). A

Fig 17: Locating Bolt And Harness Cover
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the transmission fluid pressure switch A (2nd clutch) connector (A) and the transmission fluid pressure switch D (5th clutch) connector (B).

Fig 18: Locating Transmission Fluid Pressure Switch A (2nd Clutch) Connector And Transmission Fluid Pressure Switch D (5th Clutch) Connector
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the ATF cooler hoses (A) from the ATF cooler line (B) and the ATF filter (C). Turn the ends of the cooler hoses up to prevent ATF from flowing out, then plug the cooler hoses, the line, and the ATF filter.

Fig 19: Locating ATF Cooler Hoses, ATF Cooler Line And ATF Filter
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the bolt (A) securing the connector bracket (B) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar front arm.

Fig 20: Locating Bolt And Connector Bracket
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (A) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar rear arm.

Fig 21: Locating Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Bracket
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the service caps (A) for the front damper flange nuts from the cowl cover (B). Position the engine hanger adapters (VSB02C000031) over the damper flange nuts.

Fig 22: Locating Service Caps And Cowl Cover
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Lift and support the engine with the engine support hanger (AAR-T1256) and the engine hanger balance bar (VSB02C000019). Attach the front arm (A) to the front cylinder head with a 10 mm (0.39 in) spacer (B) and a 10 x 1.25 mm bolt (C), and attach the rear arm (D) to the rear cylinder head with an 8 x 1.25 mm bolt (E). Tighten the wing nut (F) by hand to lift, and support the engine.
NOTE:
- Be careful when working around the windshield.
- Be careful not to damage the hood opener cable when installing the engine support hanger at the front bulkhead.
- AAR-T1256 two sets required for stacking two cross section bar.
  
  Fig 23: Supporting Engine With Engine Support Hanger And Engine Hanger Balance Bar
  Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the front engine mount stop (A), and remove the front engine mount bolt (B).

Fig 24: Locating Front Engine Mount Stop And Front Engine Mount Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the front subframe stiffener.

Fig 25: Locating Front Subframe Stiffener
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove exhaust pipe A and its mount (B).

Fig 26: Locating Exhaust Pipe A And Mount
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
With active damper system/With headlight leveling system left side: Disconnect the front suspension stroke sensor connector (A), and remove the harness clamps (B).

Fig 27: Locating Front Suspension Stroke Sensor Connector And Harness Clamps
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the cotter pins (A) and the nuts (B), and separate the tie-rod end ball joints (C) from the knuckles (see step 3 under KNUCKLE/HUB BEARING UNIT REPLACEMENT

Fig 28: Locating Cotter Pins, Nuts And Tie-Rod End Ball Joints
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Insert a 6 mm Allen wrench (D) in the top of the ball joint pin (E), and remove the nuts (F), then separate the stabilizer links (G).
Remove the lock pins (H) and the castle nuts (I), and separate the lower arms (J) from the knuckles (K) (see step 5 under KNUCKLE/HUB BEARING UNIT REPLACEMENT
Remove the bolt securing the transfer breather hose bracket (A), and disconnect the breather hose (B) from the breather pipe (C) on the transfer assembly.

Fig 29: Disconnecting Breather Hose From Breather Pipe On Transfer Assembly
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Make a reference mark (A) across the propeller shaft (B) and the transfer companion flange (C), and separate the propeller shaft from the transfer companion flange.

Fig 30: Locating Reference Mark Across Propeller Shaft And Transfer Companion Flange
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the transfer assembly from the transmission.

Fig 31: Removing Transfer Assembly From Transmission
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the torque converter cover (A), and remove the drive plate bolts (B) (eight) while rotating the crankshaft pulley.

Fig 32: Locating Torque Converter Cover And Drive Plate Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector.

Fig 33: Identifying Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Loosen the hose clamp bolt (A), then disconnect the power steering fluid hose (B) from the fluid line at the left front of the front subframe, then plug the hose and cap the line.

Fig 34: Locating Hose Clamp Bolt And Power Steering Fluid Hose
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the lower transmission mount bolts (A) and the transmission ground terminal bracket (B).

Fig 35: Locating Lower Transmission Mount Bolts And Transmission Ground Terminal Bracket
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the rear engine mount bolts.

Fig 36: Identifying Rear Engine Mount Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the bolt securing the power steering fluid line clamp bracket (A) on the rear mount bracket, and turn the bracket away from the rear engine mount bracket.

Fig 37: Locating Power Steering Fluid Line Clamp Bracket And Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Loosen the four bolts (A) holding the adjustable arms (B) of the front subframe adapter (EQS02BMDXSB0) to its center plate.
NOTE: The adapter is designed to be used with a commercially available transmission jack.

Fig 38: Identifying Bolts Holding Adjustable Arms Of Front Subframe Adapter To Its Center Plate
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Line up the slots in the arms with the bolt holes on the corner of the jack base, then attach the adapter (EQS02BMDXSB0) to the jack base with the bolts (A) that came with the jack. Tighten the bolts securely.

Fig 39: Attaching Adapter To Jack Base With Bolts With Torque Specifications
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Raise the jack to the vehicle height, then attach the adapter to the front subframe using the subframe stiffener mounting bolts (B) and bolt holes.
Remove the six bolts securing the front stiffeners (A) and the rear stiffeners (B), then remove the four bolts securing the front subframe (C), and lower the front subframe carefully.
NOTE: Check that the front subframe is free of the hoses and the electrical wiring.

Fig 40: Locating Bolts Securing Front Stiffeners, Rear Stiffeners, Bolts And Front Subframe
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the driveshafts from the differential and the intermediate shaft. Coat all precision machined surfaces with clean engine oil, then put plastic bags over driveshaft ends.
NOTE: Plug the driveshaft hole (A) to prevent dirt and solvent from entering the transmission.

Fig 41: Putting Plastic Bags Over Driveshaft Ends
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the rear warm up three way catalytic converter (rear WU-TWC) bracket (A) and the heat shield (B).

Fig 42: Locating Rear Warm Up Three Way Catalytic Converter Bracket, Heat Shield And Intermediate Shaft
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the intermediate shaft (C). Coat all precision machined surfaces with clean engine oil, then put plastic bags over intermediate shaft ends.
NOTE: Plug the intermediate shaft hole (D) to prevent dirt and solvent from entering the transmission.
Remove the upper transmission housing mounting bolts.

Fig 43: Identifying Upper Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Place a jack under the transmission.
Remove the lower transmission housing mounting bolts.

Fig 44: Identifying Lower Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the harness clamp bracket (A) from the front engine mount bracket (B), and remove the mount bracket.

Fig 45: Locating Harness Clamp Bracket, Front Engine Mount Bracket And Transmission Housing Mounting Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the transmission housing mounting bolt (C).
Remove the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor cover (A), and disconnect the CKP sensor connector (B).

Fig 46: Locating Crankshaft Position Sensor Cover And CKP Sensor Connector
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the rear transmission housing mounting bolts.
NOTE: Be careful not to damage the CKP sensor.

Fig 47: Identifying Rear Transmission Housing Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Check once again that the transmission is free of hoses, and electrical wiring.
Lower the transmission by loosening the wing nut of the engine support hanger, and tilt the engine just enough for the transmission to clear its end from the side frame.
Slide the transmission away from the engine to remove it from the vehicle.
Remove the torque converter (A), the O-ring (B), and the dowel pins (C).

Fig 48: Locating Torque Converter, O-Ring And Dowel Pins
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Inspect the drive plate, and replace it if it's damaged (see DRIVE PLATE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).