To remove and install the transmission, first raise the vehicle and support it securely on jackstands. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal, then remove the shift knob and shift lever. If equipped, take off the lower splash shield and disconnect the hydraulic lines to the clutch release cylinder. Remove the front and rear driveshafts, followed by the exhaust heat shield and the front section of the exhaust system. Disconnect the electrical connectors to the transfer case shift motor and speed sensor. Use a transmission jack to support the transfer case and transmission assembly, slightly raising the transmission. Remove the rear transmission mount-to-crossmember fasteners and the crossmember mounting bolts, then lower the crossmember from the vehicle. Lower the transmission assembly slightly and remove the transmission-to-engine bolts. With assistance, pull the assembly away from the engine and lower it to the ground, ensuring it does not catch on other components. Pull the transmission out from beneath the vehicle, remove it from the jack, and set it aside securely. If necessary, remove the transfer case from the transmission and, if removed, install it back. Lubricate the input shaft with a light coat of high-temperature grease, then secure the transmission to the jack and raise it into position behind the engine, carefully sliding it forward to engage the input shaft with the clutch. Avoid using excessive force; if the input shaft does not slide into place, adjust the angle of the transmission or turn the input shaft for proper engagement. Once the transmission is flush with the engine, install and tighten the transmission-to-engine bolts to the specified torque, ensuring not to use the bolts to force the transmission and engine together. The remainder of the installation follows the reverse order of removal, paying attention to tighten the crossmember mounting bolts to the specified torque, bleed the clutch hydraulic system, and fill the transmission with the correct type and amount of transaxle fluid.
