Engine Removal

Special Tools Required 

• Front subframe adapter VSB02C000016
• Engine support hanger, A and Reds AAR-T-12566
• Engine hanger balance bar VSB02C000019 These special tools are available through Acura Tool and Equipment Program, 1-888-424-6857

1. Make sure you have the anti-theft codes for the radio and navigation system, then write down the audio presets. Make sure the ignition switch is OFF.
2. Disconnect the support struts 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, as it will damage the support strut and hood.
   Fig 1: Identifying Hood (A) And Lower Threaded Hole (B)

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
3. Remove the left side engine compartment cover (A) and the left rear engine compartment cover (B).
   Fig 2: Removing Left Side Engine Compartment Cover (A) And Left Rear Engine Compartment Cover (B)

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
4. Remove the right side engine compartment cover (A), then remove the right rear engine compartment cover (B).
   Fig 3: Removing Right Side Engine Compartment Cover (A) And Right Rear Engine Compartment Cover (B)

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
5. Remove the intake manifold cover.
   Fig 4: Identifying Intake Manifold Cover

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6. Drain the power steering system fluid, then plug the fluid reservoir and return hose (see FLUID REPLACEMENT ).
7. Relieve fuel pressure (see FUEL PRESSURE RELIEVING ).
8. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery first, then disconnect the positive cable.
9. Remove the battery.
10. Remove the air cleaner housing (see AIR CLEANER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
11. Remove the resonator (see RESONATOR REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
12. Remove the harness clamp (A).
    Fig 5: Removing Harness Clamp (A)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
13. Remove the four bolts, then remove the battery base (B).
14. Remove the battery cables (A) from the underhood fuse/relay box, then disconnect the harness connector (B).
    Fig 6: Removing Battery Cables (A) And Disconnecting Harness Connector (B)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
15. Remove the underhood fuse/relay box (C) from the body.
16. Remove the harness clamp (A), and remove the two 6 mm bolts (B), then remove the strut brace (C).
    Fig 7: Removing Harness Clamp (A), Bolts (B) And Strut Brace (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
17. Remove the brake booster vacuum hose (A) and evaporative emission (EVAP) canister hose (B).
    Fig 8: Removing Brake Booster Vacuum Hose (A) And EVAP Canister Hose (B)

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

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
19. Remove the harness clamp (A), and disconnect the engine wire harness connectors (B) on the left side of the engine compartment.
    Fig 10: Identifying Harness Clamp (A) And Engine Wire Harness Connectors (B)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
20. M/T model: Remove the three bolts securing the shift cable holder, then remove the shift cable and select cable. Do not bend the cables excessively (see step 17 on TRANSMISSION REMOVAL ).
21. M/T model: Remove the clutch slave cylinder and clutch line bracket mounting bolt. Do not operate the clutch pedal once the slave cylinder has been removed (see step 19 on TRANSMISSION REMOVAL ).
22. Remove the drive belt (see DRIVE BELT INSPECTION ).
23. Remove the power steering (P/S) pump outlet line (A) from the P/S pump, then plug the outlet line and the P/S pump.
    Fig 11: Identifying Power Steering Pump Outlet Line (A)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
24. Remove the P/S hose (B) from the clamp (C).
25. Remove the P/S fluid reservoir from the clamp.
    Fig 12: Removing P/S Fluid Reservoir From Clamp

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
26. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
    Fig 13: Identifying Steering Joint Cover (A)

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27. Lock the steering wheel. 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). To prevent damage to the cable reel, do not turn the steering wheel once the steering joint has been removed.
28. Disconnect the A/C condenser fan motor connector (A) and A/C compressor clutch connector (B), and remove the coolant reservoir (C). Wipe up any spilled engine coolant immediately.
    Fig 14: Identifying Fan Motor Connector (A), Compressor Clutch Connector (B) And Coolant Reservoir (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
29. Remove the two bolts (D), loosen the bottom bolt (E), then remove the A/C condenser fan shroud assembly.
30. Remove the four bolts securing the A/C compressor.
    Fig 15: Removing Bolts Securing A/C Compressor

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
31. Remove the radiator cap.
32. Raise the vehicle on the hoist to full height.
33. Remove the front wheels.
34. Remove the engine under cover.
    Fig 16: Removing Engine Under Cover

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
35. Remove the splash shield.
    Fig 17: Removing Splash Shield

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
36. Loosen the drain plug in the radiator, and drain the engine coolant (see COOLANT CHECK ).
37. Drain the transmission fluid:
    • Manual transmission (see MANUAL TRANSMISSION )
    • Automatic transmission (see ATF REPLACEMENT )
38. Drain the engine oil (see OIL PRESSURE TEST ).
39. Disconnect the stabilizer links (see STABILIZER LINK REPLACEMENT ).
40. Remove the damper fork (see step 5 on REMOVAL ).
41. Separate the tie-rod end ball joints from the knuckles (see step 10 on STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL ).
42. Separate the knuckles from the lower arms (see step 5 on LOWER ARM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
43. Remove the driveshaft (see step 10 on DRIVESHAFT DISASSEMBLY ). Coat all precision-finished surfaces with clean engine oil. Tie plastic bags over the driveshaft ends.
44. A/T model: Remove the shift cable. Do not bend the shift cable excessively (see step 48 on TRANSMISSION REMOVAL ).
45. Remove exhaust pipe A.
    Fig 18: Removing Exhaust Pipe

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
46. Remove the P/S hose (A), then plug the line and the hose.
    Fig 19: Removing P/S Hose (A)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
47. Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector (A).
    Fig 20: Disconnecting Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector (A)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
48. Remove the nuts securing the transmission lower front mount and transmission lower rear mount.
    Fig 21: Removing Nuts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
49. Lower the vehicle on the hoist.
50. Remove the upper radiator hose (A) and lower radiator hose (B).
    Fig 22: Removing Upper Radiator Hose (A) And Lower Radiator Hose (B)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
51. Remove the heater hoses.
    Fig 23: Removing Heater Hoses

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
52. Remove the right fender trim, left fender trim, and front bulkhead cover (see step 8 on TRANSMISSION REMOVAL ). Then 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 24: Identifying Engine Hanger (A), Engine Balancer Bar (B), Front Arm (C), Spacer (D), Connector Bracket Bolt (E), Rear Arm (F) And Clamp Bracket Bolt (G)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
53. Remove the front engine mount stop (A), then remove the front engine mount bolt (B).
    Fig 25: Removing Front Engine Mount Stop (A) And Front Engine Mount Bolt (B)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
54. M/T model: Remove the two bolts securing the rear engine damper.
    Fig 26: Removing Bolts Securing Rear Engine Damper

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
55. Remove the rear engine mount stop (A), then remove the rear engine mount bolt (B).
    Fig 27: Removing Rear Engine Mount Stop (A) And Rear Engine Mount Bolt (B)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
56. Remove the vacuum hose (C).
57. M/T model: Remove the two bolts securing the shift cable bracket.
    Fig 28: Removing Bolts Securing Shift Cable Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
58. 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 29: Making Reference Lines (A) On Subframe (B) Line Up With Edge (C) Of Stiffeners (D)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
59. Attach the special tool to the subframe by hanging the belt (A) over the front of the subframe (B), then secure the belt with its stop (C).
    Fig 30: Identifying Special Tool, Belt (A), Subframe (B) And Stop (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
60. 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.
61. Remove the subframe middle mount.
    Fig 31: Identifying Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
62. Remove the four 12 x 1.25 mm bolts (A) securing the subframe stiffeners (B), the four subframe mounting bolts (C), and the stiffeners, then lower the front subframe (D).
    Fig 32: Identifying Bolts (A), Subframe Stiffeners (B), Subframe Mounting Bolts (C) And Front Subframe (D)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
63. Lower the vehicle on the hoist.
64. Attach a chain hoist (A) to the engine hook (B) and the transmission hook (C), then life up the engine/transmission until it is securely supported by the chain hoist, and remove the engine support hanger and engine hanger adapters.
    Fig 33: Attaching Chain Hoist (A) To Engine Hook (B) And Transmission Hook (C)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
65. Remove the mounting bolts from the upper half of the side engine mount bracket.
    Fig 34: Removing Mounting Bolts

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66. Remove the ground cable (A).

    M/T model: 

    Fig 35: Removing M/T Model Ground Cable (A)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

    A/T model: 

    Fig 36: Removing A/T Model Ground Cable (A)

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
67. Remove the transmission upper mount bracket (B), and remove the vacuum hose (C).
68. Check that the engine/transmission is completely free of vacuum hoses, fuel and coolant hoses, and electrical wiring.
69. Slowly lower the engine/transmission 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 and support it.
70. Disconnected the chain hoist from the engine/transmission assembly.
71. Raise the vehicle all the way, and remove the engine/transmission from under the vehicle.