Engine Removal

Special Tools Required 

• Engine support hanger, A and Reds AAR-T-12566
• Engine hanger balance bar VSB02C000019
• Engine hanger adapter VSB02C000014
• Front subframe adapter VSB02BXO

These special tools are available through the Honda Tool and Equipment Program .

1. Secure the hood in the wide open position by using the support rod as shown in Fig 1.
   Fig 1: Securing Hood In Wide Open Position Using Support Rod

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
2. Make sure you have the anti-theft codes for the radio and navigation system (if equipped), then write down the customer's audio presets.
3. Drain the power steering system fluid (see FLUID REPLACEMENT ).
4. Relieve fuel pressure (see FUEL PRESSURE RELIEVING ).
5. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery first, then disconnect the positive cable.
6. Remove the battery.
7. Remove the intake manifold cover.
   Fig 2: Removing Intake Manifold Cover

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
8. Disconnect the breather pipe (A), then remove the air intake duct (B).
   Fig 3: Disconnecting Breather Pipe & Removing Air Intake Duct

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
9. Remove the harness clamps (A), then remove the battery tray (B).
   Fig 4: Removing Harness Clamps & Battery Tray

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
10. Remove the harness bracket (C).
11. Remove the three mounting bolts (D), and loosen the mounting bolt (E), then remove the battery base (F).
12. Remove the ground cable (A), harness clamp (B), and starter cable (C).
    Fig 5: Removing Ground Cable, Harness Clamp & Starter Cable

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
13. Remove the shift cable (see step 21 in TRANSMISSION REMOVAL ).
14. Remove the fuel quick-connect fitting cover (A), then disconnect the fuel quick-connect fitting (B).
    Fig 6: Removing Fuel Quick-Connect Fitting Cover & Disconnecting Fuel Quick-Connect Fitting

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
15. Remove the brake booster vacuum hose (A), evaporative emission (EVAP) canister hose (B), and hose joint (C).
    Fig 7: Removing Brake Booster Vacuum Hose & Evaporative Emission Canister Hose & Hose Joint

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
16. Remove the driver's side console lower panel, and pull the carpet to expose the steering joint cover (see CARPET REPLACEMENT ).
17. Remove the steering wheel (see STEERING WHEEL REMOVAL ).
18. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
    Fig 8: Removing Steering Joint Cover

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
19. Make a reference mark (B) across the steering joint and gearbox pinion shaft. Remove the steering joint bolt (C), and disconnect the steering joint from the steering gearbox pinion shaft (D).
20. Remove the coolant reservoir, without disconnecting hoses.
21. Remove the bolt (A) securing the washer tank, then remove the powertrain control module (PCM) cover (B).
    Fig 9: Removing Powertrain Control Module Cover With Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
22. Remove the harness clamps (A), then disconnect the PCM connectors (B), accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor connector (C), and engine wire harness connectors (D) on the right side of the engine compartment.
    Fig 10: Disconnecting PCM Connectors, APP Sensor Connector & Engine Wire Harness Connectors

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
23. Remove the harness clamps (A), then remove the alternator cable (B).
    Fig 11: Removing Harness Clamps & Alternator Cable

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
24. Remove the power steering (P/S) pump outlet hose (A) from the P/S pump (B).
    Fig 12: Removing Power Steering Pump Outlet Hose From P/S Pump

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
25. Remove the P/S hose clamp (C).
26. Remove the drive belt:
    • J35A9 engine (see J35A9 ENGINE )
    • J35Z1 engine (see J35Z1 ENGINE )
27. Remove the radiator cap.
28. Raise the vehicle on the hoist to full height.
29. Remove the front wheels.
30. Remove the splash shield.
    Fig 13: Removing Splash Shield

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
31. Loosen the drain plug in the radiator, and drain the engine coolant (see COOLANT REPLACEMENT ).
32. Drain the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) (see ATF REPLACEMENT ).
33. Drain the engine oil (see ENGINE OIL REPLACEMENT ).
34. Remove the front subframe stiffener.
    Fig 14: Removing Front Subframe Stiffener

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
35. Remove exhaust pipe A.
    Fig 15: Removing Exhaust Pipe A

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
36. Make reference marks (A) on the propeller shaft (B) and transfer shaft flange (C), then separate the propeller shaft from the transfer shaft flange (4WD).
    Fig 16: Making Reference Marks On Propeller Shaft & Transfer Shaft Flange

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
37. Remove the transfer assembly (4WD) (see PROPELLER SHAFT REMOVAL ).
38. Separate the stabilizer links from the dampers (see STABILIZER LINK REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
39. Separate the tie-rod end ball joints from the knuckles (see step 12 in STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL ).
40. Separate the knuckles from the suspension lower arm ball joints (see LOWER ARM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
41. Remove the driveshafts (see step 9 in FRONT DRIVESHAFT REMOVAL ). Coat all precision-finished surfaces with new engine oil. Tie plastic bags over the driveshaft ends.
42. Remove the P/S hose, then plug the line and the hose.
    Fig 17: Removing P/S Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
43. Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector.
    Fig 18: Disconnecting Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
44. Remove the transmission lower front mount nuts and transmission lower rear mount nuts.
    Fig 19: Removing Transmission Lower Front Mount & Rear Mount Nuts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
45. Disconnect the active control engine mount (ACM) actuator connector (A) from the rear engine mount, then remove the harness clamp (B). Remove the bolt (C) securing the P/S line (J35Z1 engine).
    Fig 20: Disconnecting Active Control Engine Mount Actuator Connector From Rear Engine Mount & Removing Harness Clamp

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
46. Remove the rear engine mount bolts.

    J35A9 engine 

    Fig 21: Removing Rear Engine Mount Bolts - J35A9 Engine

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

    J35Z1 engine 

    Fig 22: Removing Rear Engine Mount Bolts - J35Z1 Engine

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
47. Remove the A/C compressor without disconnecting the A/C hoses.
    Fig 23: Removing A/C Compressor Without Disconnecting A/C Hoses

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
48. Disconnect the ACM actuator connector (A) from the front engine mount, then remove the harness clamp (B) (J35Z1 engine).
    Fig 24: Disconnecting ACM Actuator Connector From Front Engine Mount & Removing Harness Clamp - J35Z1 Engine

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
49. Lower the vehicle on the hoist.
50. Remove the heater hoses.
    Fig 25: Removing Heater Hoses

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
51. Remove the upper radiator hose (A), and lower radiator hose (B).
    Fig 26: Removing Upper Radiator Hose & Lower Radiator Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
52. Remove the ground cable.
    Fig 27: Removing Ground Cable

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
53. Remove the ATF cooler hoses from the transmission, then plug the ATF cooler hoses and lines.
    Fig 28: Removing ATF Cooler Hoses From Transmission

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
54. Remove the radiator (see RADIATOR AND FAN REPLACEMENT ).
55. Hang the A/C compressor with a rope as shown in Fig 29.
    Fig 29: Hanging A/C Compressor With Rope

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
56. Remove the connector bracket from the engine front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach engine hanger balancer bar front arm.
    Fig 30: Removing Connector Bracket From Engine Front Cylinder Head

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
57. Remove the harness clamp bracket from the engine rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach engine hanger balancer bar rear arm.
    Fig 31: Removing Harness Clamp Bracket From Engine Rear Cylinder Head

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
58. Install the engine hanger balance bar (VSB02C000019); attach the front arm (A) to the front cylinder head with a spacer and the 10 mm bolt, and attach the rear arm (B) to the rear cylinder head with the 8 mm bolt.
    Fig 32: Installing Engine Hanger Balance Bar

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
59. Install the engine hanger adapters (VSB02C000014) on the ends of the support beams of the engine support hanger (AAR-T-12566). Install the engine support hanger and adapters to the vehicle, and attach the hook to the slotted hole in the engine hanger balance bar. Tighten the wing nut (C) by hand, and to lift and support the engine.
60. Remove the front engine mount nut (J35A9 engine).
    Fig 33: Removing Front Engine Mount Nut - J35A9 Engine

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
61. Remove the front mount stop (A), then remove the front mount bolt (B) (J35Z1 engine).
    Fig 34: Removing Front Mount Stop & Bolt - J35Z1 Engine

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
62. Make sure the hoist brackets are positioned properly. Raise the vehicle on the hoist to full height.
63. Make the appropriate reference lines (A) at the both sides of the front subframe (B) that line up with the edge (C) of the body.
    Fig 35: Making Appropriate Reference Lines

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
64. Loosen the four bolts (A) holding the adjustable arms (B) of the front subframe adapter to its center plate.
    Fig 36: Loosening Bolts Holding Adjustable Arms Of Front Subframe Adapter

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
65. Line up the slots in the arms with the bolt holes on the corner of the jack base, then attach the adapter to the jack base with the bolts (A) that came with the jack. Tighten all bolts securely.
    Fig 37: Attaching Adapter To Jack Base With Bolts With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
66. Raise the jack to vehicle height, then attach the adapter to the front subframe using the subframe stiffener mounting bolts (B) and bolt holes.
67. Remove the bolt retainers from both ends of the subframe.
    Fig 38: Removing Bolt Retainers From Both Ends Of Subframe

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
68. Remove the six 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 39: Removing Bolts Securing Subframe Stiffeners

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
69. Lower the vehicle on the hoist.
70. Attach a chain hoist (A) to the engine hook (B) and the transmission hook (C), then lift up the engine/transmission assembly until it is securely supported by the chain hoist, and remove the engine support hanger and engine hanger adapters.
    Fig 40: Attaching Chain Hoist To Engine Hook & Transmission Hook

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
71. Remove the mounting bolts from the upper half of the side engine mount bracket.
    Fig 41: Removing Mounting Bolts From Upper Half Of Side Engine Mount Bracket

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
72. Check that the engine/transmission is completely free of vacuum hoses, fuel and coolant hoses, and electrical wiring.
73. Slowly lower the engine/transmission assembly about 150 mm (6 in.). Check once again that all hoses and wires are disconnected from the engine/transmission.
74. Lower the engine/transmission assembly all the way. Remove the chain hoist from the engine.
75. Remove the engine/transmission assembly from under the vehicle.