Oil seal replacement
1. Fluid leaks frequently occur due to wear of the drive axle oil seals and/or the speed sensor 0-rings. Replacement of these seals is relatively easy, since the repairs can usually be performed without removing the transaxle from the vehicle.
Drive axle seals
2. The drive axle oil seals are located in either sides of the transaxle, where the drive-axle shaft is splined into the differential. If leakage at the seal is suspected, raise the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands. If the seal is leaking, fluid will be found on the side of the transaxle.
3. Remove the drive axle (see Clutch and driveaxles). If you’re replacing the right-side drive axle seal,
remove the intermediate shaft and the drive-axle assembly as a single unit.
4. Using a screwdriver or prybar, carefully pry the oil seal out of the transaxle bore (see illustration).
6.4 Carefully pry out the old drive axle seal with a prybar screwdriver or a special seal removal tool; make sure you don’t gouge or nick the surface of the seal bore
5. If the oil seal cannot be removed with a screwdriver or prybar, a special oil seal removal tool (available at auto parts stores) will be required.
6. Using a seal driver or a large deep socket as a drift, install the new oil seal. Drive it into the bore squarely and make sure that it is completely seated (see illustration). Lubricate the lip of the new seal with multi-purpose grease.
6.6 Drive in the new drive axle seal with a large socket or a special seal installer
7. Install the drive axle assembly (see Clutch and driveaxles). Be careful not to damage the lip of the new seal.
Speed sensors (5-speed transaxles only)
8. The transaxle speed sensors are located on the case of the transaxle. Look for lubricant around the sensor housings to determine if a 0-ring is leaking.
Note: All 6-speed transaxle speed sensors are mounted internally to the valve body in the transmission pan.
9. Disconnect the electrical connector from the vehicle or transmission speed sensor and remove it from the transaxle (see illustration).
6.9 To remove the vehicle speed sensor from the transaxle, disconnect the electrical connector and remove the sensor hold-down bolt (two sensors shown here)
10. Remove the 0-ring (see illustration).
6.10 Remove the 0-ring from the speed sensor
11. Install a new 0-ring on the driven gear housing. Reinstall the speedometer driven gear and vehicle speed sensor housing. Tighten the hold-down bolt securely.