Our Houston Junkyard’s Guide to DIY Transmission Removal (Part 2)

• webmaster
• Apr 30, 2020

In our previous blog, we started the process for transmission removal so that you could install your used replacement transmission. Here are the last few steps.

How to Finish Removing Your Vehicle’s Transmission

7: Starter

There are 3 bolts holding the starter in place. You will see oxygen sensors, so get the wire out of the way. Next, remove the nut and the metal mount. There’s a bolt that holds the starter in place, and a second bolt may be behind the starter. In this case, our salvage yard in Houston recommends you start from the front of the engine. Remove the bolt located here with a long extension. For the third bolt, use a 1/4 inch ratchet with an extension to remove it. Now you can remove and set aside the starter.

8: Wiring Harness

Start at the end of the harness. Remove the clip with a trim removal tool by sticking it under the clip and prying it up. Now, a speed sensor should be visible. Disconnect it by pressing down on the tab and pulling it out and unclipping it. Next, unplug the reverse light switch and remove the clip again, then the harness is free and you can set it aside. Afterward, remove the dust cover from the transmission and then remove the clutch cable with a pry bar. Next, use a flathead screwdriver to remove the retaining clip so that you can then remove the clutch cable from the transmission.

TIP: place a large plastic zip bag around the end of the transmission and secure it with a rubber band so that when you remove it, if any liquid comes out it’ll fall into the bag and not on you or the ground.

9: Unbolt the transmission mount

You are almost done! Soon you can install your replacement transmission! Slide the transmission jack under the transmission, strap it in, and raise it so it can provide support. Now, remove the two bolts holding the transmission mount.

10: Unbolt the transmission

Unbolt the transmission from the engine by removing the three bolts on the driver’s side, then the bottom two bolts, followed by the two bolts on the passenger side.

You can see two more bolts from the back of the driver’s side. The easiest way to remove them is by reaching from your back driver’s side view with your long ratcheting wrench.

TIP: place the bolts in the order they came out of the transmission so it’s organized for later.

11: Remove the transmission

Last step! But first, take some safety precautions. 

There’s a lot of dust build-up inside the bell housing, and older clutches may be made from asbestos, so you don’t want to inhale any of this dust. We recommend you spray the inside of the bell housing with plain water. This weighs the dust down so it doesn’t become airborne.

TIP: for extra protection, wear a full-face respirator that filters out 99% of airborne particles.

Now it’s time to safely remove your vehicle’s transmission. Support the engine by using your jacks and laying some wood over them to evenly distribute the weight. Then, crank it up. This protects the engine from tilting and becoming damaged when you remove the transmission. Once this is done, you can finally separate the transmission. A pry bar may help as well. 

Next up, our Houston junkyard will cover how to install your used replacement transmission. If you would like to find out what we have in stock, then please contact us so we can assist you.