I just started tearing out the automatic transmission in my 1996 Passport (4X4) and I'm getting the feeling Hayne's forgot to mention removing the oil pan to access the torque converter-flywheel bolts. Can anyone confirm if the oil pan needs to come off?

I do not think Haynes is the right book for that kind of job.

Try Helminc. I know that their manuals are probably somewhere over 70 dollars, but you will get the real answers there.

Good luck,

Sam

Thanks for the insight, however, the manual is working well. Never done a Honda tranny, so its a good point of reference. After talking to a Honda tech, it sounds like the oil pan will need to come off. Does anyone have any tricks for accomplishing this on a 4X4 rather than dropping the entire front suspension and steering?

it really dosent make sense that you would have to drop the oil pan.. there should be an inspection plate that can be removed, or access somewhere.. also do a search on this forum with the search button

Once again, thanks for the reply, but not much help. I have spent several hours searching this board as well as others with no luck finding someone who has replaced the auto-transmission in a 4WD. For the record, there is about 1" clearance between the flywheel and oil pan, making it impossible (so far) to loosen the 3 bolts that connect the flywheel and converter. The transmission could be removed without removing the converter, since it's junk, but I can't reinstall with the torque converter attached. Ergo, the oil pan needs to be removed so I can put a socket on the bolts.