Siditis

Hello,

I'm looking to remove engine without the transmission, is this even possible? I have very little room to the left. So I was wondering should i remove the tranny with the engine or should i leave the transmission inside the car? I am trying to replace the engine with lower miles.

LeX2K

Pull the engine/transmission as one assembly, way easier. When you do separate the engine/tranny keep the torque converter in the transmission and fully seated I can't stress this enough. Loosen and remove the harmonic balancer before you start to pull the engine, I like to put a piece of cardboard against the frame rail to protect the engine. You will need a load balancer to go along with your engine lift so you can change the tilt as you go. Without it the job is much harder or impossible.

example of what I'm talking about

Leave the engine harness intact remove the connectors from the ECU and pull them through the firewall.

wmj259

When I had to replace the Transmission in my car, I dropped it with the engine and undercarriage.

LeX2K

That's a good way to do it if you can raise the car enough.

Siditis

my only concern was trying to remove the axels, that’s why I wanted to leave the tranny inside. But no worries, I will try your way

Siditis

Also, thank you for you guys help

Siditis

So when you said, leave the torque convertor inside the Tranny. That means i can't remove the bolts of torque convertor, correct? I have to just remove bolts that connect engine to transmission and pull the engine apart from tranny and this would leave convertor within the transmission. FOr this i will not be touching torque convertor bolts, correct?

LeX2K

No, you remove the bolts holding the flex plate to the torque converter via the access panel at the bottom. Rotate the engine as you go to get all the bolts. One of the bolts should be a different colour (more on that later). Keep the torque converter seated into the transmission as much as possible. It's not the end of the world if it comes out but can be very tricky to get it seated again. Many people have seated it wrong and crushed the transmission pump on assembly.

The odd coloured bolt is there to help align the converter to the flex plate, I can't remember if your car has it or not. But look for it.

Siditis

Alright, so finally got the engine out with tranny. Torque converter slightly cane out But I pushed it back in. Seated nicely. Now, when I took out the torque plate bolts I counted 5 bolts, but now I either can’t find the 6th or it was never there. I remember taking out 5 bolts. Does 2000 Lexus es300 have 6 or5 bolts? I see one hole left to screw b but I don’t have the 6th bolt.

also, I see two other orange dot marking on torque plates oppositeTo each other, What are those? Is there av specific hole I have to attach with the engine? Does it Matter which hole on torque plate goes with torque converter?

LeX2K

There are 6 bolts, one is unique that one you thread in first this helps align the flex plate. Here's the part numbers.
90109-09001 9-1.25PX12.4-7.3, GREEN 1
90119-09025 9-1.25PX12.4-8.4, YELLOW 5

Don't know what those dots are, ignore them. There is no specific alignment for the flex plate to bolt to the torque converter as they are not balanced as an assembly. You should replace the rear main seal get this from Toyota.

Siditis

Yes, i found the 6th bolth which was colored different. It's installed and ready to be lowered into the car. Thanks lexus2000, you've been great help.

wmj259

Second replacing the rearmain seal while your in there.

Siditis

Refilling tranny with atf? How much should I put? Dealer said drain and refill is 3.5qrt and dry is 8.5 atf? But this is neither. There was some leaking through out removal of axel and engine. Not sure how much to add when everything is done.