To air check a clutch, apply compressed air to the corresponding pressure port with a rubber nozzle air gun.

Caution: Protect yourself by wearing safety glasses, earplugs, a respirator, gloves, and safety shoes while performing work on the vehicle.

Before you begin:

1. Remove the valve body. Refer to Control Valve Body Assembly Removal .
2. Place rubber-tipped nozzle in proper apply port pressing firmly to create a good seal between nozzle and apply port.
3. Apply air to hydraulic circuit and watch for clutch to move quickly.

Important: A small amount of air bubbles coming from the lube holes of the clutch housing that is being air checked is normal.

4. After clutch has been applied, hold air nozzle tightly against port, forming a seal, and release trigger on air nozzle. While air nozzle is still held tightly against port, clutch should hold pressure for approximately one to two seconds before slowly releasing.

Important: If no air leak at clutch can be found, leak is most likely not a cut/torn clutch piston, but is more likely one of the other potential causes listed in the section for the appropriate clutch in question.

5. Listen and look for leaks.

To air check 1st clutch hydraulic circuit, apply air to the 1st clutch apply pressure port. For proper location, refer to "Pressure Ports-Transaxle Case" in this service manual. Because first clutch is hidden by the transaxle end cover, the clutch plates cannot be watched for proper apply. When applying first clutch, watch for the input shaft to move slightly, indicating the clutch has applied or listen for a quick "clunk" sound to verify that the clutch has applied. If there is any question whether first clutch is applying, bench test the clutch using an air check fixture, tool P/N SA9147T.

Notice: A large leak in 1st gear circuit can cause a loss of other forward gears.

A large leak in 1st gear circuit can cause a loss of other forward gears.

To air check 2nd clutch hydraulic circuit, apply air to the 2nd clutch apply pressure port. For proper location, refer to "Pressure Ports-Transaxle Case" in this service manual. When applying air to 2nd clutch, a small amount of cross leakage between 2nd and 3rd clutch is normal. This is due to a small amount of normal leakage around the input shaft feed tube bushing which is located between the 2nd and 3rd clutch.

If 2nd clutch does not apply properly when performing the air check, possible sources of leakage include:

If the complaint is for reverse, inspect the forward/reverse servo piston following the procedures below in addition to the 2nd rev clutch hydraulic circuit procedures.

1. Plug off the reverse pressure from the forward/reverse servo to 2nd clutch apply port.
2. Place a rag over 1st, 3rd and 4th oil-to-servo piston port to avoid spray.

Caution: As pressure is applied to the reverse pressure to forward/reverse servo piston pressure port, air pressure will cause a spray-back of oil out of the 1st, 3rd and 4th oil-to-servo piston port. In the event of hot transaxle oil, this could result in personal injury.

3. Apply pressure to the reverse pressure to forward/reverse servo piston pressure port.

When following the above procedures, the forward/reverse servo piston should move, pulling the fork toward the reverse driven gear. If the forward/reverse servo piston does not apply properly, inspect for:

Important: For detailed information on delay/harsh engagement into reverse, refer to the "Delay/Harsh Engagement Into Reverse Diagnostic Chart" in this service manual.

To air check 3rd clutch hydraulic circuit, apply air to the 3rd clutch apply pressure port. (For proper location, refer to "Pressure Ports-Transaxle Case" in this service manual.) When applying air to 3rd clutch, a small amount of cross leakage between 3rd and 2nd clutch is normal. Second clutch should not immediately apply when applying air to the 3rd clutch apply port, while blocking the 2nd clutch apply port. However, it is normal for 2nd clutch to apply within 2-3 seconds after applying air to the 3rd clutch apply port when the 2nd clutch apply port is blocked. This is due to a small amount of normal leakage around the input shaft O-ring seal between the 2nd and 3rd clutch.

If 3rd clutch does not apply properly when performing the air check, possible sources of leakage include:

To air check 4th clutch hydraulic circuit, apply air to the 4th clutch apply pressure port. For proper location, refer to "Pressure Ports-Transaxle Case" in this service manual.

If 4th clutch does not apply properly when performing the air check, possible sources of leakage include:

The TCC circuit cannot be checked reliably using air with the exception of checking for a missing input shaft check ball (3) or checking for a leaking Teflon™ seal that separates lube from TCC disable (4).

Important: When applying air to the lube pressure port, a small amount of leakage will normally be observed coming from TCC disable and/or converter out. If a gross leak is observed, inspect for a missing input shaft check ball (3) or leaking Teflon™ seal that separates lube from TCC disable (4).

To check for a missing input shaft check ball (3) or a leaking Teflon™ seal that separates lube from TCC disable (4), regulate air pressure to 25 psi. Apply air to the lube pressure port (next to TCC apply) and look for a significant amount of air coming from TCC disable or converter out ports.

Other sources of leaking in the TCC circuit, which cannot be detected with an air check include:

1. Remove end cover and 1st driven gear. Refer to End Cover Replacement and 1st Clutch, 1st Drive Gear and 1st Driven Gear Replacement - On Vehicle .
2. Obtain a piece of welding rod or straightened coat hanger and insert into input shaft until the bushing (1) is reached.
3. Measure depth of bushing using welding rod or straightened coat hanger and a ruler. The bushing should be 130.18 ± 3.18 mm (5 1/8 ± 1/8 in) from the 1st clutch end of the input shaft. If the bushing is more than 133.35 mm (5 1/4 in) or less than 127.0 mm (5.0 in) deep, the input shaft must be replaced.

1. Remove end cover and 1st driven gear. Refer to End Cover Replacement and 1st Clutch, 1st Drive Gear and 1st Driven Gear Replacement - On Vehicle .
2. Obtain a piece of welding rod or straightened coat hanger and insert into output shaft until the bushing (1) is reached.
3. Measure depth of bushing using welding rod or straightened coat hanger and a ruler. The bushing should be 232.0 ± 0.6 mm (9.16 ± 0.02 in) from the 1st clutch end of the output shaft. If the bushing is more than 232.6 mm (9.18  in) or less than 231.4 mm (9.14 in) deep, the output shaft must be replaced.