How to Remove a Car Engine Without a Hoist
by Editorial Team
There are many parts which make up your vehicle, and for every part, it seems as if there are many different types of tools designed to remove them. With all of the information in book form and detailed instructions found on the Internet, working on your vehicle has become much easier. From the common oil change to engine rebuilding, there are many sources to go to if you need direction for your do-it-yourself repair. There are, however, some tools that are difficult to work without, but there are ways to work around this problem.
Step 1
Park your car on a level surface. Apply the parking brake and open the hood.
Step 2
Disconnect the engine accessories. With a wrench, remove the battery cables and set the battery aside. Remove the wiring harness from the vehicle by unplugging the connection and pulling the group of wires loose with your hand. Set this on top of the engine and out of the way (tuck it under the alternator bracket). Remove the fuel line from the injector rail by inserting the fuel line removal tool into the connection and pulling the two fittings apart. Remove the power steering lines in the same manner. Tuck both the fuel line and the steering hose out of the way. Remove the radiator by loosening the pet cock by hand and draining the coolant into a catch pan. Remove the radiator hoses from the engine by loosening the clamps with a screwdriver and pulling them off by hand. Remove the radiator by removing the mounting bolts with a socket wrench and lifting it out of the way.
Step 3
Place a jack under the vehicle's chassis (in the front) and raise the vehicle high enough to allow you to work comfortably underneath it. Place jack stands under the chassis to ensure it does not fall on you. Remove the vehicle's drive shaft by loosening the retaining bolts at the rear universal joint with a wrench and pulling the universal joint free of the rear differential. Pull the drive shaft out of the transmission by pulling it toward the rear of the vehicle. Place a catch pan under the transmission tail shaft to catch any draining oil. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle.
Step 4
Remove the engine. Remove the front cross member mounting bolts with a socket wrench. Remove the front brake lines by separating the rubber hose from the hard line with a wrench. The engine is now ready to remove. Place a jack on each side of the front chassis behind the cross member and have a friend help you jack the vehicle up slowly to raise the vehicle’s body off of the front suspension. The front suspension, cross member and engine will come out as a single unit. Once the body clears the engine, roll it out of the way and lower the body. Place jack stands under the suspension and remove the jacks. The engine is now out of the vehicle. To reinstall the engine, reverse the removal process.
References
Tips
- Taking a picture with a camera, before you begin to disassemble the vehicle, is a good reference in case you forget where something goes.
Things You'll Need
- Jacks (2)
- Jack stands (2)
- Wrench set
- Socket wrench set
- Fuel line removal tool
- Catch pans (2)
- Screwdriver
- Camera (optional)
Warnings
- Never work under an unsupported vehicle as injury or death may result.
Writer Bio
This article was written by the CareerTrend team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more about CareerTrend, contact us [here](http://careertrend.com/about-us).
