Remove the transaxle and take the opportunity to check components such as oil seals, replacing them if necessary. Use a center-punch or paint to make alignment marks on the driveplate and crankshaft to facilitate replacement, as the bolt holes are slightly offset and will only line up one way; marking them eliminates guesswork. Hold the driveplate stationary while unscrewing the bolts; to prevent it from turning, insert one of the transaxle mounting bolts into the cylinder block and have an assistant engage a wide-bladed screwdriver with the starter ring gear teeth while loosening the driveplate bolts. Loosen and remove each bolt in turn, ensuring new replacements are obtained for reassembly, as these bolts are subjected to severe stresses and must be replaced whenever removed, regardless of their apparent condition. Carefully remove the driveplate without dropping it. Clean the driveplate to remove grease and oil, and check for cracked and broken ring gear teeth. Clean and inspect the mating surfaces of the flywheel and crankshaft, replacing the oil seal if it is leaking; if the engine has high mileage, consider installing a new seal as a precaution due to the effort required to access it. During installation, ensure the engine/transaxle adapter plate is in place if necessary, then install the driveplate on the crankshaft, aligning all bolt holes according to the marks made during removal. Install the new bolts and tighten them by hand, then lock the driveplate using the method from disassembly. Finally, working in two or three stages, tighten the new bolts to the specified torque, completing the installation in reverse order of removal.
