[hevybluzer]

help!!!!!!!! I was all set to tackle an oil pump swap on my 2000 XJ 4.0 when i ran into a snag. I followed the procedure in the Haynes manual until the point where it says " remove the bell houing inspection cover". I assume this is the flat sheet metal deal I see sandwhiched between the motor an bell housing. It looks as if you have to remove all the bolts on the bellhousing to get this cover off. Some of them look to be major attachment points. Am I seeing this right?????? do I have to pull the motor/housing/trans away from each other to get this cover out?????????????????? This one day job is looking to be more like a 2 day curse fest....................

[tangofox007]

What transmission?

[95cherokee33s]

This is just the cover on the bottom half of the bell housing. The cover is in two pieces It has two 18mm bolts (not sure why they used such big bolts and nuts), and I think 3 13 mm bolts that need to be removed. You don't need to remove the whole bellhousing cover, just the little plate to get the oil pan off.

[hevybluzer]

its an automatic. The cover certainly looks to be one piece all the way to the top of the housing. Maybe I'm nuts!!??? Also has a rubber "half donut" looking deal where the pan meets the bell housing cover at the rear main.

[hevybluzer]

Well...I am beginning day 2 of this "simple" oil pump deal. Followed the Haynse instructions explicitly but ended up having to drop the torsion bar and steering cross link to get the pan out. The pump will hopefully be in within the next couple of hours............then I can start reassembling the front end.....Next time I'm just gonna lift the motor...would have been easier...........