Engine Pull Guide?

[opaul]

Are there any guides available for pulling a Mazda 3 engine out from the top? Only guide I've been able to find explains how to drop it from the bottom.

 

[philrab]

My suspicion is that they are installed from the bottom up at the factory, as is pretty common place on compact cars these days (engine installed from the bottom, then the subframe.) It's probably doable from the top, but may not be easy.

Your only other option would be lowering the engine onto something with casters under the engine bay, attaching the engine hoist to something strong enough, and lifting the front end up high enough to clear the engine while dragging it out. Personally, I'd opt for it to come out the top if at all humanly possible. In advance, that's going to require removing the fuse box, battery box, ecu, and several other components that run near the top of the engine bay.

 

[iPhoneGawd]

I took it out the front a/c needs to be unplugged only downfall you can maybe leave it attached but would be very cumbersome for a swap

 

[ameflyer77]

I did it from the top not too long ago.
With the front end jacked up.
Not much of a guide but start with removal of both the drive shafts and halfshafts from the front wheels (slide out the front shockstruts after disconnecting from the spindle) its better to come out with the whole tranny assembly attached, its just a pain to remove sometimes, disconnect the tranny mount assembly, just one straight through bolt. All wiring needs to come off and put to the side, watch out for the crankshaft sensor and the ac sensor, tends to get caught on removal. Remove the 4(?) 10mil bolts from the AC compressor and put it off to the side, remove it off the belt, you don't need to disconnect it if you do this, but just put it off into the wheel well area, while youre there remove the ABS sensor plugs and CAP THEM. The exhaust manifold needs to be disconnected after taking off the heat shield, the aft portion of the shield is always corroded on the hardware, so you can just bend it back if it doesnt bug you aesthetically, then while its getting pulled just put a prybar to seprate, just be careful not to damage. Disconnect the starter and alternator as well, they get caught. Drain all the fluids, including the transmission since itll leak once the halfshafts are out. Disconnect the coolant rubber lines and then just separate the engine mount brackets. One is under the batter tray compartment and the other right next to the coolant reservoir. Pretty easy pull but you'll need another guy at least.

Kind of all over the place explanation but hope it gives you an idea. I preferred doing it from the top to avoid touching the subframe and separating the tranny etc etc.

PM if you have any questions