Need Help Fast. Stunned Again. Auto vs Manual Inner Tierods, Different?

[nc_festiva]

Any idea if the tierods are different between autos and manuals. Was trying to replace the ones on the auto festiva and its not a standard threaded bolt setup like the manual was. I doesn't even have a place for a wrench to attach. Need to get this done so I can start driving it before I have to take my dads car back this weekend. Only have today and tomorrow until five to get it done.

Auto store says there system doesn't show a different part for the automatic and the haynes manual makes no mention of it either.

At a loss here. Can't even figure out how to change it.

[nc_festiva]

Picture of the connection end.
Don't even know where to start to take it off.

[TominMO]

You say it's not threaded? I think it must be, and maybe you are being thrown by the lack of wrench flats. Might be just a cheap aftermarket part w/no wrench flats. Might need a vise grip to turn it. But it makes no sense to me that they would make it without the flats.

Rock Auto makes no mention of a difference either.

[TominMO]

Picture of the connection end.
Don't even know where to start to take it off.

Don't see pic. Look at this one:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=354984&cc=1128147

[nc_festiva]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/m553kt68nkb7xl7/20131107_145421.jpg

[nc_festiva]

Can you see it now? The pic you posted looks like my manual one but not whats on the automatic one

[nc_festiva]

20131107_145421.jpg

[TominMO]

It has to unscrew. There should be a pin in that hole on the Rockauto pic. Knock out pin, then it can be turned. I can't see how you could have anything different. Maybe someone put on a piece not intended for Festys that happened to work?

[nc_festiva]

Also its like that on both sides. Never seen a connector like that and all the auto parts stores say the part should be the same

[sketchman]

I see wrench flats on there. That whole thing that your thumb is touching spins off. It's a bear to get off on some cars(not sure about the Festiva, never done one), but it does spin off.

EDIT: Is the thing that the green arrow is touching a different piece than the part the blue arrow is touching?

[nc_festiva]

Yes. The green arrow is the piece the normal tierod would screw into

[sketchman]

Uhh, that looks like a clip to keep the tierod end from turning on its own. Take a flat head screwdriver or a flat pry bar or knife or whatever and stick it under that tab in the direction the blue arrow is pointing. Then pry against the tierod. The tab should come off(or at least bend back) and then the tierod should spin off too.

[nc_festiva]

^^^^ YUP. Just got one of the off. Appreciate the help. Guess i need to put locktite on the threads before installing the new ones back in? I don't have any but I can run and get some if I absolutely have to.

[TominMO]

I used loctite rather than put the pin in the hole on the wrench flat. Seems to be fine. Glad you got it figgered out.

[nc_festiva]

new question were the tierods different on different year festivas? The replacement tierod threads are to narrow and wont tightened into the rack. Is it possible that the rack was pulled off another year festiva?