Automatic Transmission: Removal: Transaxle

Special Tool(s) 

Fig 1: Identifying Special Tools (1 Of 3)

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Fig 2: Identifying Special Tools (2 Of 3)

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Fig 3: Identifying Special Tools (3 Of 3)

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

1. Remove the air cleaner assembly. .
NOTE: When the battery is disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the vehicle relearns its adaptive strategy.
2. Remove the battery and tray. For additional information, refer to BATTERY, MOUNTING AND CABLES .
3. Disconnect the electrical connectors.
   1. Disconnect the digital transmission range (TR) sensor electrical connector.
   2. Disconnect the transaxle electrical connector.
   3. Disconnect the wire harness from the bracket.
      Fig 4: Disconnecting Wire Harness From Bracket

      Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
4. Disconnect the shift cable.
   Fig 5: Disconnecting Shift Cable

   Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
5. Remove the cable from the bracket.
   Fig 6: Removing Cable From Bracket

   Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
6. Disconnect the wire harness from the bracket.
   Fig 7: Disconnecting Wire Harness From Bracket

   Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
7. Remove the manual control lever.
   Fig 8: Removing Manual Control Lever

   Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
8. Remove the hood.
9. Remove the wiper arm and pivot assembly. For additional information, refer to WIPERS AND WASHERS .
10. Remove the front upper radiator shield.
    Fig 9: Removing Front Upper Radiator Shield

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
11. Install the special tool.
    Fig 10: Installing Special Tool

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
12. Install the special tool.
    Fig 11: Installing Special Tool

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
13. Install the special tools.
    Fig 12: Installing Special Tools

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
14. Install the special tool.
    Fig 13: Installing Special Tool

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
15. Remove the bolt and the upper fluid filler tube.
    Fig 14: Removing Bolt And Upper Fluid Filler Tube

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
16. Remove the clips.
    Fig 15: Removing Clips

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
17. Depress the tabs on the plastic insert retainer and remove the cooler line from fitting.
    Fig 16: Removing Cooler Line From Fitting

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
18. Remove the transaxle retaining bolts.
    Fig 17: Removing Transaxle Retaining Bolts

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
19. Remove the rear transaxle mount nut.
    Fig 18: Removing Rear Transaxle Mount Nut

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
20. Raise and support the vehicle. For additional information, refer to JACKING & LIFTING .
21. Remove the front wheel and tires. For additional information, refer to WHEELS & TIRES .
22. Drain the transmission fluid by lowering the transaxle pan.
NOTE: The transaxle fluid pan does not need to be torqued in this step.
23. Install the transaxle pan.
24. Remove the three way catalytic converter assembly. For additional information, refer to EXHAUST SYSTEM .
25. Disconnect the LH knuckle assembly.
    1. Disconnect the LH tie rod assembly.
    2. Disconnect the LH sway bar assembly.
    3. Remove the LH pinch bolt.
    Fig 19: Disconnecting LH Knuckle Assembly

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
26. Disconnect the RH knuckle assembly.
    1. Disconnect the RH tie rod assembly.
    2. Disconnect the RH sway bar assembly.
    3. Remove the RH pinch bolt.
    Fig 20: Disconnecting RH Knuckle Assembly

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
27. Remove the nuts for the power steering rack.
    Fig 21: Removing Nuts For Power Steering Rack

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
28. Disconnect the retainer for the power steering line.
    Fig 22: Disconnecting Retainer For Power Steering Line

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
29. Disconnect the retainer for the power steering line.
    Fig 23: Disconnecting Retainer For Power Steering Line

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
30. Disconnect the retainer for the power steering line.
    Fig 24: Disconnecting Retainer For Power Steering Line

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
31. Remove the front engine mount.
    Fig 25: Removing Front Engine Mount

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
32. Remove the rear engine mount.
    Fig 26: Removing Rear Engine Mount

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
33. Position a suitable lift under the vehicle and raise it to the subframe.
34. Remove the left front subframe bolt.
    Fig 27: Removing Left Front Subframe Bolt

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
35. Remove the right front subframe bolt.
    Fig 28: Removing Right Front Subframe Bolt

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
36. Remove the left rear subframe bolt.
    Fig 29: Removing Left Rear Subframe Bolt

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: Disconnect the heat shield from the subframe prior to lowering it from the vehicle.
Fig 30: Removing Right Rear Subframe Bolt And Subframe Assembly
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
37. Remove the right rear subframe bolt and lower the subframe assembly.
38. Remove two bolts from the LH sway bar assembly.
    Fig 31: Removing Bolts From LH Sway Bar Assembly

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
39. Remove two bolts from the RH sway bar assembly.
    Fig 32: Removing Bolts From RH Sway Bar Assembly

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
40. Remove the sway bar assembly.
    Fig 33: Removing Sway Bar Assembly

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
41. Install the special tool.
    Fig 34: Installing Special Tool

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
42. The use of mechanic's wire will aid in holding the power steering rack up in the vehicle.
43. Remove the ground strap and harness bracket.
    Fig 35: Removing Ground Strap And Harness Bracket

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: The use of mechanic's wire will aid in positioning the starter out of the way.
Fig 36: Removing Starter And Positioning It Out Of Way
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
44. Remove the starter and position it out of the way.
45. Loosen the inspection cover bolt, and remove the pushpin.
    Fig 37: Loosening Inspection Cover Bolt, And Removing Pushpin

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
46. Remove both parts of the inspection cover.
    Fig 38: Removing Both Parts Of Inspection Cover

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
47. Remove and discard the four nuts.
    Fig 39: Removing Nuts

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: The use of mechanic's wire will aid in positioning the halfshafts out of the way.
Fig 40: Removing LH Halfshaft From Transaxle
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
48. Using the special tools, remove the LH halfshaft from the transaxle and position out of the way.
NOTE: The use of mechanic's wire will aid in positioning the halfshafts out of the way.
Fig 41: Removing RH Halfshaft From Transaxle
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
49. Using the special tools, remove the RH halfshaft from the transaxle and position out of the way.
50. Disconnect the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor connector.
    Fig 42: Disconnecting Output Shaft Speed Sensor Connector

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
51. Disconnect the turbine shaft speed (TSS) sensor connector.
    Fig 43: Disconnecting Turbine Shaft Speed Sensor Connector

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
52. Position the high lift transmission jack under the transaxle.
    Fig 44: Positioning High Lift Transmission Jack Under Transaxle

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
53. Remove the rear lower retaining bolt.
    Fig 45: Removing Rear Lower Retaining Bolt

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
54. Remove the front lower retaining bolt.
    Fig 46: Removing Front Lower Retaining Bolt

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
55. Remove the oil pan to transaxle retaining bolt.
    Fig 47: Removing Oil Pan To Transaxle Retaining Bolt

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
56. Remove the oil pan to transaxle retaining bolt.
    Fig 48: Removing Oil Pan To Transaxle Retaining Bolt

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
57. Remove the transaxle retaining bolts.
    Fig 49: Removing Transaxle Retaining Bolts

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
58. Lower the transaxle assembly from the engine compartment.
59. Remove the bracket.
    Fig 50: Removing Bracket

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
60. Remove the rear support bracket.
    Fig 51: Removing Rear Support Bracket

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
61. Carry out the transmission fluid cooler backflushing/cleaning. For additional information, refer to TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER - BACKFLUSHING AND CLEANING .