Automatic Transmission - 6 Speed: Removal: Transaxle

Special Tools

Illustration	Tool Name	Tool Number
	Lifting Bracket Set, Engine (3.0L 4V-V6)	134-00243 or equivalent
	Engine Lifting Bracket Set	303-1140
	Support Bar, Engine	303-290A
	Adapters for 303-290	303-290-01
	Adapter for 303-290A (Support Leg)	303-290A-03A
	Adapter for 303-290A (Lifting Hook)	303-290A-12

1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to JACKING AND LIFTING article.
2. Remove the battery and battery tray. For additional information, refer to BATTERY, MOUNTING AND CABLES article.
3. Remove the air cleaner and the outlet pipe. For additional information, refer to INTAKE AIR DISTRIBUTION AND FILTERING article.
4. Remove the cowl panel grille. For additional information, refer to FRONT END BODY PANELS article.
5. Remove the upper roll restrictor bolt.
Fig 1: Locating Upper Roll Restrictor Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
6. Remove the 4 roll restrictor brace bolts and the brace.
Fig 2: Identifying Transaxle Roll Restrictor Bar Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
7. Disconnect the shift cable end.
Fig 3: Locating Shift Cable End
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
8. Remove the electrical connector from the shift cable bracket.
Fig 4: Locating Electrical Connector At Shift Cable Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
9. Remove the 3 bolts for the shift cable bracket and position the cable and bracket aside.
Fig 5: Locating Bolts For Shift Cable Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
10. Disconnect the wire harness from the transmission control module (TCM).
Fig 6: Identifying Transmission Control Module Electrical Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
11. Disconnect the wire harness from the transaxle.
Fig 7: Locating Wire Harness Retainers At Transaxle
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
12. Disconnect the lower wire harness from the transaxle.
Fig 8: Locating Lower Wire Harness
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
13. Remove the 4 bolts and the roll restrictor bracket.
Fig 9: Locating Roll Restrictor Bracket Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
14. Disconnect the wire harness from the roll restrictor.
Fig 10: Locating Wiring Harness At Roll Restrictor Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
15. Remove the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) hose.
Fig 11: Locating Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Hose
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
16. Disconnect the vacuum hoses from the throttle body.
Fig 12: Locating Vacuum Hose At Throttle Body
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
17. Remove the bolt for the power steering line bracket and position aside.
Fig 13: Locating Bracket For Power Steering Hose
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
18. Remove the plastic electrical cover for the starter motor electrical connectors.
Fig 14: Identifying Electrical Cover For Starter Motor Electrical Connectors
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
19. Disconnect the 2 starter motor electrical connectors.
Fig 15: Identifying Starter Motor Electrical Connectors
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
20. Remove the 2 bolts for the starter and the starter.
Fig 16: Locating Starter Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: It is not necessary to completely remove the roll restrictor from the vehicle, it only has to be positioned aside.
21. Remove the 2 retaining bolts and remove the roll restrictor and position aside.
Fig 17: Locating Roll Restrictor Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
22. Disconnect the ground wire.
Fig 18: Locating Ground Wire
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
23. Remove the 4 upper transaxle bolts.
Fig 19: Locating Upper Transaxle Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
24. If a transaxle exchange or overhaul is required, the transmission fluid must be drained.
    • Remove the drain plug and allow the fluid to drain.
Fig 20: Locating Transmission Fluid Drain Plug
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
25. Remove the LH and RH halfshafts. For additional information, refer to FRONT DRIVE HALFSHAFTS article.
26. If removed, install the transmission fluid drain plug.
    • Tighten to 47 Nm (35 lb-ft).
Fig 21: Locating Transmission Fluid Drain Plug
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
27. Remove and discard the 2 nuts for the front exhaust pipe.
Fig 22: Locating Front Exhaust Pipe Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
28. Remove and discard the 2 nuts for the rear exhaust pipe.
Fig 23: Identifying Nuts For Rear Exhaust Pipe
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
29. Remove and discard the 2 nuts for the catalytic converter pipe, disconnect the rubber hanger and remove the pipe.
Fig 24: Identifying Nuts For Catalytic Converter Pipe
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
30. If equipped, disconnect the engine block heater electrical connector.
Fig 25: Locating Block Heater Electrical Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
31. Position the heat shield for the knock sensor (KS) aside.
Fig 26: Identifying Knock Sensor Heat Shield
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
32. Remove the bolt and the KS.
Fig 27: Locating Knock Sensor
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
33. Disconnect the KS wire harness from the transaxle.
Fig 28: Locating Knock Sensor Wire Harness
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
34. Remove the transaxle-to-engine bolt.
Fig 29: Locating Transaxle-To-Engine Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
35. Remove the bolt for the power steering hose.
Fig 30: Locating Power Steering Hose Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: When installing the lifting bracket, it will be easier to loosely install the upper bolt first, then install the lower bolt.
36. Install the lower half of the lifting hook.
Fig 31: Identifying Lower Half Of Lifting Hook
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
37. Install the upper half of the lifting hook.
Fig 32: Identifying Upper Half Of Lifting Hook
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
38. Disconnect the vapor tube from the canister purge valve.
Fig 33: Locating Vapor Tube
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
39. Remove the bolt for the power steering hose.
Fig 34: Locating Power Steering Line Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
40. Install the special tool to the RH cylinder head.
Fig 35: View Of Special Tool On RH Cylinder Head
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
41. Remove and discard the 2 bolts for the catalytic converter.
Fig 36: Locating Catalytic Converter Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
42. Install the special tool to the LH cylinder head.
Fig 37: Special Tool Installed Onto LH Cylinder Head
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
43. Install the special tools to support the engine assembly.
Fig 38: Identifying Special Tools To Support Engine Assembly
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
44. Install the special tools to the LH (front) cylinder head.
Fig 39: Identifying Special Tools (134-00243, 303-290A-12)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
45. Install the special tools to the RH (rear) cylinder head.
Fig 40: Identifying Special Tools (134-00243, 303-290A-12)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
46. Install the special tools into the lifting hook near the EGR valve.
Fig 41: Identifying Special Tools (303-1140, 303-290A-12)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
47. Disconnect the lower radiator hose from the retainers and position the hose aside.
Fig 42: Locating Lower Radiator Hose
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
48. Remove the 4 bolts retaining the power steering line to the subframe.
Fig 43: Locating Power Steering Line To Subframe Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
49. Disconnect the wire harness from the LH front of the subframe.
Fig 44: Locating Wire Harness
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
50. Remove the bolts and nuts for the power steering rack. Using mechanic's wire, hold the power steering rack up and out of the way.
Fig 45: Locating Bolts & Nuts For Power Steering Rack
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
51. Disconnect the HO2S electrical connector from the subframe.
Fig 46: Locating HO2S Electrical Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
52. Disconnect the 3 pushpins and position the splash shield aside.
Fig 47: Locating Splash Shield Pushpins
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
53. Remove the nut for the front motor mount.
Fig 48: Locating Front Motor Mount Nut
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
54. Remove the 2 bolts for the lower stabilizer mount.
Fig 49: Locating Bolts For Lower Stabilizer Mount
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
55. Remove the nut for the rear motor mount.
Fig 50: Locating Nut For Rear Motor Mount
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
56. Remove and discard the bolts for the rear transaxle mount.
Fig 51: Identifying Bolts For Rear Transaxle Mount
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
57. Remove the 2 bolts for the LH rear subframe mount.
Fig 52: Identifying Bolts For LH Rear Subframe Mount
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
58. Remove the 2 bolts for the RH rear subframe mount.
Fig 53: Locating RH Rear Subframe Mount Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
59. Remove and discard the LH and RH stabilizer bar link nuts and separate the stabilizer bar links from the struts.
Fig 54: Identifying Stabilizer Bar Link Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
60. Using a suitable powertrain lift, remove the 4 subframe bolts and the subframe.
Fig 55: Locating Subframe Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
61. Disconnect the HO2S electrical connector.
Fig 56: Locating Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Electrical Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
62. Remove the bolt for the catalytic converter bracket and remove the catalytic converter.
Fig 57: Locating Bolt For Catalytic Converter Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
63. Remove the 2 pushpins and the rubber access plug.
Fig 58: Locating Pushpins & Rubber Access Plug
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
64. Remove and discard the 4 torque converter nuts.
Fig 59: Locating Torque Converter Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
65. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler tube bracket from the transaxle.
Fig 60: Locating Transmission Fluid Cooler Tube Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
66. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler tubes from the transaxle.
Fig 61: Locating Transmission Fluid Cooler Tubes At Transaxle
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: Make sure that the transmission is securely fastened to the transmission jack.
67. Position a suitable high-lift transmission jack under the transmission.
68. Remove the 3 transaxle-to-engine bolts.
Fig 62: Locating Transaxle-To-Engine Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
69. Remove the transaxle from under the vehicle.
70. If installing a new transaxle, the fluid cooler tubes will need to be backflushed and cleaned. Carry out transmission fluid cooler tube backflushing and cleaning. For additional information, refer to Transmission Fluid Cooler Tubes - Backflushing and Cleaning .
71. If the transaxle is to be overhauled or if installing a new transaxle, a new transmission fluid cooler will need to be installed. For additional information, refer to TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION COOLING article.
72. If installing a new transaxle, remove the rear transaxle mount.
Fig 63: Identifying Upper Transaxle Mount Retaining Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.