Transaxle - 3.0L

Illustration	Tool Name	Tool Number
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Adapters for 303-290	303-290A-01
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Adapter for 303-290-A (Support Leg)	303-290A-03A
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Engine Lifting Chains (Part of Spreader Bar)	303-D089 (D93P-6001-A3) or equivalent
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Lifting Bracket, Engine	303-050 (T70P-6000)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Remover, Halfshaft	205-241 (T86P-3541-A)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Retainer, Torque Converter	307-346 (T97T-7902-A)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Slide Hammer	100-001 (T50T-100-A)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Support Bar, Engine	303-290A
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.	Tie-Rod End Remover	211-105 (T85M-3395-A)

All vehicles 

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 the battery tray. For additional information, refer to BATTERY, MOUNTING AND CABLES article.
3. Remove the air cleaner as an assembly.
   1. Disconnect the breather tube.
   2. Disconnect the mass air flow (MAF) sensor electrical connector and the wiring harness fastener.
   3. Remove the air intake tube.
   4. Remove the air cleaner assembly retaining bolt.
   5. Remove the air cleaner assembly.
Fig 1: Identifying Air Cleaner Assembly
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
4. Disconnect the transmission range (TR) sensor.
Fig 2: Locating Transmission Range (TR) Sensor Electrical Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
5. Disconnect the transaxle harness connector, remove the wire harness bracket nut and position the harness bracket aside.
Fig 3: Locating Transaxle Harness Connector & Nut
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
6. Remove the main control cover vent tube.
Fig 4: Locating Main Control Cover Vent Tube
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles 

7. Disconnect the power transfer unit (PTU) vent hose from the transmission fluid filler tube.
Fig 5: Identifying PTU Vent Hose
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All vehicles 

8. Disconnect the wire harness from the battery tray hold-down bracket.
Fig 6: Locating Wire Harness Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
9. Disconnect the shift cable from the manual lever.
Fig 7: Identifying Gearshift Cable
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
10. Disconnect the wire harness retainer from the shift cable bracket, remove the 2 retaining bolts, and position the cable and bracket aside.
Fig 8: Identifying Harness Retainer And Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
11. Remove the selector lever cable retainer from the transmission fluid filler tube.
Fig 9: Identifying Selector Lever Cable Retainer
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
12. Disconnect the starter motor harness connector.
Fig 10: Locating Starter Motor Harness Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
13. Disconnect the ground wire.
Fig 11: Locating Ground Cable
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
14. Remove the 2 starter bolts and remove the starter motor.
Fig 12: Locating Starter Bolts & Starter Motor
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
15. Remove and disconnect both electrical connectors from the upper intake to gain access to the engine for installing the lifting bracket.
Fig 13: Locating Electrical Connectors
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
16. Install the special tool on the RH cylinder head.
Fig 14: Identifying Special Tool
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
17. Install the special tools.
Fig 15: Drivetrain Support Tool
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
18. Install the special tools.
Fig 16: Identifying Special Tools
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
19. Install the special tools.
Fig 17: Identifying Special Tools
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
20. Remove the 4 upper transaxle retaining bolts.
Fig 18: Identifying Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
21. Loosen, but do not remove, the 4 retaining nuts holding the bracket to the transaxle case. Remove the LH upper transaxle mount bolt.
Fig 19: Locating LH Upper Transaxle Mount Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
22. Remove the RH upper engine mount bolt.
Fig 20: Identifying Mount Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
23. Remove the front wheels and tires. For additional information, refer to WHEELS AND TIRES article.
24. Remove the 7 retainers and the LH splash shield.
Fig 21: View Of LH Splash Shield And Retainers
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
25. Remove the 6 retainers and the RH splash shield.
Fig 22: Right Splash Shield Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
26. If transaxle disassembly is necessary, remove the drain plug and drain the transmission fluid. After the fluid has drained, install the drain plug.
Fig 23: Locating Drain Plug
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
27. Disconnect the LH suspension.
    1. Disconnect the sway bar link.
    2. Remove the tie-rod end retaining nut.
    3. Remove the lower control arm knuckle bolt.
Fig 24: Identifying Sway Bar Link, Nut And Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
28. Disconnect the RH suspension.
    1. Disconnect the sway bar link.
    2. Remove the tie-rod end retaining nut.
    3. Remove the lower control arm knuckle bolt.
Fig 25: Identifying Sway Bar Link, Nut And Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
29. Using the special tool, disconnect the LH and RH tie-rod end from the steering knuckle.
Fig 26: Disconnecting LH And RH Tie Rod End From Steering Knuckle
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
30. Carefully pry down on the LH and RH lower control arms and disconnect the steering knuckle from the lower ball joint and position the steering knuckle aside.
31. Remove the brake hose retainer and the ABS sensor retaining bolt from the RH strut.
Fig 27: Identifying Retainer And Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
32. Using the special tool, remove the RH halfshaft from the intermediate shaft and secure the halfshaft aside.
Fig 28: Removing RH Outer Halfshaft Using Special Tools
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
33. Remove the brake hose retainer and the ABS sensor retaining bolt from the LH strut.
Fig 29: Identifying Retainer And Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
34. Using a pry bar between the transaxle case and the LH halfshaft, carefully disconnect the halfshaft from the transaxle case and secure the halfshaft aside.
35. Disconnect the heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) connector and remove the 2 clips from the oil pan bolt studs.
Fig 30: Locating HO2S Sensor Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
36. Remove the 2 intermediate shaft retaining nuts.
Fig 31: Locating Intermediate Shaft Retaining Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
37. Remove the intermediate shaft.
Fig 32: Locating Intermediate Shaft
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
38. Remove the cross brace.
Fig 33: Locating Cross Brace & Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
39. Disconnect the Y-pipe.
    1. Remove the rubber hanger.
    2. Remove the nuts and disconnect the pipe.
Fig 34: Exhaust Hanger & Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
40. Remove the front Y-pipe flange nuts.
Fig 35: Front Exhaust Pipe Flange Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
41. Remove the rear exhaust pipe flange nuts and remove the Y-pipe.
Fig 36: Rear Exhaust Pipe Flange & Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

AWD vehicles 

42. Index the driveshaft to the yoke and remove the 6 bolts holding the driveshaft to the PTU.
Fig 37: Locating Driveshaft & Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
43. Remove the 2 center bearing nuts and position the driveshaft aside with mechanic's wire.
Fig 38: Locating Center Bearing Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
44. Remove the RH catalytic converter to gain access to the PTU bracket. For additional information, refer to EXHAUST SYSTEM article.
45. Remove the bolts and the PTU support bracket.
Fig 39: Locating Bolts & Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All vehicles 

46. Remove the bolt for the mount and the 2 bolts for the cross brace.
Fig 40: Identifying Front Roll Restrictor Bolt & Bolts For Engine Support Crossmember
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
47. Remove and discard the nut and remove the cross brace.
Fig 41: Identifying Cross Brace And Rear Nut
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
48. Remove the electrical connectors and harness fastener from the lower mount bracket.
Fig 42: Locating Electrical Connectors At Lower Mount Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

AWD vehicles 

49. Remove the bolts from the PTU.
Fig 43: Locating PTU Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
50. Remove the bolt and remove the PTU.
Fig 44: Locating Transfer Case Bolt & Transfer Case Unit
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All vehicles 

51. Remove the through bolt from the rear transaxle mount.
Fig 45: Transaxle Rear Mount Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
52. Disconnect the electrical connector and remove the bolt and output shaft speed (OSS) sensor.
Fig 46: Identifying Connector And Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: It is necessary to raise the engine a couple of inches in order to remove the transaxle.
53. Using the special tool, raise the front of the engine.
Fig 47: Locating Lowering Engine Onto RH Engine Mount
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
NOTE: It is necessary to lower the transaxle in order to clear the subframe to remove the transaxle.
54. Lower the transaxle enough to clear the frame.
Fig 48: Identifying Special Tools
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
55. Remove the access cover.
Fig 49: Locating Access Cover
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
56. Remove and discard the 4 torque converter nuts.
Fig 50: Locating Torque Converter Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
57. Remove the fluid cooler tube.
    1. Disconnect the turbine shaft speed (TSS) sensor and the harness retainers.
    2. Remove the bolt.
    3. Remove the fluid cooler tube and position it aside.
Fig 51: Identifying Retainers, Bolt And Fluid Cooler Tube
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
58. Remove the fluid cooler tube.
Fig 52: Locating Transmission Fluid Cooler Tube
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
59. Support the transaxle with a high-lift jack.
60. Remove the bolts.
Fig 53: Locating Lower Transaxle Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
61. Remove the 2 nuts and the stud.
Fig 54: Locating Transaxle Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
62. Remove the bolt.
Fig 55: Locating Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
CAUTION: The torque converter is heavy. Install the special tool before lowering the transaxle.
63. Move the transaxle back far enough to install the special tool.
Fig 56: Identifying Special Tool
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
64. Lower the transaxle from the engine compartment.
Fig 57: Lowering Transaxle From Engine Compartment
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
65. If it is necessary to install a new transaxle, remove the 3 bolts and the mount bracket.
Fig 58: Locating Transaxle Mount Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.