Removal (Contour, Cougar & Mystique)

Place gearshift lever in "D" position. Disconnect battery cables, and remove battery. Secure radiator and fan assembly to upper radiator support with safety wire. Remove air cleaner assembly and mounting bracket. Using Allen wrench, prevent strut piston rod from turning and loosen front strut upper nuts 5 turns.
Disconnect shift control cable and bracket. Disconnect electrical harness connectors from sensors. Disconnect ground strap. On 2.5L models, disconnect coolant hose and remove water pump pulley cover. On all models, disconnect starter and remove starter brackets, leaving starter in position at this time. Install appropriate upper engine support bar assembly. Remove rear transaxle support bracket.
Remove upper transaxle bellhousing bolts. Disconnect selector cable from transaxle. Raise vehicle on hoist, and remove front wheels. Drain transaxle fluid. Remove air deflector below radiator and inner splash shields. Rotate bumper cover braces forward, if necessary. Remove A/C accumulator bracket bolts. Disconnect oxygen sensor and remove exhaust components as necessary for transaxle removal.

CAUTION: Do not damage axle boots or ABS sensor rings when disconnecting front suspension.

Remove lower control arm nuts from steering spindle. Remove tie rod ends from steering knuckles on both sides. Remove ball joint pinch bolts, and separate both lower control arms from steering knuckles. Remove front sway bar stabilizer links.
Remove left and right motor mount through-bolts. Remove transaxle cooler line brackets from subframe. Remove steering gear heat shield. Disconnect power steering hoses from subframe. Remove 2 steering gear bolts from subframe (tie steering gear aside). Place appropriate jack under subframe and remove subframe-to-body bolts. Remove rear transaxle stabilizer (roll restrictor) bolt. Lower front of subframe enough to remove power steering hoses from steering gear. Remove subframe.
Disconnect Turbine Shaft Speed (TSS) sensor connector, if not previously disconnected. Remove transaxle cooler lines from transaxle and radiator, and remove from vehicle. Remove axle shafts. See appropriate FWD AXLE SHAFTS article in DRIVE AXLES. Install 2 Transaxle Plugs (T88C-7025-AH) into differential side gears.
Remove inspection cover at transaxle-to-engine spacer plate. Place reference marks on torque converter and drive plate. Remove torque converter-to-drive plate nuts. Position transmission jack under transaxle. Remove starter and lower bellhousing bolts. On 2.0L models, disconnect main control cover vent tube. On all models, remove front bellhousing bolts. Install torque converter retaining strap to bellhousing. Separate transaxle from engine and lower transaxle from vehicle.