Transaxle - 3.0L

Illustration	Tool Name	Tool Number
	Adapter for 303-290-A (Support Leg)	303-290A-03A
	Support Bar, Engine	303-290A
	Adapters for 303-290	303-290A-01
	Engine Lifting Chains (Part of Spreader Bar)	303-D089 (D93P-6001-A3) or equivalent
	Retainer, Torque Converter	307-346 (T97T-7902-A)
	Slide Hammer	100-001 (T50T-100-A)
	Remover, Halfshaft	205-241 (T86P-3541-A)
	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.
   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 EVAP and power transfer unit (PTU) vent hoses from the transmission filler tube.
Fig 5: Locating EVAP & Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Vent Hoses
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: Locating Shift Cable & Manual Lever
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
10. Remove the 2 retaining bolts from the shift cable bracket, and position the cable and bracket aside.
Fig 8: Locating Shift Cable Bracket & Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
11. Disconnect the starter motor harness connector.
Fig 9: Locating Starter Motor Harness Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
12. Disconnect the ground wire.
Fig 10: Locating Ground Cable
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
13. Remove the 2 starter bolts and remove the starter motor.
Fig 11: Locating Starter Bolts & Starter Motor
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
14. Install the special tools.
Fig 12: Drivetrain Support Tool
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 tools.
Fig 14: Identifying Special Tools
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
17. Install the special tools.
Fig 15: Identifying Special Tools
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
18. Remove the upper transaxle retaining bolts.
Fig 16: Locating Upper Transaxle Retaining Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
19. Loosen, but do not remove, the 4 retaining nuts holding the bracket to the transaxle case. Remove the LH upper transaxle mount bolt.
Fig 17: Locating LH Upper Transaxle Mount Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
20. Remove the RH upper engine mount bolt.
Fig 18: Locating RH Upper Transaxle Mount Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
21. Remove the 7 retainers and the LH splash shield.
Fig 19: View Of LH Splash Shield & Retainers
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
22. Remove the 7 retainers and the RH splash shield.
Fig 20: Locating RH Splash Shield & Retainers
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
23. If transaxle disassembly is necessary, remove the drain plug and drain the transmission fluid. After the fluid has drained, install the drain plug.
Fig 21: Locating Drain Plug
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
24. Disconnect the LH suspension.
    1. Disconnect the sway bar link.
    2. Remove the tie rod end nut cotter pin.
    3. Remove the tie rod end retaining nut.
    4. Remove the lower knuckle bolt.
Fig 22: Identifying LH Suspension
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
25. Disconnect the RH suspension.
    1. Disconnect the sway bar link.
    2. Remove the tie rod end nut cotter pin.
    3. Remove the tie rod end retaining nut.
    4. Remove the lower control arm knuckle bolt.
Fig 23: Identifying RH Suspension
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
26. Using the special tool, disconnect the LH and RH tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
Fig 24: Disconnecting LH And RH Tie Rod End From Steering Knuckle
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
27. 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.
28. Using the special tool, remove the RH outer halfshaft.
Fig 25: Removing RH Outer Halfshaft Using Special Tools
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
29. Using a pry bar between the transaxle case and the LH axle shaft, carefully disconnect the halfshaft from the transaxle case.
30. Remove the retaining screw for the generator shield.
Fig 26: Locating Retaining Screw For Generator Shield
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
31. Remove the retaining bolt for the generator shield and remove the shield.
Fig 27: Locating Generator Shield & Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
32. Disconnect the HO2S sensor connector and remove the 2 clips from the oil pan bolt studs.
Fig 28: Locating HO2S Sensor Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
33. Remove the 2 intermediate shaft retaining nuts.
Fig 29: Locating Intermediate Shaft Retaining Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
34. Remove the intermediate shaft.
Fig 30: Locating Intermediate Shaft
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
35. Remove the cross brace.
Fig 31: Locating Cross Brace & Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
36. Disconnect the exhaust pipe.
    1. Remove the rubber hanger.
    2. Remove the nuts and disconnect the pipe.
Fig 32: Exhaust Hanger & Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
37. Disconnect the front exhaust pipe flange.
Fig 33: Front Exhaust Pipe Flange Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
38. Disconnect the rear exhaust pipe flange and remove the exhaust pipe.
Fig 34: Rear Exhaust Pipe Flange & Nuts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

AWD vehicles 

39. For vehicles equipped with a PTU, remove the rear driveshaft bolts and separate the driveshaft from the PTU.
Fig 35: Front Driveshaft-To-Transfer Case Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
40. Position the driveshaft aside.
Fig 36: Positioning Driveshaft Aside
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
41. Vehicles equipped with a PTU, remove the RH catalytic converter to gain access to the PTU bracket. For additional information, refer to EXHAUST SYSTEM article.
42. Remove the bolts and the bracket.
Fig 37: Locating Bolts & Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All vehicles 

43. Remove the bolt for the mount and the 2 bolts for the cross brace.
Fig 38: Identifying Front Roll Restrictor Bolt & Bolts For Engine Support Crossmember
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
44. Remove and discard the nut and remove the cross brace.
Fig 39: Identifying Cross Brace And Rear Nut
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
45. Remove the electrical connectors from the lower mount bracket.
Fig 40: Locating Electrical Connectors At Lower Mount Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
46. Remove the bolts from the transfer case unit.
Fig 41: Locating PTU Bolts
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
47. Remove the transfer case bolt and remove the transfer case unit.
Fig 42: Locating Transfer Case Bolt & Transfer Case Unit
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
48. Remove the center bolt from the rear transaxle mount.
Fig 43: Locating Rear Transaxle Mount Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.