The transmission on a Ford Ranger pickup is mounted behind the engine, between the frame rails on the underside of the vehicle. All automotive transmissions will wear out over time, but there are certain factors that can cause your transmission to wear prematurely. Heavy payloads and towing can place a great deal of stress on your transmission. In addition, heat can wear on the transmission's internals and cause the transmission to slip. Low transmission fluid levels can burn up a transmission up quickly.
Disconnect the ground cable from the negative battery terminal. Loosen the retaining bolt using a wrench. Pull the clamp off the terminal.
Raise the vehicle using an automotive jack and support with jack stands placed underneath the frame.
Slide a waste oil collection pan directly underneath the transmission.
Loosen the transmission oil pan bolts, beginning at the rear of the transmission, using a socket.
Unscrew the transmission oil pan bolts from the transmission using a wrench. Wait until all the fluid has drained from the pan, then remove the pan from the transmission.
Unscrew the two bolts that secure the torque converter access cover to the converter housing using a socket. The cover will be located between the engine and transmission.
Unscrew the four torque converter to flexplate nuts, using a socket.
Slide the drain pan underneath the torque converter.
Unscrew the torque converter plug from the converter using a socket. Allow the fluid to drain completely.
Unscrew the bolts and nuts that connect the driveshaft to the rear axle yoke, using a socket.
Lower the driveshaft underneath the rear axle and slide it rearward until it disengages from the transmission tailhousing.
Unscrew the speedometer cable. Using pliers, unscrew the retaining nut that secures the cable to the transmission tailhousing.
Pull the retaining pin that secures the shift rod to the driver's side of the transmission, using needle nose pliers. Slide the shift rod away from the transmission.
Pull the retaining pin that secures the downshift rod to the driver's side of the transmission, using needle nose pliers. Slide the shift rod away from the transmission.
Unscrew the bolts that secure the starter motor to the engine block, using a socket. Tie the starter motor to the vehicle’s frame using a plastic wire tie, so that the motor does not hang from the wiring harness.
Unscrew the transmission cooler lines from the passenger side of the transmission, using a line wrench.
Label the neutral safety switch wires on the transmission tailhousing, using a marker and masking tape. Pull the wires off the switch.
Label the vacuum line attached to the modulator on the driver’s side of the transmission, using a marker and masking tape. Pull the line off the modulator.
Slide a transmission jack underneath the transmission and secure the transmission to the jack using a safety chain.
Raise the jack slightly; do not lift the vehicle off the jack stands.
Unscrew the bolts that connect the transmission tailhousing to the transmission crossmember, using a socket.
Unscrew the bolts that secure the transmission crossmember to the vehicle’s frame, using a socket. Pull the crossmember from the vehicle.
Unscrew the bolts that secure the transmission to the engine block, using a socket.
Slide the transmission backward, away from the engine.
Lower the transmission jack and slide it out from underneath the vehicle.
