Servicing - A/t: Other Ford Thunderbird X

TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE

1. Raise and support vehicle. Place drain pan under transmission. Loosen oil pan retaining bolts. Drain fluid from transmission. Remove oil pan bolts individually. This allows remaining fluid to drain slowly to prevent spillage. Remove oil pan.
2. Discard pan gasket. On AOD, remove and discard filter and filter gasket. On all other models, remove and clean filter screen. On all models, reinstall or replace filter screen; use new "O" rings.
3. Clean oil pan, and install pan using new pan gasket. Pour 3 qts. (2.8L) of fluid through filler tube. Start engine, and engage all gears. Check fluid level, adding required amount.

Note. Transmission oil cooler and lines should be thoroughly flushed if transmission is removed for any reason. Use Cooler Line Disconnector (T82L-9500-AH) when disconnecting cooler lines.

4EAT

1. Remove lower transaxle oil pan. See «DRAINING & REFILLING»(ref-58047-S06751406342001100200000) . Loosen the locknut and tighten the piston stem to 78-95 in. lbs. (9-11 N.m.). Loosen piston stem 2 turns.
2. Hold the piston stem and tighten the locknut to 18-29 ft. lbs. (25-39 N.m).
3. Install the oil pan. See «DRAINING & REFILLING»(ref-58047-S06751406342001100200000) and CHECKING FLUID LEVEL.

A4LD

Remove and discard lock nut(s). Install new lock nut. Tighten adjusting screw to 10 ft. lbs (13.5 N.m) and then back off 2 turns. Tighten lock nut to 35-45 ft. lbs. (47-61 N.m).

CABLE LENGTH METHOD

1. Set parking brake, and place shift selector in NEUTRAL position. DO NOT check or set Throttle Valve (T.V.) pressure with gear in Park. Remove air cleaner cover and inlet tube from throttle body. Use a wide-blade screwdriver to pry grooved pin on cable out of grommet on throttle body lever. (Scheme 54)
2. Use a small screwdriver to push out white locking tab. (Scheme 54) Ensure plastic block with pin and tab slides freely on notched rod. If it does not slide freely, white locking tab may not have been pushed out enough. Repeat procedure until tab slides freely.
3. While holding throttle lever firmly against its idle stop, push grooved pin back into grommet on throttle lever as far as possible. Ensure throttle lever does not move away from idle stop when installing grooved pin. Install air cleaner cover and air inlet tube.

Scheme 54

Scheme 55

Scheme 56

1. Using T.V. Pressure Gauge Set (T86L-70002-A), attach pressure gauge to T.V. pressure tap port on transmission. (Scheme 55) Pressure gauge hose should be about 8 feet long to make gauge accessible while operating engine. Results of adjustment procedure depend on accuracy of pressure gauge.
2. Remove air cleaner cover and inlet tube from throttle body. Insert tapered end of T.V. Cable Gauge Block (T86L-70332-A) between crimped slug on end of T.V. cable and plastic notched rod. (Scheme 56) Push T.V. cable gauge block onto notched rod. This will force crimped slug away from plastic rod.
3. Ensure T.V. cable gauge block is pushed in as far as possible. Bring engine up to normal operating temperature. Transmission fluid temperature should be about 100-150°F (38-72°C). DO NOT make pressure check if transmission fluid is cold or too hot to touch. NOTE: DO NOT check or set T.V. pressure with gear in Park.
4. Set parking brake, and put shift lever in NEUTRAL position. With T.V. cable gauge block in place and engine idling in Neutral, T.V. pressure should be 30-40 psi. (207-276 kPa). If T.V. pressure is as specified, remove T.V. cable gauge block. T.V. cable should return to idle position.
5. With engine still idling in Neutral, T.V. pressure must be less than 5 psi (34 kPa). If T.V. pressure is not as specified with or without T.V. cable gauge block installed, check for damaged parts, and replace as necessary. Readjust T.V. cable.
6. Check T.V. pressure again. If T.V. pressure still does not meet specification, modify adjustment. Pry grooved pin out of grommet on throttle lever. (Scheme 54) Mark or measure location of plastic block on notched rod. (Scheme 57)
7. Push out locking tab completely. (Scheme 54) Using mark or measurement on plastic block as reference, move plastic block toward throttle body mount bracket to raise T.V. pressure and away from bracket to lower T.V. pressure. Each millimeter of movement increases or decreases pressure by 2.5 psi (17 kPa). NOTE: For best transmission operation, T.V. pressure should be set as close to 33 psi (227 kPa) as possible.
8. Each notch of movement equals 2 psi (14 kPa). Push in white locking tab to lock block in position. Insert grooved pin into grommet. Recheck T.V. pressure. Repeat modification procedure until T.V. pressure is correct.

Scheme 57

3.0L

Remove throttle body linkage snow shield. Disengage throttle valve adjustment tab. Rotate throttle cam pulley 2-3 times to remove previous setting. Hold transaxle throttle valve lever fully toward dash panel using a long screwdriver, and secure adjustment tab.

AOD, AOD-E, AXOD-E & A4LD

1. Position transmission shift lever in overdrive position. Hold shift lever against rear overdrive stop with a constant force of about 3 lbs. Loosen shift control cable retaining nut at transmission. Ensure transmission/transaxle manual lever is in overdrive position.
2. On AOD and A4LD, overdrive is third detent from full counterclockwise position. On AOD-E and AXOD-E, overdrive is second detent from rearmost position. Tighten retaining nut to 10-18 ft. lbs. (13-25 N.m). Check transmission operation in each position. Ensure neutral start switch and back-up lights operate properly.

FLC

Position shift level in drive position. Loosen shift control cable retaining nut at transaxle. Ensure transaxle manual lever is in drive position (second detent from rearmost position). Tighten retaining nut to 10-19 ft. lbs. (14-27 N.m). Check transaxle operation in all positions. Ensure neutral start switch and back-up lights operate.

1. Disconnect negative battery cable to deactivate shift-lock system. Put shift lever in PARK position. Remove 2 shift lever knob-to-shift lever screws. Remove knob. Remove shift selector trim piece. Remove 4 position indicator mount screws.
2. Disconnect wiring connectors as needed. Remove position indicator. Loosen shift cable lock nuts "A" and "B". (Scheme 58) Loosen trunnion bolt. Turn transaxle manual lever clockwise to put transaxle in Park.
3. Tighten cable lock nut "A" by hand until it contacts spring and spacer, and then tighten an additional 1/2 turn. Tighten trunnion bolt to 67-96 INCH lbs. (8-11 N.m). Tighten cable lock nut "B" to 67-96 INCH lbs. (8-11 N.m). To install components, reverse removal procedure.

Scheme 58

1. Remove splash shield near left front tire. Remove square head plug from pressure port marked "L", and attach transmission oil pressure gauge to pressure port. (Scheme 59)
2. Turn kickdown cable lock nuts to farthest point away from throttle cam (loosen cable completely). (Scheme 59) Start engine, and warm it to operating temperature. Engine should idle between 700-800 RPM with transmission in Park.
3. With engine at idle, turn lock nuts toward throttle cam until line pressure exceeds 63-66 psi (435-455 kPa). Turn lock nuts away from throttle cam until line pressure stabilizes at specified pressure. See 4EAT LINE PRESSURE SPECIFICATIONS table. Tighten lock nuts, and turn engine off.
4. Remove oil pressure gauge. Install square head plug, and tighten to 43-87 INCH lbs. (5-10 N.m). Road test vehicle.

4EAT LINE PRESSURE SPECIFICATIONS

Scheme 59

AOD, AOD-E & A4LD

Adjustment is not necessary.

AXOD-E

1. Remove steering column tilt-release lever by removing retainer screw. Remove ignition lock cylinder. See STEERING COLUMN SWITCHES article in SAFETY EQUIPMENT. Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds. Put shift lever in overdrive position.
2. Shift lever should be located firmly in overdrive position. Adjust shift select switch with adjustment wheel on shift select cable. When adjusted properly, PRNDL indicator should completely cover overdrive letter. Calibration dots should not show red.
3. Cycle shift lever through all positions, and ensure PRNDL indicator completely covers proper letter or number in each position. Install upper and lower shrouds. Install ignition lock cylinder and tilt release.

FLC & 4EAT

1. Put shift selector lever in NEUTRAL position. Loosen both mount bolts. Remove alignment hole screw. On 4EAT, insert a .079" (2.0 mm) pin in alignment hole. On FLC, insert a .089" (2.26 mm) pin in alignment hole.
2. On all models, move neutral safety switch until pin lines up in alignment hole. Tighten switch mount bolts. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-58047-S10186841382001100200000) table. Remove pin, and install alignment hole screw.