Replacing the transmission pan gasket on the 2003 Ford Escape requires draining all transmission fluid from the transmission pan and removing the transmission pan from the vehicle. Changing the pan gasket can be done from underneath the vehicle, and the only special tool required will be a small torque wrench.
Instructions
- 1
Set the parking brake. Lift the front of the vehicle into the air with the floor jack. Place the jack stands under the two front frame rails of the vehicle. Lower the floor jack until the vehicle rests securely on the jack stands. Remove the jack from under the vehicle.
2Put on the safety glasses and place the drain pan under the transmission pan. Loosen each transmission pan bolt by one-half turn with the 10 mm socket and ratchet. Gently pry down on the rear of the pan, by hand; be careful not to bend or distort the pan. Allow the fluid to drain into the drain pan.
3Push up lightly on the center of the transmission pan, by hand, and remove all of the 10 mm pan bolts. Lower the the transmission pan and pour any remaining transmission fluid into the drain pan. Remove the old transmission pan gasket from the transmission pan.
4Spray the transmission pan with brake cleaner and ensure that the mating surface around the pan is clean of any transmission fluid. Wipe down the mating surface on the bottom of the transmission with a rag.
5Place the new transmission pan gasket onto the transmission pan, ensuring that all holes in the gasket line up with the mounting holes in the transmission pan. Hold the transmission pan against the mating surface on the bottom of the transmission and hand-thread all mounting bolts into the transmission. Torque each transmission bolt to exactly 18 foot-pounds of torque with the 10 mm socket and the small torque wrench.
6Lift the Ford Escape off of the jack stands with the floor jack. Remove the jack stands from underneath the frame rails and lower the Escape to the ground. Pop the vehicle hood and support it with the hood prop rod.
7Remove the transmission dipstick and set the funnel into the dipstick tube. Add 3 quarts of Mercon V transmission fluid. Start the vehicle and slowly cycle through each gear. Leave the gear selector in neutral and check the transmission fluid. Add fluid in half-quart increments until the dipstick shows the fluid level at the "Full" mark. Place the vehicle into "Park" and shut off the engine.
