The DOHC engine is a four-cylinder engine with twin overhead camshafts used in many models of the Mercury Sable and its sister, the Ford Taurus, including 1998 models. These cars have a "subframe" that is separate from the main frame; it supports the engine and is bolted to the main frame. Lowering the subframe is necessary for many repairs, including work on the vehicle's clutch. Getting to the subframe is the hardest part of this task; there are many steps to take before you can safely unbolt and lower it.
Instructions
- 1
Park your car on a flat surface and chock the rear tires, then disconnect your battery cables and remove the battery and tray. Then remove the air cleaner assembly.
2Disconnect both the transaxle harness and the transmission range sensor connectors.
3Remove the shift retaining clip and nut, and disconnect the shift cable from its bracket.
4Disconnect the transaxle cooler lines and all five transaxle-to-engine bolts.
5Jack up the car carefully.
6Loosen the transaxle oil pan bolts, and drain and save the fluid.
7Remove both front tires and assemblies, as well as both half-shafts.
8Disconnect all four heated oxygen sensor cables, then unbolt the converter Y-pipe assembly and pull it out of the car.
9Disconnect both starter motor connectors and remove the starter motor.
10Tie up the rack-and-pinion assembly with wire, then remove the two rack-and-pinion retaining nuts from the subframe.
11Remove the two lower retaining nuts connecting the control arm to the ball joints, then separate the lower control arms from the ball joints and steering knuckle. Remove the retaining nuts from the engine support mounts at the subframe.
12Remove the link retaining nuts from both ends of the sway bar and pull the retaining links away from the sway bar.
13Remove the engine and transaxle support bolts from the subframe.
14Support the subframe with a transmission jack and subframe adapter, and remove the four bolts connecting the subframe to the body.
15Lower the subframe slowly and remove from the vehicle.
