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Transmission Range Sensor

WARNING: Secure the transmission to the transmission jack with a safety chain. Failure to follow these instructions can result in personal injury.
CAUTION: Index-mark (color paint) the bolts, washers, nuts, and the flex coupling to the transmission flange and the pinion flange to assure assembly in the exact location from which they were removed. Components not assembled in their original locations can cause driveshaft imbalance.
NOTE: Do not remove the bolts retaining the flex coupling to the drive shaft.
  1. Position the vehicle on a hoist. Place gearshift lever in Neutral position. Loosen the four converter-to-manifold nuts. Remove the exhaust heat shield. Index-mark the front drive shaft pinion flange. Remove the 3 nuts, washers and bolts. See Fig 1 .
  2. Slide the front shaft assembly rearward and support. See Fig 2 . Support the transmission with a transmission jack. Remove the transmission mount and lower the transmission enough to gain access to the Transmission Range (TR) sensor. See Fig 3 .
  3. CAUTION: Tightening one screw before tightening the other can cause the TR sensor to bind or become damaged.
  4. Disconnect the shift cable. Loosen the TR sensor screws. See Fig 4 . The manual lever must be in the Neutral position. Using the TR sensor alignment gauge, align the TR sensor. See Fig 5 . Tighten the screws in an alternating sequence to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS  .
  5. Connect the shift cable. Install the rear transmission support and remove the transmission jack. See Fig 3 . Align the index marks made during removal and position the drive shaft on the transmission flange. See Fig 1 .
  6. Install the drive shaft flex coupling bolts with the head of the bolt seated against the flange, and the nuts seated against the flex coupling. Install the bolts, washers and nuts. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS  . Coat the nut and bolt threads with threadlock sealer. Install the exhaust heat shield. Lower the vehicle.
Fig 1: Identifying Front Drive Shaft Bolts
G00117588Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Fig 2: Positioning Of Front Drive Shaft
G00117589Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Fig 3: Identifying Transmission Crossmember Bolts
G00117590Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Fig 4: Removing/Installing Transmission Range Sensor
G00117591Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Fig 5: Adjusting Transmission Range Sensor
G00031940Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.