AX4N AXOD-E AX4S Transmission Filter & Pan Gasket Kit

On the Ford AX4N, AXOD-E and AX4S front-wheel-drive transaxles the filter sits down in the pan and pulls fluid up to the pump. When it loads up with clutch material and casting debris the pump goes hungry, and on these units that shows up as a delayed or slipping engagement, a shudder on the 1-2, or a whine when the fluid is hot. Any time you drop the pan on one of these, the filter and pan gasket should go back new, not reused.

This kit is the pickup filter plus the oil pan gasket, and it replaces Ford part numbers F6DZ-7A098-A and F6DZ-YA098-AA. Fitment covers the Taurus V6 3.0L from 1996 to 2007 and the V8 3.4L SHO from 1996 to 1999, the Windstar V6 3.0L and 3.8L from 1996 to 2000, the Freestar V6 3.9L and 4.2L for 2006 and 2007, the Mercury Sable V6 3.0L from 1995 to 2005, and the Mercury Monterey V6 4.2L for 2006 and 2007. These vans and sedans ran either the AXOD-E or the later AX4N and AX4S, so confirm your transmission code before you order.

On the bench it is a straightforward service: drop the pan, pull the old filter straight down off the pump pickup, seat the new filter until the neck O-ring is home, clean the pan rail, lay the new gasket dry, and torque the pan bolts evenly. Refill with Mercon V, run it through the gears warm, and recheck the level. Do this every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, or any time you are chasing a slip or a leak, and you keep a transmission that is expensive to rebuild from eating itself on a dirty filter.