Transmission Vacuum Modulator: R/R Advice

[ricco750]

I'm going to replace my vacmod this weekend as a matter of preventive maintenance. The Haynes manual says jack the truck up and get at it from underneath. However, I've seen posts that recommend going in from the top, removing the seats and center console. Any experienced advice appreciated.

 

[DeRocha]

Which ever way you go you should try and power wash the area to get rid of as much crud as possible prier to starting the job.. I went through the transmission access panel to change out my vacuum modulator. (mainly because I didn't want to take apart the exhaust system to access the modulato). It only takes 10-20 minutes max to remove the front seats and center console. From there you just remove a few screws for the access cover and the transmission and modulator are easily accessible.. Even though I power washed the area I still need to spray some brake cleaner over the area to clean it thoroughly.

 

[Hande]

I'd definitely go at it from underneath - maybe mainly 'cause I have a grease-pit. Taking off the portion of the exhaust in the way isn't much of a job: three 14 mm nuts at the front, two bolts at the other end. You'll be needing a rachet handle and a long extension
bar to get conveniently at the front nuts. The heat shield over the vacmod is held in place with the same 6 mm stud that holds the vacmod. You'll need a 10 mm wrench to undo the nut holding the shield. Getting at the that nut is a bit tricky but just bend the shield up to get some room. The vacmod is then held with another nut on the same stud. Watch out for the pin when removing the vacmod. First time I removed mine, I dropped the pin and searched a long time for a shiny pin on the grease pit floor. Alas, the pin is black!

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could use vaseline to hold the pin in place while you reinstall the new modulator. Check # 79 in my list of useful threads for more information: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1927952&postcount=6