What is the easiest way to remove the top transmission bolts on my 2001 expedition

borrow a puller and a impact driver and a compressor and some impact tools and sockets and replace the seal while yur down there eating road grime! Arrr!

Use and extension and socket,breaking will make it worse.

The clutch come out with the engine since it is bolted to the fly wheel. If you had an automatic transmission then you would need to remove the torque converter bolts from the flywheel so that the torque converter would stay in the transmission. If you pulled the manual transmission the clutch would stay attached to the flywheel. It's the same when pulling the engine.

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The starter is going bad, replace this ASAP as it may ruin the teeth on the flywheel which would be costly = the transmission has to be removed to replace.

You will need to remove the transmission and (transfer case )if equipped to gain access to the flywheel. Once the tranny is out of the way you will be looking at the flywheel. If it is an automatic you will need to remove the torque converter bolts from the flywheel before tranny removal. Also if it is an automatic be sure to get the torque converter to engage the front pump in the tranny when you reinstall.

Did you remove the torque converter bolt's from the fly wheel, should be 4. You will have to turn the motor by hand to remove all the bolt's.

• The manual transmission in your Hyundai Elantra uses a clutch to engage and disengage the power from the engine to the transmission.
• The clutch disc is sandwiched between the engine flywheel and the transmission pressure plate.
• When you switch gears and let off the clutch pedal, there is a short period during which the clutch is slipping to transmit the power in a controlled way. This causes wear on the clutch; over time it will require replacement.

The procedure to replace the clutch is as follows:--- 1) Jack up the Hyundai Elantra and place on jack stands. 2)Drain the transmission gear oil into a catch pan. To drain the gear oil, loosen the drain bolt with a ratchet. 3)Disconnect both drive axles (half shafts) from the transmission. Use a ratchet to remove the two bolts that hold the steering knuckle to the strut. Once those are out, you can easily pull the axles out of the transmission. The steering knuckle is the component that the wheel and strut attach to. 4)You can locate the two bolts to remove by following the strut down from where it's bolted into the engine bay Removing these two bolts allows you to pull the steering knuckle outward so you can pull the drive axle out of the transmission. 5)Remove the exhaust downpipe from the rest of the exhaust. It will be held on with two bolts at both ends and can be removed with a ratchet. Removing this piece is necessary to gain access to the transmission. 6)Disconnect the shifter cables connected to the transmission. Use a ratchet to remove each shifter cable and its housing.Remove the bolts holding the transmission to the engine block (there will be about seven or eight bolts). Place a transmission lift underneath the transmission to hold it and lower it down. If you don't have a transmission lift, you can use a transmission attachment for your jack.Shift the transmission back and forth until it drops onto the jack. Pull the transmission straight back, ensuring that no pressure is put on the input shaft, then lower the transmission to the ground. 7)Remove the pressure plate and clutch disc from the flywheel with a ratchet tool. Then remove the flywheel with a ratchet tool and replace it with a new flywheel. Alternatively, have your flywheel professionally machined at a machine shop then replace it in your car. Torque the flywheel down to the manufacturer's specifications. 8)Place the clutch disc on the clutch disc alignment tool and insert the tool into the flywheel input shaft hole. Connect the new pressure plate to the flywheel and torque the bolts. Once the pressure plate is torqued down, remove the clutch alignment tool. 9)Grease the new throw-out bearing and place it on the input shaft of the transmission. Once the transmission is installed, it will push against the pressure plate. 10) Reconnect all the parts which you removed while replacing the clutch. Thanks. you can rate this solution and show your appreciation.

You will take old parts in so no need to know ahead of time what size.
Basically clutch sandwiched between engine and transmission.
Transmission usually easiest to remove.
Drive shaft first.
If starter on tranny, then remove batter cable.
Sometimes ground strap.
Speedo cable, backup lights cable, etc.
Small bolts on bottom plate.
Support transmission and engine separately.
Some trucks have removable tunnel cover, which makes it much easier.
6 large bolts between engine and bellhouseing.
Lower transmission and back of engine only enough so you can slde transmission back.
Then slide it back out of engine and clutch.
Usually about 6 inches or less.
Then get it out of the way.
About 10 bolts on pressure plate.
Do diagonally and in steps.
Friction disk sandwiched between pressure plate and flywheel, will just fall out.
Throw out bearing is on fork back in bellhousing of tranny.

Check pilot busing in center of flywheel.
Supports tranny shaft, so must be good, well greased, no rust, no binding.

Install is reverse of procedure, except you need to hold the friction disk in center, while tightening pressure plate. They sell a cheap plastice stub shaft substitute that you can buy or improvise. But important, because you will be trying to get that heavy transmission with long imput shaft back through the fiction disk hub and into pilot busing. Alignment is critical. Sometimes turing engine helps.
Extra long bolts temporarity, also helps. A little rocking and shoving. Constantly compare gap on bottom and top of bellhousing to engine.
When it slides in, youwll know, and an bolt it back up. But don't try to just force it.
Also don't over tighern pressure plate bolts, because they are small. Use torque wrench.

REMOVAL:

1. Lift clutch pedal to uppermost position to disengage clutch and brake pedal pivot shaft.
2. Push clutch and brake pedal pivot shaft forward and unhook clutch release lever cable from clutch and brake pedal pivot shaft and allow it to slowly swing rearward.
3. Raise and support vehicle.
4. Remove clutch release lever dust shield.
5. Disconnect clutch release lever cable from clutch release shaft.
6. Remove retaining clip, then clutch release lever cable from flywheel housing.
7. Remove starter motor from flywheel housing, then engine rear plate to front lower flywheel housing bolts.
8. Remove transmission.
9. Remove flywheel housing back just far enough to clear clutch pressure plate, then remove housing.
10. Remove clutch release shaft from flywheel housing by pulling it through window in flywheel housing until retainer spring disengages from pivot.
11. Remove clutch release hub and bearing from clutch release shaft.
12. Loosen six clutch pressure plate bolts evenly to release spring tension gradually and avoid distorting clutch pressure plate. If same clutch pressure plate is to be installed, mark plate and flywheel so pressure plate can be installed in its original position.
13. Remove clutch pressure plate and clutch disc from flywheel.

INSTALLATION:

1. Position clutch disc and pressure plate assembly on flywheel, noting following:
   1. Three flywheel housing to block dowels on flywheel must be properly aligned with clutch pressure plate.
   2. Bent, damaged or missing flywheel housing to block dowels must be replaced.
   3. tart clutch pressure plate bolts but do not tighten.
   4. Avoid touching clutch disc face, dropping parts or contaminating parts with oil or grease.
   5. Align clutch disc using suitable alignment tool inserted in pilot bearing.
   6. To avoid clutch pressure plate distortion, alternately tighten bolts a few turns at a time, until they are all tight, then tighten to specifications.
   
   
2. Install transmission to flywheel housing.
3. Install engine rear plate to flywheel front lower housing bolts, then connect clutch release cable to flywheel housing and connect retaining clip.
4. Connect clutch release lever cable to clutch release shaft, then install clutch release lever dust shield.
5. Install starter motor.
6. Lower vehicle, then install clutch release lever cable as follows:
   1. Lift clutch pedal to disengage clutch and brake pedal pivot shaft.
   2. Push clutch and brake pedal pivot shaft forward and hook end of clutch release lever cable over rear of clutch and brake pedal pivot shaft.
   
   
7. Cycle clutch pedal several times to adjust clutch release lever cable

did you remove drive shaft is it 4wd ? remove flywheel bolts.