Does the transmission need to be removed to replace a rear freeze plug on a 2000 ranger(v6-3.0l) & if so, what is the process to removing tranny?

probably not --- engineers are not cooperative in that manner and freeze plugs ( welsh plugs ) are in the most inconvenient positions
best advice here is if one is rusted out then the rest are close behind and if you have to pull the transmission , rather pull the engine , put it on an engine stand and do the lot as the others are in bad spots as well

their are 8 of them , 2 located on the back of engine where the tranny bolts, 2 on each side of the block below the heads, their is also 2 on each side of timing cover,

You will need to remove the transmission. Disconnect the battery. Remove the starter. You may have to remove or drop the exhaust from the exhaust manifolds to clear the tranny . Remove the front and rear drive lines. disconnect the transmission fluid lines at the transmission. Remove the lower inspection cover that will expose the torque converter and the flex plate or flywheel. Rotate the converter and remove the bolts that secure it to the flex plate. Disconnect the linkage to the transmission and the transfer case and pull it up and out of the way. Remove the rear transmission mount and bolts and crossbrace the mount is secured too. Be sure to support the the transmission before removing the transmission mount. Place a transmission jack under the transmission and secure it to the jack with a chain or nylon ratchet strap. remove the remaining bell housing bolts and pull back on the tranny gently and you will need to lower it as you roll it back to clear the input shaft. Be sure to not let the converter fall out the front as you lower the tranny. When you have it clear from the vehicle you can remove the converter. Then you can use a seal remover or a flat bladed screwdriver to pierce the edge of the seal and gently remove the old seal. Install the new seal and install in the reverse order you removed everything. You might want to drain the torque converter before you lower the tranny.(YOU WILL SEE A PLUG ON THE CONVERTER THAT YOU CAN REMOVE TO DRAIN IT) It will make it much lighter to manipulate. Also when you place the converter back onto the input shaft be sure to seat the converter. It will slide on then you must rotate the converter to to get it to line up with the front pump coupler and it will seat the rest of the way. If you do not do this you will ruin the front pump when you start the vehicle. And be sure to refill the tranny when you start it again. You will loose around 5 quarts when you drain theconverter. This is a simple process for an experienced person, but not for a beginner. If you need help ask. Don't do what you don't know how to accomplish. You have your personal safety to consider here. You will need quite a few tools also. Good luck. I hope this helps give you some type of guidance.

Hi danielh_04,
There are two different manual transmissions for that year but both processes are about the same. You need to remove the screws from the shifter boot and pull it back to gain access to the top of the transmission through the floor board. You should see a cover with bolts. Remove the bolts and pull the cover off. Then you want to carefully pull up on the shifter. The lever,shim and the bushing should come out. After you get it removed,you can cover the hole with a rag and drop the transmission. Good luck,if you need anything else,let me know,Chuck.

You are leaking at the converter seal on the pump. Many times this a result of a larger problem and as trans needs to be removed to replace it, have converter neck checked for cracks and support bushing in pump checked as well.

first you need to buy transmission fluid new filter and new gasket.you need 11.4 pints of transmision fluid.raise front of vechicle.set parking brake.block both back wheels.besure support vechicle weight with jack stands. get a drain pan.if your transmission pan dont have a drain plug.loosen rear pan bolts a few turns.remove the front and side transmission pan bolts. let fluid drain.remove tranny pan. then clean old gasket material from transmission and pan carefully.dont scratch or damage surface.clean old tranny bolts using brake cleaner or buy new tranny bolts.you have to put a tiny film of rtv silicone on tranny bolts so they wont leak.carefully remove old tranny filter and put on new filter.clean all grease grim away from tranny pan it should be **** and span because.you might need a little gasket adhesive to hold gasket in place while putting pan back on transmission.to line up bolt holes.loosely put all bolts in you have to move pan a little to get holes line up.when all is finish put tranny fluid back in.besure you put 11.4 pints back in that about 6.5 quarts. make sure tranny fluid level is right before driving vechicle.l

Wow, your just starting..the good thing its easy. remove the shaft by taking off the UJoint from the rear end. The shaft the slides out from rear of tranny. Then remove cross member for tranny. remove shifter. Remove bolts from bell housing and your good..(PS Change slave cylinder if Manual).

You can do this at home, but you will need to remove the transmission to gain access to the rear main seal. The seals in the newer engines are a one piece seal, and the only way to replace them is to remove the tranny and the flywheel or flex plate to gain access to the retaining cover to the seal. A lot of work. But, if you can do it yourself you will save yourself lots of money. Labor to perform this repair will be high as it requires more time to assemble and disassemble than to actually replace the seal itself.

you need to have vehicle running the dipstick tube is usually red pull then check level put in what you need