Tranny pump gasket replacement, help please.

I have a 95 escort 1.9 automatic with a F4EAT Transmission and the pump cover gasket is leaking. Has anybody changed this? Can it be done without pulling the tranny?

All the bolts to the pump cover are easily accessible once I remove the air filter box and battery tray. I have removed them and pulled the cover out a few inches but there's a shaft attached to it and it only comes out so far then it hits the body.

I can disconnet the tranny mount and lower it a bit so it may clear, but if I pull that shaft out completely will something inside the tranny shift or drop out of position and screw everything up? . Any help on this is appreciated.

Its straightforward. nothing will drop out or come unglued. There is a 'nose' on the pump that has 3 sets of seals. This mates into the rest of the tranny, but it will just slide back in. Also there is a small central rod that extends the width of the transmission. One end fits into splines in the pump rotor, the other end fits into splines in the torque converter. This is what turns the oil pump. It will just slide out of the pump. Putting it back in may require some wiggling; to get the splines to line up in that pump rotor.
To get that end of the tranny to drop down, undoing the motor mount that is below the battery tray may not be enough. To drop it further, put a jack under the middle of the crossmember that supports the other two tranny mounts. There will be a pair of nuts to undo at the back, and/or a pair of bolts at the front. (I think they take a 17mm wrench), then the tranny will drop further. Just dont drop it far enough to twist/crush any other underhood parts, or damage the radiator neck where the upper rad. hose connects.
You can probably get that pump gasket from a good auto parts place, like a Carquest or NAPA. If not, find a transmission parts outlet. There are plenty with internet sites too. i.e. www.transmissionpartsusa.com. At that site, just put in the key words F4EAT, & if you dont see what you want - call'em. Also on ebay, if you search for 'F4EAT' you will find vendors that may have the pump gasket, if you contact them and ask.
There is a spring loaded 'relief valve' on the oil pump. You will see the cap bolt for it at the bottom of the pump. There is an upgrade for this part, to improve ATF pressures at low rpm. If this has not been replaced on your transmission, you should buy one. Its simple to install. Its a longer spring and a relief plunger with a bigger hole in it. I think they cost about $20 - and are really worth it.

Wow, lots of great info. I'm hoping to get it done this week. Thanks!!

There is a spring loaded 'relief valve' on the oil pump. You will see the cap bolt for it at the bottom of the pump. There is an upgrade for this part, to improve ATF pressures at low rpm. If this has not been replaced on your transmission, you should buy one. Its simple to install. Its a longer spring and a relief plunger with a bigger hole in it. I think they cost about $20 - and are really worth it.

http://www.feoa.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=61690

If you already have it back together you wont need this tip. There is a flat bearing that goes between the oil pump casting and the 'clutch/drum assembly that is right next to it in the tranny. To hold that bearing in place, the manual says to use 'petroleum jelly'. I would use vasoline to 'glue' it in place in the depression in the end of the drum, so you can fit the pump back in place.
The only reason I didnt have to do that was because I had the tranny out on the workbench and could tip it up so the surfaces were horizontal.

If you already have it back together you wont need this tip. There is a flat bearing that goes between the oil pump casting and the 'clutch/drum assembly that is right next to it in the tranny. To hold that bearing in place, the manual says to use 'petroleum jelly'. I would use vasoline to 'glue' it in place in the depression in the end of the drum, so you can fit the pump back in place.
The only reason I didnt have to do that was because I had the tranny out on the workbench and could tip it up so the surfaces were horizontal.

Thanks, but I actually never got as far as to pull the whole pump out. The bolts for the bar supporting the tranny underneath were so rusty I was afraid of snapping them.

I was actually able to slide the gasket around and over the cover. The trick was to keep rust and dirt from sticking to the gasket after spraying copper sealant to it. I did this by wrapping the pump cover with aluminum foil so the the gasket wouldn't touch any dirty surfaces. Once the gasket was in place I removed the foil and set the pump.

It was a delicate operation but it was successful, the car shifts fine.

Thanks for all your help.