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2020 Explorer

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
AWD - Illuminated Powertrain Malfunction (Wrench) Indicator With DTCs
C00A6 And/Or C0631 - Built On Or Before 30-Aug-2021

23-2174
24 July 2023

This bulletin supersedes 23-2114.
Model:
Ford
2020-2021 Explorer

AWD
Built on or before 30-Aug-2021

Lincoln
2020-2021 Aviator

AWD
Built on or before 30-Aug-2021

Summary
This article supersedes TSB 23-2114 to update the Service Procedure, Part List and increase some of the labor
operation allowances.
Issue: Some 2020-2021 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD) built on or before 30-Aug2021 may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC)
C00A6 and/or C0631. This may be due to the front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate shaft. To correct the
condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate shaft with a revised
intermediate shaft.
Action: Follow the Service Procedure to correct the condition on vehicles that meet all of the following criteria:
• 2020-2021 Explorer/Aviator
• Built on or before 30-Aug-2021
• AWD
• DTC C00A6 and/or C0631
Parts
Service Part
Number

Quantity Description

LB5Z-3B477A

1

W715932S439

1

W520517S440

1

W719506S440

1

W717521S440

1

W719326S439

1

N1MZ-3A329A

1

N1MZ-3A427F

1

L1MZ-4382-C

1

Wheel Hub Nut
Lower Strut-to-wheel Knuckle Bolt
Lower Strut-to-wheel Knuckle Nut

Unit of
Issue
1

1

4

2

4

2

4

2 For Explorer, 3.0L
EcoBoost/EcoBoost Hybrid, 1 For
All Others

1

1

4

4

1

1

1

1

1

1

Upper Stabilizer Bar Link Nut
Engine Mount Nut
Engine Mount Bolt
Intermediate Shaft
Halfshaft
Engine Mount Bolt

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Piece Quantity

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W720050S440

1

W719503S439

1

W711310S440

1

W520216S440

1

N1MZ-3B476A

1

W712961S439

1

W716979S439

2

W719413S439

1

XY-75W140QL

As
Needed

Motorcraft® SAE 75W-140 Synthetic
Rear Axle Lubricant (All Markets Except
Canada)

CXY-75W1401L

As
Needed

Motorcraft® SAE 75W-140 Synthetic
Rear Axle Lubricant (Canada Only)

Control Arm Nut (Aviator)
Control Arm Bolt (Aviator)
Control Arm Nut (Aviator)
Control Arm Nut (Aviator)
Front Axle Assembly Breather Hose
Steering Shaft Bolt (3.0L)
Rear Subframe Bolt (3.0L)
Subframe Bolts Mid/Front (3.0L)

4

1

4

1

4

1

4

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

4

4

Parts
Parts To Inspect And Replace Only If Necessary
Service Part
Number
WA-14-SBA

Quantity Description

Unit of
Issue

If
Motorcraft® Zip Tie Strap
Needed

50

If
Motorcraft® Wire Splice Kit
Needed

1

L1MZ-6758-A

If
Tube Assembly (3.0L)
Needed

1

AT4Z-9E936-A

If
Gasket (3.0L)
Needed

1

3U2Z-14A088-AB

VC-13-G
CVC-13-G

If
Motorcraft® Yellow Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant (All Markets
Needed Except Canada)
If
Motorcraft® Yellow Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant (Canada Only)
Needed

Quantity refers to the amount of the service part number required to repair the vehicle.
Unit of Issue refers to the number of individual pieces included in a service part number package.
Piece Quantity refers to the total number of individual pieces required to repair the vehicle.
As Needed indicates the amount of the part may vary and/or is not a whole number. Parts can be billed out as nonwhole numbers, including less than 1.
If Needed indicates the part is not mandatory.
Warranty Status: Eligible under provisions of New Vehicle Limited Warranty (NVLW)/Service Part Warranty
(SPW)/Special Service Part (SSP)/Extended Service Plan (ESP) coverage. Limits/policies/prior approvals are not
altered by a TSB. NVLW/SPW/SSP/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified
using the OASIS part coverage tool.
Labor Times

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Operation
No.

Description

Time

2020-2021 Explorer 4WD 2.3L EcoBoost: Retrieve DTCs And Install Intermediate Shaft
Assembly (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor Operations)

232174A

2.0
Hrs.

2020-2021 Explorer 4WD 3.3L TiVCT, 3.3L Hybrid: Retrieve DTCs And Install Intermediate
Shaft Assembly (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor Operations)

232174B

2.6
Hrs.

2020-2021 Explorer 4WD 3.0L EcoBoost: Retrieve DTCs And Install Intermediate Shaft
Assembly (Can Be Claimed With Operation E Or F) (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor
Operations Outside Of This Article)

232174C

7.2
Hrs.

2020-2021 Aviator AWD 3.0L EcoBoost 3.0L PHEV: Retrieve DTCs And Install Intermediate
Shaft Assembly (Can Be Claimed With Operation E Or F) (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor
Operations Outside Of This Article)

232174D

7.8
Hrs.

Additional Time To Check And Correct Caster/Camber And Front Toe (Can Be Claimed With
Operation C Or D)

232174E

1.1
Hrs.

Additional Time To Check And Correct Caster/Camber And Front Toe For Vehicles With Lane
Departure (Can Be Claimed With Operation C Or D)

232174F

1.3
Hrs.

Repair/Claim Coding
Causal Part:

3D102

Condition Code: 42

Service Procedure
NOTE: The vehicle may have either front axle disconnect actuator with an operational electrical connector or
may have an intermediate shaft that is essentially a front axle disconnect actuator that does not have the
connection being utilized. The service replacement intermediate shaft has a different look and design but the
fit and function are the same.

2.3L / 3.0L Vehicles
1. Disconnect the battery. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 414-01.
2. Remove the front axle disconnect actuator and discard. Refer to WSM, Section 205-03.
3. Is the vehicle equipped with a front axle disconnect actuator electrical connector?
(1). Yes - proceed to Step 4.
(2). No - proceed to Step 6.
4. Cut off and discard the front axle disconnect actuator electrical connector from the pigtail wiring. Make sure
enough wire is left to install the shrink tubing to properly terminate the wiring.
5. Install 1 shrink tube on 1 wire from the pigtail. Heat the shrink tube until the adhesive protrudes from both ends.
Using a pair of pliers, gently crimp both ends of the shrink tube to make sure the shrink tube is secure. Repeat the
process on the remaining 3 wires.
6. Replace the differential breather tube with the front axle assembly breather hose. Refer to 2021 WSM, Section
205-03, Removal and Installation, Differential Breather Tube.
7. Install the new service replacement intermediate shaft in place of the front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate
shaft and re-assemble. Re-use the fasteners. Refer to the 2021 WSM, Section 205-04, Removal and Installation,
Intermediate Shaft - Vehicles Built From: 31-August-2021.
(1). Tighten to 26 lb-ft (35 Nm).
8. Use the Motorcraft® Zip Tie Strap to make sure the battery cable is secured away from any rotating intermediate
shaft components.
9. Install the new halfshaft. Refer to the 2021 WSM, Section 205-04, Removal And Installation, Halfshaft - Vehicles
Built From: 31-August-2021.
10. Set the axle fluid level.
11. Update the AWD module software to the latest level and clear all DTCs.
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3.3L Vehicles
1. Disconnect the battery. Refer to WSM, Section 414-01.
2. Remove both front wheels. Refer to WSM, Section 204-04A.
3. Remove and discard the front stabilizer bar link upper nut on both sides.
4. Remove and discard the left halfshaft. Refer to WSM, Section 205-04.
5. Remove the transmission cooler hose bracket nut.
6. Remove the catalyst assembly bracket, studs and nuts.
7. Place a support under the transmission bellhousing.
8. Remove the left lower engine mount nut from the subframe.
9. Using a support jack, slightly raise the engine.
10. Remove all 4 left engine mount to engine fasteners. Position the engine mount aside.
11. If equipped, disconnect the front axle disconnect actuator electrical connector and axle vent tube assembly.
12. Remove all 3 front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate shaft fasteners. Remove and discard the front axle
disconnect actuator/intermediate shaft.
(1). For vehicles with a front axle disconnect actuator, refer to 2020 WSM, Section 205-03.
(2). For vehicles with an intermediate shaft, refer to 2021 WSM, Section 205-04.
13. Is the vehicle equipped with a front axle disconnect actuator electrical connector?
(1). Yes - proceed to Step 14.
(2). No - proceed to Step 16.
14. Cut off and discard the front axle disconnect actuator electrical connector from the pigtail wiring. Make sure
enough wire is left to install the shrink tubing to properly terminate the wiring.
15. Install 1 shrink tube on 1 wire from pigtail. Heat shrink the tube until adhesive protrudes from both ends. Using a
pair of pliers, gently crimp both ends of the shrink tube to make sure the shrink tube is secure. Repeat the process
on the remaining 3 wires.
16. Replace the differential breather tube with the front axle assembly breather hose. Refer to 2021 WSM, Section
205-03, Removal and Installation, Differential Breather Tube.
17. Install the new service replacement intermediate shaft in place of the front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate
shaft and re-assemble. Re-use the fasteners. Refer to the 2021 WSM, Section 205-04, Removal and Installation,
Intermediate Shaft - Vehicles Built From: 31-August-2021.
(1). Tighten to 26 lb-ft (35 Nm).
18. Use the Motorcraft® Zip Tie Strap to make sure the battery cable is secured away from any rotating intermediate
shaft components.
19. Install the left engine mount.
(1). Tighten the new engine mount fasteners to 47 lb-ft (63 Nm).
(2). Remove the jack supporting the engine.
(3). Install the new left lower engine mount nut to the subframe. Tighten to 185 lb-ft (250 Nm).
(4). Install the catalyst assembly bracket, studs and nuts. Tighten to 18 lb-ft (25 Nm).
(5). Install the transmission cooler hose bracket nut. Tighten to 80 lb-in (9 Nm).
(6). Install the front stabilizer bar link upper nut on both sides. Tighten to 129 lb-ft (175 Nm)
20. Install the new service replacement halfshaft. Refer to the 2021 WSM, Section 205-04, Removal And Installation,
Halfshaft - Vehicles Built From: 31-August-2021.
21. Install both front wheels. Refer to WSM, Section 204-04A.
22. Set the axle fluid level.
23. Update the AWD module software to the latest level and clear all DTCs.

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© 2023 Ford Motor Company
All rights reserved.
NOTE: The information in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and
equipment to do the job properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information
that could assist in proper vehicle service. The procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition
described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford or Lincoln dealership to determine whether the Bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy
and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article.
The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to supersede
this information with updates. The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.

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