mystery hose near transmission

[FL_forlife33]

Truck INFO:
99' Ranger EXT Cab, Flare Side
3.0 L V6, 4WD, Manual Transmisssion

I'm pretty new to this site, and have been reading and reading about all this fascinating stuff i want to do to my ranger... it's starting to worry me, and i think i need to put some love in it... i'm not a mechanic or anything, but i'm willing to learn and try things, and this site is helping me out.

ANYWAYS... i was under the truck today just looking around with a flashlight, trying to figure out what everything under there was.. and i was trying to identify my transfer case, and electric shift motor, cause I'm having 4WD problems (I already posted a thread about that). when i noticed something..

laying on the ground, with my legs sticking out the front of the vehicle, i was inspecting the transmission. and on the LEFT SIDE of the transmission there's a cylindrical thing (almost a brass color) about the size of an oil filter. it's covered with oil/fluid/gunk/something? and it doesn't look like it should be. although i've never noticed any leaking on the driveway or anything... THEN I NOTICED A BLACK HOSE STICKING OUT, NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING. this was also covered in the gunk, or whatever it is? transmission fluid? i made this little thing to help people help me identify it...

so, i just need to know, is this normal? AC hose maybe? should it be connected somewhere? it doesn't look like it broke off or anything..

i also would like to know what that cylindrical thing is, and there's some kind of sensor/electrical thing attached to it, i'd like to know what that is too.. here's a photo where you can see it better..

any help would be amazing!

 

[AllanD]

Photo link broke.

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[Psychopete]

..Edit.. OP removed image I re-linked.

 

[FL_forlife33]

yea, i fixed the link now.. should show up right now

 

[2ranger87]

Well, the "cylindrical" thing is your starter. The electrical "thingy" on top of it is the solenoid.

As far as the hose, i'm not sure. Could be a drain from the heater box. Hard to tell from the picture.

And that black thing you show as being the front of the transmission, is actually the engine oil pan.........

 

[BlackBII]

Front Diff vent hose maybe???

Curved all funky?

 

[FL_forlife33]

thanks..

cool, so i shouldn't worry about the hose?

also, is it so filthy down there just from natural buildup? it's definitely not just dirt, it's got some kind of a petroleum based thing in it... and it's only on the starter, solenoid, and that hose...

it's worth mentioning that my AC is broken as well (yet another thing i need to fix, and don't know where to start)... so there are hoses that are supposed to run from the heater, to drain what? condensation i'm guessing?

thanks so much

 

[BlackBII]

Did you find the other end of said mystery hose?

And, most likely, it's just natural buildup, could be a leaky leak somewhere, look above where you snapped the shots to find where the leak originated.

 

[lilrebelranger67]

your dilemna

the case that is bigger and cylindrical is your starter. the smaller cylinder with the two posts is your starter solenoid(dont ever put metal or any thing cunductive in between those two posts how does 650cca's and a bunch of sparks sound?) the hose is simply an oil drain for when you change your filter, though almost none of them work. i see these everyday i work at jiffy lube lbt(not something im proud of i know way to much about vehicles to be working at a lube shop)