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Mystery rod in Transmission pan


Trenstar

Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2024
Messages
8
City
Canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Transmission
Automatic
Hi everyone, should have joined this a while back, but better late than never I hope. I have a 1994 Ranger, 4.0L Auto.

Multiple issues yesterday… was in 4wd heading up a mountain road and saw smoke from hood. Stopped, and saw significant fluid leak. Wasn’t the rad, seems to have been tranny fluid. Killed engine and leak stopped.

Then truck wouldn’t start. No power to starter when I tried. Tried in both park and neutral, nothing, not even a solenoid click. Eventually ran a jumper cable from positive batt terminal to starter and that worked. Limped it home, stopping every 10 min to check on leak, but it wasn’t leaking anymore (also, checked tranny fluid and it still seemed adequate). When I got home, after about 10 min noticed some spotting on driveway, so put a bucket under it and went to bed. In morning had about 1/4 cup of tranny fluid in bucket that seemed to be leaking from tranny pan gasket. Checked bolts and some were not very tight. Figured I’d pull pan, put in new gasket and filter. Got pan off, and found this in the bottom…. (pic below). I don’t know anything about auto transmissions but guessing this shouldn’t be there. Also no idea how or if this is related to my ignition issue, but the timing seems weird. Any ideas welcomed, thanks.
 

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Wow. I don't know anything about them but i feel luke you are right and that shouldn't be in there.
 
Wouldnt be related to your ignition issue.

Seems ive seen that part before but i cannot remember wtf it is.

If its shifting fine and not slipping id run it. Chances are youll have to rip into it anyways to fix whatever that is.
 
got it cleaned off and a better photo
 

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Found this online… could it be this part from Neutral safety switch? That could also explain starting issue?
 

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I think that you're on to something there.

Do the reverse lights work?
 
I think that you're on to something there.

Do the reverse lights work?

Pan is still off right now, not sure if I should check while it's in that state, but will put it back on fill fluid, and check....
 
Pan is still off right now, not sure if I should check while it's in that state, but will put it back on fill fluid, and check....

No biggee . . . I think that's a combination switch- neutral safety and reverse lights. No reverse lights would support the "mystery rod" coming from that switch.

And you could remove that switch from your tranny, and see if has a rounded rod still in place.

It sure does look like a match, to me though.
 
No biggee . . . I think that's a combination switch- neutral safety and reverse lights. No reverse lights would support the "mystery rod" coming from that switch.

And you could remove that switch from your tranny, and see if has a rounded rod still in place.

It sure does look like a match, to me though.
Yeah looks like the match to me as well. Doesn’t seem to be any access to the switch location at the moment, thinking exhaust might have to be removed to get at it.
 
Update for anyone curious…. changed filter and gasket and put 3qts in it and took it for a drive. As per RobbieD advice I checked reverse lights and they are NOT operating, which I suppose further supports the idea of this thing being a neutral safety switch piece.

A few more questions for the expertise in the room:

- If it is indeed neutral safety switch rod, am I jeopardizing anything driving it as is until I can get new switch and install?
- Is it normal for shifting to feel weird/slippy when you first drive it after draining and filling fluid? First time doing this, lots of slipping on test drive but I only went around the block
- Everything I find online says to add 3 qts after draining, so that’s what I added. Now, after running it for a few min and doing test drive around block, I’m not seeing much of anything on dipstick. Checked it with engine running on level surface). Hard to tell if maybe new oil so clear it’s hard to see, or if I just need to add more. Does 3qts sound right for a pan removal? ( In case it’s relevant, I left pan off overnight).

Thanks all.
 
Go by what the dipstick says. VERIFY THIS- I *think* the check procedure is: drive until the motor/trans is at operating temp; park on a level surface; move the shifter through all of the gear positions, then to Park; check the fluid level on the dipstick with the motor idling in Park. Add to the mark, but DON'T OVERFILL.

If the switch is what busted, you should be OK driving the truck (just don't back up in front of a cop). Judging by the groove on the blunt end of the mystery rod, there's possibly a retaining clip floating loose in the switch.

Disclaimer- I'm not an "expert"; just an innocent bystander.
 
New neutral safety switch on order, hopefully that solves the start issue (for now I put a Home Depot light switch wired into a direct wire between battery and starter lol).

Found I still have a bit of a leak at front of pan gasket this morning. Torqued all the bolts to 115 in/lbs yesterday, snugged front ones up a touch more just now, hoping that helps. A bit concerned that when I dropped the pan, because I had the front bolts still installed but loosened (so that it wouldn't just drop to the ground when I broke it loose), maybe it warped the lip of pan when it dropped suddenly and hung at angle from front bolts.... Realizing now I maybe should have left both front and back bolts in enough to support weight when I broke it free, and then removed rear bolts when I could support some of the weight by hand...
 

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