So my transmission decided to start piddling on the driveway. Wet spot rather than puddle, but more than enough to be concerned. Truck had not been driven for about a week and driveway was dry... then a sudden wet spot. The leak is around the pan, not torque converter or transfer case joint. On the transmission, the gasket gap between case and pan has free fluid in it... not just damp crud... on the rear and passenger's side. Also, I could get free fluid on my fingers (again, more than damp crud) around the electrical connector that goes into the case on passenger side rear on top of the flange that the pan mounts to.

I wiped everything off and tightened all the pan bolts. Some were fine, some moved anywhere between 30 and 180 degrees. And I have one stripped pan bolt, on the front. The pan hasn't been off in at least the past 5 years, and maybe more like 10 or more.

I may just have a loose pan that suddenly started weeping. But I am wondering if at least some of the leak is from the electrical connector, in which case tightening the pan bolts won't stop the leak. So here are my questions:

How is the electrical connector sealed into the case? I don't see anything on the outside that looks like a bolt-on sealing flange, so is it sealed from the inside? Is this something that can be re-sealed from inside the transmission with the pan dropped? If so, what parts or materials should I be looking for?
The stripped pan bolt is one of the four or so on the front of the pan, that goes towards the torque converter space. Without pulling the transmission, I can't see if I can simply use a longer bolt to grab some good threads without bottoming out in a blind hole or sticking out and hitting the torque converter. I'm not too worried about this one, since there doesn't seem to be a leak in that area, but if it's as simple as a longer bolt, I'll go ahead and do that.

 

U can maybe go an inch on passenger side. Maybe 2” on driver side. I would not mess with the middle 2 except helicoil

 

...and it's one of the middle bolts on front. Luckily, it doesn't seem to be leaking from there.

 

The solenoid pack is what that connector is attached to. The pan has to be pulled. Remove the solenoid pack and replace the orings lube orings and slide back up. Refill. Connect wire connector.

Easey peasey

 

Tightened the pan bolts on Sunday, and still leaking. Guess that means it's the solenoid pack O-ring. Filter, gasket, O-ring ordered.

 

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles...-transmission/