Questions and Answers
Extra Ford Transmission Parts
Q. I have a new helpful hint for your web site. I was working on a 1998 Ford Explorer 2WD V-8. I was planning on just changing the transmission filter and replacing the small amount of fluid from the pan. Everything was going smooth until I dropped the pan and removed the filter. When I looked in the drip pan I had let the fluid drip into, I found this odd looking plastic piece.
I had never seen anything like this and was quite perplexed as to what I should do with it. I looked at the bottom of the transmission and could not figure out where it could possibly fit back in. I looked at it for hours and could not figure it out.where it could possibly fit back in. I looked at it for hours and could not figure it out.
I went to several auto parts stores and purchased a Chilton and Haynes manual for the 1998 Ford Explorer. None of these books mentioned anything about this odd plunger looking piece of plastic. I purchased a Ford Automatic Transmission overhaul manual. This book did not mention this part either. I went searching for more reference text and ended up in an O'Reily's.
I wandered around confused until a gentleman named Ray asked if he could help. I told him my problem and he chuckled. He said that he was perplexed as well the first time he encountered this problem. As it turns out, he finally found someone who told him that the part is used in the factory when the initial transmission fluid is put into the transmission to keep out dirt. After the initial fluid fill, the part is useless.
In other words, what I had found was left-over trash from the Ford assembly process. This made me feel a little bit better, and a little bit stupid.
I found your web site during my quest for information about this piece, and thought I would share what I found. I have attached two JPG pictures of the part so that anyone who encounters it and ends up on your web site will know EXACTLY what it is. Please feel free to use these pictures any way you wish.
Cheers!
JonA. Thanks for the pictures Jon. I don't know how many times someone has come to me with this piece asking where it belongs. And I wonder how many people have put a transmission pan back on wondering what will happen without it.
Ford has been using this plug in the transmission assembly process for as long as I can remember. I just throw them away without even thinking about it anymore.
Useless Plug
Throw It Away
