What is the yellow plunger in my transmission oil pan?

[Ozz]

Greetings,
I dropped my transmission pan tonight to change the fluid for the first time. I pulled off the filter as I took the pan down. When I dumped the fluid, I found a yellow plunger (.75" spherical w/ o-ring at one end, .25" rod extendiing about 1.5") in the pan. Where did it come from and do I need to reinstall it when I put the pan/filter back together?

Thanks!

[chucky]

I know when I worked for Allison we would find plastic "shipping plugs" once in a while.

[RF Overlord]

Not to worry, Ozz...it's perfectly normal to find the "baby rattle" the first time the pan is dropped. It's a dust plug for the filler tube that's dislodged when the dipstick is installed at the factory. Just toss it out.

[DarthMarauder]

So you are saying if I find this its safe to assume that the fluid has never been changed cause I'm about to change mine for the first time since I got my MM and I'm not sure what the previous owner did. I want to get it done since I'm at 60000 the other night.

[chucky]

I would say its safe to assume that its never been changed.
are you getting it flushed?

[Smokie]

So you are saying if I find this its safe to assume that the fluid has never been changed cause I'm about to change mine for the first time since I got my MM and I'm not sure what the previous owner did. I want to get it done since I'm at 60000 the other night.

No, it safe to assume your pan has never been dropped. The oil can be changed with a tranny flush.

[RF Overlord]

^^^what Smokie said^^^

Your transmission may have been flushed, but if you find the yellow plug, it's a safe bet the filter's never been changed.

[chucky]

Yes, I guess anythings possible if you want to look at it that way. Someone could get it flushed & not have changed the filter doesnt really matter now that the pans now does it.
I was just offering my opinion based on my experience.

[Ozz]

Thanks everybody.

[DarthMarauder]

Yea thanks also sorry for the slight highjack. And I will probably change it out myself do a pan drop and filter change not sure yet going to check on prices for a flush. Which is better I'm figuring a flush is but I'm not one to let other people work on my car??? Is a pan drop, filter change just as good??? Will have to see how good the tax man is gonna be to me first may do more to it maybe a j-mod while I'm in there. Actually if I do get it flushed this will be only the second time anyone besides myself has ever touched a car I have owned to do work to it. (The first time was a clutch job on a Probe GT I had no way I was going to touch that without a lift.)

[RF Overlord]

Darth, if you don't know whether the previous owner ever had the ATF changed, considering the number of miles on your car I would have a complete flush done. There are a couple of ways this can be done:

1) take it somewhere...this will cost you anywhere from $90 to $150.
2) DIY flush...this will involve disconnecting the cooler line coming from the transmission to the cooler, and adding a piece of hose so you can direct the fluid into a bucket. Start the motor and let the fluid pump into the bucket while you pour fresh ATF back into the filler tube until the fluid going into the bucket runs clear. It's a little more time consuming, but a LOT less expensive. Drop the pan and change the filter while you're at it.
3) Install a transmission pan with a drain plug (this is good to do anyway). This will let you drain 4 quarts at a time. Do it 3 or 4 times over a few hundred miles and you've pretty much exchanged all the fluid. A lot less complicated than option 2, and is satisfactory unless your fluid is burnt or contaminated, in which case options 1 or 2 are the best choice.

[DarthMarauder]

Is this a good option I'm thinking of doing a combo of 1 and 3. I thought more than 4 quarts would come out of it with a pan drop but if thats all there is (first auto always owned manuals) then maybe I'll drop the pan put that one pan you recommended in that other topic from Ford that is a direct replacement just has the plug for future changes, then change the filter fill the 4 quarts up and then take it in for a flush. Does anyone know if they change the filter when you get a flush???

[RF Overlord]

No, the filter is not generally changed during a flush, unless you specifically request it, and then the price goes up another 50 bucks or so...

I think your plan is an excellent one.