I walk out to my car this morning and noticed a small amount of green coolant fluid on the ground under where the transmission and engine meet. Reading around it seems to be the freeze plug. I managed to get my hand snaked around the bell housing to feel the top plug and it feels fine, but how do I check the other 2? people mention a mirror but from what I can tell about this engine the 2 other freeze plugs are in the bell housing, is there an access panel or something i'm missing? I have checked the top end of the engine, it isn't the heater control valve, its bone dry.

Also, what is dripping onto the ground isnt completely green, there is some other fluid that is clear, possibly fuel? I'm not sure, I can't really smell anything. Its also not a really significant leak YET, only about 1 drop an hour of green coolant. I'm not sure if this is an important detail but this started this morning after I had to drive home the night before in about 0 degree weather, which is pretty cold for my part of Australia, could this just be as simple as the freeze plug shrunk more than normal? I'm clutching at straws because I dont want to pull the transmission out.

 

there is a freeze plug behind the transmission in the block, (on a '96 at least). As far as I know, there is no way to inspect, let alone replace it, without removing the trans

I would try some leak sealer in the coolant system

 

Here's a peek at it.

All 4.0s had the same freeze plug configuration.

 

is the lower large (still shiny) plug an oil gallery plug ?

I think that one is behind the flywheel/flexplate ?

 

Yeah, behind the block it is. Trans removal is the only way to get to it. Pita job.