When I dropped the pan on the transmission on my 2002 F-150 I found a part that looks like a marble (with rubber o-ring) stuck on a 2 inch long shaft laying in the pan. Where does this part go?

 

I thought there was a sticky for this, but I don't see it. It's the plug that protected the opening for the trans fluid dipstick on the assembly line. That's a souvenir you can keep in your toolbox. It means you're the first one to drop the trans pan on your truck.

 

It doesn't go anywhere. It's a leftover part from assembly. I believe it's used to keep dust and garbage from getting into the trans while they're putting it together. It can be thrown away.

 

Those guys are correct, the transmission is shipped to the factory w/o the dipstick tube in place. On the assembly line a highly skilled UAW member pushes in the dipstick tube and the "rubber" ball simply falls in the pan. While this causes an alarm to go off in your head, the dude at the "quicky lube" or "transmissions R Us" shows it to somebody's wife/girlfriend/side ho and sells her a transmission overhaul.

 

Ford needs to mark that part as "discard" or something...

I feel bad for the sorry saps who drop the pan and start getting bubbly guts when they see that thing.

 

Welcome! You've already learned something from the site!

 

CONGRADULATIONS! You need to bring that part to your nearest Ford dealer to decode the secret code on the o-ring! You could be the lucky winner of a 1974 Pinto!