So I've been out of town with the family for a vacation this past week and had the 'Vette at home in the garage the whole time..2004 base AT. I pulled it out to get to the lawn mower this afternoon and come to find a huge puddle of trans fluid sitting on the garage floor. It was bright red and slick. I had the car sit in the driveway for about 30 minutes while I cut the grass so I could get a better idea of where it was originating from. In that time, I had a small puddle about 3 inches in diameter, but it wasn't deep. There is a bit on my passenger side exhaust H-pipe just ahead of the right rear tire so it is coming from just above that area.

I plan to get the car up on some jack stands tomorrow (simply too hot today to be in the garage with no A/C or fan).

Any initial thoughts on what I may be up against here? Car has 18,600 miles on it and it has been shifting just fine as this is my daily driver. We got a major heat wave here in Chicago last week, could something have happened due to being in the garage all that time? I've never had a leak in the past.

Also there is a black plastic tank/container or something in the area covered by a metal heat shield. The tank has the words TT Auto or Automatic molded into it. What is that? Anything to do with the trans fluid?

 

I got the car on jack stands today and there was trans fluid on the bolt heads closest to the rear of the car and a little on some the bolts on the passenger side. I wiped it all down and got out a wrench to tighten the bolts and was surprised to find they ALL seemed a bit loose. I tightened just hand tight as I wasn't sure if the mounting surface was aluminum and any tighter may damage something.

What are the torque specs for the trans pan? Car is still using original fluid so I may just end up at the dealer to flush and refill the whole system. Last time I had the car in for an oil change, they recommended both the trans service ($159) and the coolant service ($149). That sound about right?

Surprised there were no replies yet and/or response to what that black plastic container is...