Strange Coolant leak from inside the trans bellhousing 1999 Caravan 3.3L

Hi. My wife's 1999 caravan (120K miles, 3.3L, Automatic) started
leaking coolant from inside transmission bellhousing. I checked both
heads and didn't see any leaks. I pressure tested it, and the coolant
came streaming out of the inspection cover...it drips pretty severe
even without pressure applied.

My question is there a freeze plug in the back of the 3.3L engine...or
a bypass tube under the intake manifold? I have to decide to either
pull the trans to look, or pull the intake to see if there is a tube.
I'm thinking it's probably a freeze plug, but I'd like to be a bit more
confident before I get started.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

You would be able to se if it is coming from the top and draining down into
the bell housing. Just because you cant see the head gasket leaking from
behind doesnt mean the head gasket is not leaking under the intake
manifold, or possibly the intake manifold is leaking. If a freeze plug was
going to leak, normally the rear ones behind the engine leak first. I would
take a mirro and have a good look on top of the trans area.
My opinion only

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

make sure the heaterhoses are not squirting coolant on the upper trans case on
the bac side then running down and appearing to come from then belhousing
i have not seen freeze plugs leak on the 3.3 but it can sure can happen
did the van ever have any engine or trans work done in the past that might have
disturbed the freeze plugs ??

 

Thanks for the responses. I pulled the trans today...and sure enough
one of the freeze plugs has a hole in it. I'll fix it tomorrow and be
running again.

Regards,

rwillits66