I just acquired this vehicle in a trade and I looked down and saw this!! Car drives fine, clutch is a little hard to shift sometimes and grinds only sometimes.... What do you think caused this? Is this something that needs immediate attention. No fluid leaks from there? Is there fluids even in that part? Sorry for all the questions but I have never seen anything like it before.....pic is below

Also the check engine light is on but there's no codes. I checked it with the obdII code reader and it passed but light on dash is still on. What should I check now.

 

Looks as though the trans has been dropped when it was out of the car or perhaps the result of an accident.
From the look of the excess sealant around the trans join line, this has been apart before.
It doesn't pose an imediate problem, however your should make some effort to cover the hole (to keep crap out of your clutch). You could form a piece of 1mm ali plate to shape and silicone it there until you decide the fate of it (track down a replacement clutch housing), as the trans has a few internal issues that need fixing too.

 

Either it got hit with something or the clutch exloded at some point and took out a piece of the bell housing, that's a normal amount of sealant, I've built quite a few D-series trannys and that looks factory. No fluid goes in the part, but you don't want water and sand in your clutch. You'll need a new bell housing at the least. Although it's probably easier to just get the whole case. (unless you manage to find someone that ruined the other half) Bell housing must be from a Y5/Y8. Y7 wont work due smaller diff bearings, Older '92 - '95 S20 D-series can't be used unless you use a complete Z6 case, shift forks and sleeves.

If you're really cheap/poor/temporarily broke you can grind the reinforcing ribs back a little ways and make a tin cover to fit over the hole and pop rivet it to the bell housing to keep the dirt out.

 

lol that a big *** hole... it shouldnt leak b/c it only the bell housing... the only problen u have is something falling down in there while car is running and really *** some **** up... but the way u decribe the tranny needs replacement anyway... d series tranny's go for 100 bux all day with no grinds so just get a tranny on craigslist or HT and put new clutch in and u will be golden

 

isn't this how the crank bolt is removed lol when i was younger i watched a friend pry on the underside of the flywheel to try and hold the crank still had no impact, and actually cracked the transmission housing. I don't even attempt to take one out without an impact gun they are surely needed. definately cover it up

 

Wow, thanks for responding. I feel a lil better. New transmission is added to the list of things to do.

Now....... Where should I start with the CEL issue?

 

You could get a piece of metal and either screw/rivet or JB Weld it on. I don't usually suggest that, but it would work since it's not structural.

You should look for another trans because it sound like it may be needing service soon. That or the clutch isn't disengaging all the way and making it grind. Start by bleeding the clutch and adjusting the pedal before replacing the trans.

I'd look into getting the housing fixed since you could fabricate a patch panel and a welder could weld it in easy. Just leave it a little big so the trans could be welded down a bit to get a clean, straight surface to weld on and a perfect fit.