I got the side cover off and found there were three 10mm bolts below the oil pump THAT WERE COMPLETELY LOOSE! Also the green plug that went into the range sensor was barely plugged in so it was also loose!
I saw some fine metal shavings when I dropped the pan again today.
I removed the pump and took out the channel plate today and the plastic thrust washer was destroyed in pieces from the pump side and the brass washer was chewed up on the side of the 4th clutch hub. I did hear a light grinding noise coming from this side of the transmission when testing yesterday. Hopefully the metal shavings were just the two washers being damaged while they were spinning with no plastic washer in there. The oil pump shaft was worn off about 1mm on the side toward the channel plate. The rest of it looks fine.
I think this transmission was rebuilt before because it has metal channel plate gaskets in it already.
I have a spare oil pump and shaft I'm going to throw in there. I think the metal channel plate gaskets can be re used. So I think I just need the new washers for the channel plate at this point.
Hopefully it was just those 3 loose bolts.....
