Chrysler Repair: transaxle fluid leaking, chrysler lebaron, automatic transaxle

Question
I have a 1992 Chrysler Lebaron 4 Cyl with a automatic transaxle that is leaking fluid somewhere in the back side of the transaxle.
I thank it is leaking at a small square cover plate. It will leak out 3 quarts in just a few miles. If you jack up the front of car and look under, it will just about stop leaking but when parked on level ground it leaks a steady drip.what will happen if the cover plate is removed or should i look elsewhere.

Answer
Hi Schley,
I'll take a look at my '89 similar trans to see if I can ID what cover plate you are describing. But my inclination would not be to remove the plate but rather to put a box end wrench on each of the bolts and gently test them to see if they feel equally tight (torque) and if not tighten the ones that feel loose to the same as the others. I suspect if you remove it that you should have a pan available to catch the trans fluid which may be at the level of the plate. Likely you will need to use RTV sealant around the mating surface of the pan to re-establish a good seal. If I can ID the plate I'll send you torque setting for the bolts. By the backside I assume that you mean the side facing the firewall. What is a little puzzling is that the leak decreases when you jack up the front of the car because that should raise the level on the back side of the trans. However if you just jacked up the left front then the level might shift to the right end of the trans and lower the level at the plate. But I'll let you know if I can spot what you are describing. To verify the leak area, wipe the back side dry and then watch carefully for new leakage site.
Roland