What part is this?

And does it look wrong? Looks like it should have another bolt on the left. It's just rear of the steering rack.

 

inspection cover for the torque converter

 

Copy that! Not a big deal if that left side is open?

 

Looks like an inspection cover to me. Torque converter is located behind it.

 

Looks like you're another unfortunate victim of valve cover leaks and/or half-moon plug leaks...

 

As for the question though, I don't remember if that cover snaps in or what, though I see a ridge on both sides allowing it to inset, it seems. I'd need to get under my '06 to check.

But I can also clearly see a boss in the steel, and the right-hand bolt goes into the middle of it, suggesting there should be another bolt on the left. Follow the line at the bottom just above my blue lines here, and you'll see where it kicks up to form said boss, and where I'd expect a 2nd bolt to live.

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Specifically notice how the metal upturns dead center of each circle, to start the reinforced boss. If I had to guess, I'f suspect someone that didn't know any better believed you had a RMS leak or other, not knowing about the valve cover leak issues, or how people just gloss over needing to do the half moon plugs while re-doing the valve cover gaskets. They may've removed the inspection plate to look for the leak inside, and lost a bolt.

Touch base with us before you do the VC gaskets, we can help. There's a few mistakes people make on those...

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Thank you this is what I was thinking. What's strange is the cover does not already have a hole on the left for another bolt, I would have to drill one.

And I will be sure to check back in, valve covers are leaking on both sides and are on the list to be fixed. This is a project truck, bought with 260k and essentially unknown maintenance history aside from the last timing belt change.

 

Not trying to preach to the choir here, but make sure you slide back a timing cover to verify the TB condition, even if changed. Unless it was done at a dealership, you have no way to know the quality of the part or if the shop even changed it, or just billed the customer and said it was changed.

That's wierd on the lack of bolt, the boss being cast into the part would suggest it should be there... I'll go snap a pic of mine in a sec and upload it for a little compare/contrast.

About the valve covers, reply #18 in this thread should rattle off the parts you'll need and links to some tips/tricks that may help. Make sure you remove the half-moons completely to clean and re-seal, it's part of the process, the goop that comes up when you seal them into their little hammocks is what helps seal against future leaks. The FSM / factory service manual (if you don't have a copy, there's a link to the PDF in the 'so you just bought a 1st gen' thread). I realize OEM gasket price is steep (but it lasted this long, right?), you can save some coin going with Felpro, don't trust anyone else. Be aware the bolts like to snap during removal. Hang tight, I'll grab that pic.

 

My ‘06 actually is drilled from the back side at least, I can’t tell if it goes all the way thru or not. I definitely don’t have a bolt in that spot though. Hope these pics help. If feels almost to me like the inspection plate is metal and is suppose to be slid up into its place.

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