I have a 2004 T4R V8. I have been having a random coolant leak that would leave a puddle of coolant near the rear of the motor where it meets the transmission and looks like its dripping right from that spot as well, its not dripping from the front of the motor and running down the skid plates. I took it to a shop today and they are thinking that it is the freeze plugs gone bad. They are stating they have to take of the transmission to get to them in order to replace them. $855 for labor and then any parts on top of that ($20-50 per freeze plug if there is more than one). Does that make sense? Is that what is involved if the freeze plugs go bad, the whole transmission has to be removed to get to them? Any help would be greatly appreciated?

Coolant might also be running from the top of the engine and down the back.

I have my doubts it's a freeze plug and highly doubt more than one. As a customer I'd want the shop to show me they can trace it back to the source, especially if they're asking for 900+ and showing lack of confidence in their diagnosis.

Thanks for your info. I actually decided to get my runner and have my wife's uncle look at it. He was a mechanic for 26 years. We found it leaking near the front of the motor and it was draining down the center of the motor in the bakery below the intake. It will fill up that valley and then will flow to the back and escape around and between the engine and transmission. We aren't sure where is coming from up front yet but definitely looks to be the source of the leak. If I'm parked on a downhill I don't get the poodle on the ground bit if I'm uphill or level and is leaked enough to seep through the drain holes it will leak.

If I remember right a member had this same leak like a week or two ago. Turned out to be the water pump seal leaking. Did you recently have yours changed? Are you due for the service?

I had the water pump don't last November with the timing belt. I just got my runner back and the shop fixed it for free.