tranny, 98 CV-P71

i rec. p/up an x-detroit p71. have had nooooo probs. until abt a wk ago. still runs very strong, hwevr, trans goes fine into R, shift into D, does not engage immed. (unless you rev engine...?) then KICKS into gear (D).
...so i fig'd i'd at least try to chng tranny-fltr... oh look!, there's a plastic 1/2 egg shaped item laying in tran-pan, bout 1/2" L, 3/4"W, has a rubber grommet around it, and a nipple on flat end 1-1/4"L x 1/8" W. WHAT COULD THIS B PLEZ??? (or wht might fallen out of?) THX

What you have found in your tranny pan is a Ford Lollipop. Actually it is a plug that was put in the tranny when it was filled with fluid. Then as it reached the assembly line and was mated to the engine and the dipstick tube was thrust into the tranny housing, that plug just naturally goes into the pan.

How many miles on your transmission. What was in the pan? What color was the fluid? Will it start right away if you pull it all the way down into low?