so yes, indeedy, tis the kickdown cable. the insulation for the cable has been pulled out of the tranny so just the wire goes in and out, and theres a good deal of space for fluid to leak out. i called a shop today to schedule an appointment, because i want this over and done with (!!!), but if you live in new england, there's going to be horrendous rain and flooding this weekend and continuing to monday...so couldn't make an appointment, because the shop is planning not to even be there, since it's in a flood zone in new milford, CT. AWESOME. it's still driveable, when i'm careful and pick my roads wisely. being very careful, only driving for 10-15 minutes then letting it rest. can't wait for my Blaustein to get better. thanks for everyone's support and ideas.