'99 A/T Flywheel Inspection Plate?
 

Apologies for the question if it’s a no-brainer but I’ve not been able to find any specific info. in the FSM, my Haynes manual or via google and I haven’t been under the car since deciding I want to do a flywheel/drive plate inspection.

Q: In our A/Ts, is there an inspection plate that can be easily removed so that the teeth on our flywheel/drive plate can be inspected?

I had an odd long term periodic starting blip/glitch/burp that recently culminated in a starter failure that included what I’m confident was the full gnashing of starter gear teeth against drive plate teeth.

The starter was replaced with a new one this past weekend but the gnashing continues and I’m concerned that perhaps my drive plate has been damaged.

I’d like to have a look at it from a larger perspective than just through the starter orifice (which revealed no damaged from what I'm able to see) but without dropping the transmission.

Yes

IIRC - Two 10mm bolts are used to secure it. Looks like a good time to clean the rear crank sensor of any metal shavings.