Are you indicating there's a crack in the connection.
My 05 automatic (dripped), i procrastinated for about a year until it got ridiculous. Read an article indicating the likelyhood of the rings were bad. Sure enough they had flattened out...haven't look back since. That had to be over 7 years ago.
Are you open to visiting the boneyard (auto salvage yard)? I don't know how plentiful they are there down under.
$350 for weeping...me, I would investigate the area more and if so I'd use that silicone sealant tube.