Tranny fluid LEAK

eblolson · 12-17-2001, 11:56 PM

i have a 91xlt, AT, 4x4, with 142000 miles, have had it for 2 months and when i parked it the other day and went back out later a huge puddle of tranny fluid lay underneath. appears to have come from the front seal where the tranny meats the engine. is this just a seal?... more? had been feeling a little slipping or not real positive reaction from the tranny the last few weeks. dont know if this is related but the thing gets only 12-13 mpg freeway/town mix. thanks

Kontrol-Trak · 12-18-2001, 03:40 AM

I don't know exactly what the problem is, but I think you should take your Ex to a transmission shop ASAP. It will probably result in a very costly repair if you leave it as is.

*Bionc Marsh.* · 12-18-2001, 07:20 AM

Is it a 5 sp? If it is this relates.

I have 230,000 miles on my Navajo and its on the 3rd tranny. The first signs of a problem were leaks exactly as you exlpained. Get it to a shop ASAP, if its not too late already. They tend to go away fast. The good news (if there is such a thing in this situation) is that a new one costs only $1200 and their are not too hard to change.

If its an auto, Im not sure. I do know a new auto is $3600.

(Prices are quotes from my last replacement in '99 in Raleigh from the Mazda dealer)

eblolson · 12-18-2001, 10:09 AM

its an auto and i havent driven it since. im probably going to drop the tranny and look at the seal

sc4wda XLT · 12-23-2001, 01:23 AM

I had a similar problem back in august. I started noticing little leaks at first and over about a month it would get more and more. i tried using a leak selaer thinking it was one of the many unnecessary rubber seals inside the auto. then one day it was like someone had turned on the faucet underneath i didnt think it would ever stop. Only then did I take it to AAMCO. My worst fears had come true. I thought it had been my front main seal in the bell housing but what AAMCO told was the pump inside had gone bad. without that the tranni kept overheating and overheating again and again and again, burning everything up and grinding parts. ended up having to rebuild the tranni and threw in a new torque converter while at it. total cost...$2543.76. My best advise...get it looked at NOW!!!!!!!!!!!..dont drive it there either..if you got insurance or AAA that can tow..do it. hopefully this isnt your problem. Since then i have installed a temp gauge for the tranni...just in case. post what was wrong when ya get it looked at..curious to know how many others this is happened too.

MSTNGGUY88 · 12-23-2001, 01:48 AM

It is either your front seal or torque converter. You may have also busted your torque converter and it will leak like hell. As far as the pump going out, I don't think so. A transmission doesn't leak because the pump went out.

sc4wda XLT · 12-23-2001, 10:16 PM

yea..i know, thats what youd think...but what they told me was because the pump went and it kept overheating, it busted up my seals they wore out due to excessive heat, thats what caused the leaking

MSTNGGUY88 · 12-23-2001, 10:33 PM

Oh ok makes sense. I overlooked the overheating part. Sorry.

*mahieber* · 12-24-2001, 10:25 AM

Last year, in the middle of nowhere, my tranny started spitting out the fluid like you described. Of course I didn't notice the cloud of blue smoke following me down the highway.

The damage was done... but the final post-mortem revealed that the transmission cooler that is part of the radiator was so full of gunk that he couldn't blow through the lines with 120psi of compressed air. The seal on the left front of the tranny blew because of the heat build-up.

All of the main parts in the tranny including the TC had turned blue from the heat.

...of course the guy gave me a discount because this was the second time he rebuilt my favorite A4LD (automatic-device 4 losing dollars)

Don't let them just change out the seal without checking the cooler... it will just happen again if it is clogged.

p.s. If you are towing a trailer when the above situation happens, you can take the two hog traps, stack them on top of each other (better done without hogs in them) and then climb to the top to make a rather effective cellular tower.

...here is the original thread that had everyone else's ideas http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...threadid=22187

sc4wda XLT · 12-24-2001, 07:07 PM

yeeeeuuuup...the blueing of the over heated parts sounds like about what mine looked like. I was there when they pulled the pan off and there was about a quater inch of metal dust sittin on the bottom of the pan too. you know...the first time i had started to notice a leak was the day after i had the fluid "flushed" you know how they tap into the cooler lines and just blow new stuff through there. no cahngin of filter and ya dont even get the good gunkl off the bottom of the pan....Im wondering if the flushing of hte fluid instead of hte old good way of pulling off the pan had anything to do with it.

*mahieber* · 12-24-2001, 09:43 PM

I can't prove it or Jiffy Lube would have been paying the bill. Of course they can't prove that they have ever really lubed any of my zerks, so I don't know why I had the burden of proof...

I will not ever get another pump through ATF change in any of my vehicles.

I will never get another A4LD transmission.

I will brush my teeth before I go to bed.

I won't snore tonight, honest.

sc4wda XLT · 12-25-2001, 07:46 PM

I will not ever get another pump through ATF change in any of my vehicles.

*Bionc Marsh.* · 12-26-2001, 08:28 PM

I hate to go off on a tangent, but....
I will never! take any of my vehicles to any "quick lube" (job) places ever again!

For the first 130,000 miles I took my truck to those places, mostly Jiffy Lube. I was happy and dumb for a long time, until I changed my 2nd tranny. When I pulled it and the t-case I found that the inspection plug had never been taken out of the t-case. I have all the service records on the truck and I paid for the "total" service 3 times. This service was to include changing the fluid in both diffs, the tranny and the t-case. Need I say more. I sent letters to all three companies and stores. I recieved letters back stating that all the stores are franchise and nothing back from the stores themselves.

Capt Buck · 12-28-2001, 11:36 AM

The A4LD trannies do not like any kind of heat build up
and must be serviced at fairly short intervals. My '92 sees a lot of soft sand running on the beach for surf fishing and the combination of slow speed and a suck egg clutch fan di d it in and it pewked it's liquid guts on the beach. I installed an electric cooling fan for a 5.0
Mustang that has a variable set point control, along with a new pump seal and it's behaved ever since.

12-17-2001, 11:56 PM	#1
eblolson Wannabe Elite Explorer Mount Vernon, WA '91 XLT Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Tranny fluid LEAK i have a 91xlt, AT, 4x4, with 142000 miles, have had it for 2 months and when i parked it the other day and went back out later a huge puddle of tranny fluid lay underneath. appears to have come from the front seal where the tranny meats the engine. is this just a seal?... more? had been feeling a little slipping or not real positive reaction from the tranny the last few weeks. dont know if this is related but the thing gets only 12-13 mpg freeway/town mix. thanks

12-18-2001, 07:20 AM	#3
Bionc Marsh. Elite Explorer Shelbyville, TN '92 Mazda Navajo LX Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 274 Vehicle Specs	Is it a 5 sp? If it is this relates. I have 230,000 miles on my Navajo and its on the 3rd tranny. The first signs of a problem were leaks exactly as you exlpained. Get it to a shop ASAP, if its not too late already. They tend to go away fast. The good news (if there is such a thing in this situation) is that a new one costs only $1200 and their are not too hard to change. If its an auto, Im not sure. I do know a new auto is $3600. (Prices are quotes from my last replacement in '99 in Raleigh from the Mazda dealer) __________________ '92 Navajo - AKA Bionic Marshmallow With some pretty cool off road stuff

12-18-2001, 10:09 AM	#4
eblolson Wannabe Elite Explorer Mount Vernon, WA '91 XLT Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	its an automatic its an auto and i havent driven it since. im probably going to drop the tranny and look at the seal

12-23-2001, 01:23 AM	#5
sc4wda XLT Wannabe Elite Explorer Blacksburg, Virginia '92 XLT Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 84 Vehicle Specs	tranny I had a similar problem back in august. I started noticing little leaks at first and over about a month it would get more and more. i tried using a leak selaer thinking it was one of the many unnecessary rubber seals inside the auto. then one day it was like someone had turned on the faucet underneath i didnt think it would ever stop. Only then did I take it to AAMCO. My worst fears had come true. I thought it had been my front main seal in the bell housing but what AAMCO told was the pump inside had gone bad. without that the tranni kept overheating and overheating again and again and again, burning everything up and grinding parts. ended up having to rebuild the tranni and threw in a new torque converter while at it. total cost...$2543.76. My best advise...get it looked at NOW!!!!!!!!!!!..dont drive it there either..if you got insurance or AAA that can tow..do it. hopefully this isnt your problem. Since then i have installed a temp gauge for the tranni...just in case. post what was wrong when ya get it looked at..curious to know how many others this is happened too.

12-24-2001, 10:25 AM	#9
mahieber Elite Explorer League City, TX '92 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 547 Vehicle Specs	Last year, in the middle of nowhere, my tranny started spitting out the fluid like you described. Of course I didn't notice the cloud of blue smoke following me down the highway. The damage was done... but the final post-mortem revealed that the transmission cooler that is part of the radiator was so full of gunk that he couldn't blow through the lines with 120psi of compressed air. The seal on the left front of the tranny blew because of the heat build-up. All of the main parts in the tranny including the TC had turned blue from the heat. ...of course the guy gave me a discount because this was the second time he rebuilt my favorite A4LD (automatic-device 4 losing dollars) Don't let them just change out the seal without checking the cooler... it will just happen again if it is clogged. p.s. If you are towing a trailer when the above situation happens, you can take the two hog traps, stack them on top of each other (better done without hogs in them) and then climb to the top to make a rather effective cellular tower. ...here is the original thread that had everyone else's ideas http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...threadid=22187 __________________ Michael 92 XLT 4 Dr 4x4 33x12.50s on Black Rock Crawlers, SmittyBuilt Tube Front w/W9000, 3" body lift, Lift Lips, 2 1/2 "Rancho suspension lift w/Warrior shackles.

12-18-2001, 03:40 AM	#2
Kontrol-Trak Wannabe Elite Explorer Los Angeles, CA 95' EB 4X4 Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 653 Vehicle Specs	I don't know exactly what the problem is, but I think you should take your Ex to a transmission shop ASAP. It will probably result in a very costly repair if you leave it as is.

12-23-2001, 01:48 AM	#6
MSTNGGUY88 Wannabe Elite Explorer Theodore, AL '96 XLT 5.0 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 206 Vehicle Specs	It is either your front seal or torque converter. You may have also busted your torque converter and it will leak like hell. As far as the pump going out, I don't think so. A transmission doesn't leak because the pump went out.

12-23-2001, 10:16 PM	#7
sc4wda XLT Wannabe Elite Explorer Blacksburg, Virginia '92 XLT Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 84 Vehicle Specs	yea..i know, thats what youd think...but what they told me was because the pump went and it kept overheating, it busted up my seals they wore out due to excessive heat, thats what caused the leaking

12-23-2001, 10:33 PM	#8
MSTNGGUY88 Wannabe Elite Explorer Theodore, AL '96 XLT 5.0 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 206 Vehicle Specs	Oh ok makes sense. I overlooked the overheating part. Sorry.

12-24-2001, 07:07 PM	#10
sc4wda XLT Wannabe Elite Explorer Blacksburg, Virginia '92 XLT Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 84 Vehicle Specs	yeeeeuuuup...the blueing of the over heated parts sounds like about what mine looked like. I was there when they pulled the pan off and there was about a quater inch of metal dust sittin on the bottom of the pan too. you know...the first time i had started to notice a leak was the day after i had the fluid "flushed" you know how they tap into the cooler lines and just blow new stuff through there. no cahngin of filter and ya dont even get the good gunkl off the bottom of the pan....Im wondering if the flushing of hte fluid instead of hte old good way of pulling off the pan had anything to do with it.

12-24-2001, 09:43 PM	#11
mahieber Elite Explorer League City, TX '92 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 547 Vehicle Specs	I can't prove it or Jiffy Lube would have been paying the bill. Of course they can't prove that they have ever really lubed any of my zerks, so I don't know why I had the burden of proof... I will not ever get another pump through ATF change in any of my vehicles. I will never get another A4LD transmission. I will brush my teeth before I go to bed. I won't snore tonight, honest. __________________ Michael 92 XLT 4 Dr 4x4 33x12.50s on Black Rock Crawlers, SmittyBuilt Tube Front w/W9000, 3" body lift, Lift Lips, 2 1/2 "Rancho suspension lift w/Warrior shackles.

12-25-2001, 07:46 PM	#12
sc4wda XLT Wannabe Elite Explorer Blacksburg, Virginia '92 XLT Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 84 Vehicle Specs	I will not ever get another pump through ATF change in any of my vehicles.

12-26-2001, 08:28 PM	#13
Bionc Marsh. Elite Explorer Shelbyville, TN '92 Mazda Navajo LX Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 274 Vehicle Specs	I hate to go off on a tangent, but.... I will never! take any of my vehicles to any "quick lube" (job) places ever again! For the first 130,000 miles I took my truck to those places, mostly Jiffy Lube. I was happy and dumb for a long time, until I changed my 2nd tranny. When I pulled it and the t-case I found that the inspection plug had never been taken out of the t-case. I have all the service records on the truck and I paid for the "total" service 3 times. This service was to include changing the fluid in both diffs, the tranny and the t-case. Need I say more. I sent letters to all three companies and stores. I recieved letters back stating that all the stores are franchise and nothing back from the stores themselves. __________________ '92 Navajo - AKA Bionic Marshmallow With some pretty cool off road stuff

12-28-2001, 11:36 AM	#14
Capt Buck Wannabe Elite Explorer Franklinville, South Jersey 92 XLT Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 21 Vehicle Specs	The A4LD trannies do not like any kind of heat build up and must be serviced at fairly short intervals. My '92 sees a lot of soft sand running on the beach for surf fishing and the combination of slow speed and a suck egg clutch fan di d it in and it pewked it's liquid guts on the beach. I installed an electric cooling fan for a 5.0 Mustang that has a variable set point control, along with a new pump seal and it's behaved ever since.