Tranny Leak

[Koolhand]

Is there a vent tube or something in the top of the tranny on a 2002 explorer that could leak? I've got a small leak on mine, dealer thought one of the cooler lines was loose. Replaced that day before yesterday. Today noticed it still leaks. Looks like it is coming from the top of the tranny, running down the side onto the cooler lines. Gotta love it.

 

[Blee1099]

Originally posted by Koolhand
Is there a vent tube or something in the top of the tranny on a 2002 explorer that could leak? I've got a small leak on mine, dealer thought one of the cooler lines was loose. Replaced that day before yesterday. Today noticed it still leaks. Looks like it is coming from the top of the tranny, running down the side onto the cooler lines. Gotta love it.

There is a vent tube.. Have you run the truck through any high water or mud recently? The best thing to do is to pinpoint the exact location of where its leaking from.. It could be a number of things especially since the dealership just replaced a coolant line..

 

[Billy177]

do you have a warrantee for all this stuff.

check to make sure the dipstick tube is firmly seated

 

[jobunn]

Have you added fluid or had it flushed recently?

My tranny leaked one time after I got it flushed because it was overfilled.

 

[Koolhand]

2002 explorer's don't have a dip stick. They are "sealed for life". Can't even add transmission fluid without special service tools and standing on your head, backwards. Have had some tranny work done last month, but the leak did'nt start until several weeks after. Leak is not bad, couple of drops on the garage floor. Got it back fron the dealer yesterday, no leak. Did some hard driving today and got the tranny good and hot, now a leak. Thought I might have just heated the thing up a bit and it pushed some out the vent tube. Gonna drive it a few more days and monitor. If it does not stop, or gets worse, back to the dealer I go. Yes it is still under warranty, just a huge hassel to keep taking it to them so they can hook it up to a computer, shrug their shoulders and say, "It's normal".

 

[Billy177]

are you sure it is not power steeringfluid

 

[Koolhand]

Never thought of that. Kinda funny for the fluid to be on the fittings for the trans cooler lines though. Looking at the transmission from under the truck, I can see where it is dripping. There is fluid around the cooler line fittings on the side of the transmission, and it looks like it has run down the side from the top. I'll double check and make sure it's not power steering fluid. Thanks Billy for all of your input today.

 

[satyr64]

How do we flush or change our tranny fluid on 3rd gen. I have 21k on mine and at 30k I would like to change the fluid. For those with 3rd gen X Haynes manual is coming out in April, hopefully they have some tips in there.

 

[Billy177]

ford probrally has a way of doing i but i think they made it so you will never have to so people just pay them for new trannies down the road or something

 

[Koolhand]

The dealer can do it. They hook up a machine to the cooler lines, let the truck idle and pump out the old fluid. As it comes out the new goes in. Heres the kicker though. The truck has to be perfectly level on a rack and the tranny can not get over a certain temperature during the hole process. There are also "special service tools" that are required. The reasoning behind it from what I've been told is so not just any pump jockey can put something red and slick in the tranny. Only the ones ford trained. Had mine done at 27000. Not too bad, $35-$45.