Trans pan leaking

[joebroni99]

Hi,

I am in a serious situation here and really have no clue what to do. Last fall I had changed my transmission fluid for the first time. I cleaned all surfaces and followed all bolt patterns and used a new rubber gasket. 2 weeks later the pan started leaking. So I pulled it off and did it again. And the same thing happened. So I changed it again. and Again. and Again. I went through r rubber gaskets. I tried just the rubber gasket, the rubber gasket with RTV, just RTV as a gasket maker all with no luck. Finally on the 6th time it had stopped leaking when a friend recommended trying the paper gasket. Or so I thought. It had stopped it from leaking during the winter but a few weeks ago I noticed the trans slipping again. When I had first looked it didnt seem like it was leaking. But after I last drove it I saw the nice puddle of ATF I left in the road. And now it looks like I have to do it a 7th time in under a year. My friend said maybe I should buy a new pan and try that. But I dont really see a need for that because I did not over tighten the bolts or hit a rock or anything to have warped the pan. But I guess I should just to cover basis. What I dont understand is that the pan wasnt leaking before I changed it. And I also changed the trans fluid on my thunderbird at the same time and its fine. What would be causing the pan to keep leaking after a while? I am starting to think that maybe their is something wrong with the trans. Like maybe the pump isnt working causing the trans to overheat and kill the gasket. or the intercooler is clogged although one time when I changed the fluid I drained it and I was able to blow through it. I just dont know. PLEASE anybody help me

Joe C.

 

[tbe2002]

Where is the leak coming from on the Pan? Is it from the front of the trans? It may not be your pan gasket thats leaking. It might be the front pump seal in the bell housing of the trans. It could even be the bell housing to trans gasket too. I have never seen a pan gasket leak that bad, seep yes, but not pour out. Is it doing it when the car is running only? or when you first fill it or when the truck is sitting off? How many miles are on the trans?

 

[joebroni99]

well the truck has 160k. Im not 100 % that it is the pan this time. In the fall when i had changed it the first time it had a profound leak. It usually took a week or so for the leak to develop and then start draining out. It looks like its coming from the front passenger side. It could be the things you had mention this time. It wouldnt make sense that it could have been that the first time and then just stopped leaking for 7 months and start up again. The truck has been sitting in the same spot I parked it for a week. It looks just like the puddles i left when it was the pan leaking. and in the fall I had confirmed it to be the pan by checking if anything was leaking above it and it wasnt. Im just getting tired of working on this truck it seems it never works.

 

[joebroni99]

I just got under it a few minutes ago to try and locate exactly where its leaking from. At this point I am not 100 % sure. It seems like its either the gasket. Or on the passenger front side is 2 round cylinder shaped things that stick out the side of the trans about 2 inches. It looks like it could be the one closest to the front. I dont know what that is or why it would leak. And if thats the case is that something I can fix with just a seal? And also would I be able to fix it with the trans still in the car?

 

[BlueStreak94]

i just had this same problem on my 94. I'm guessin yours is 4wd?

 

[IZwack]

I just got under it a few minutes ago to try and locate exactly where its leaking from. At this point I am not 100 % sure. It seems like its either the gasket. Or on the passenger front side is 2 round cylinder shaped things that stick out the side of the trans about 2 inches. It looks like it could be the one closest to the front. I dont know what that is or why it would leak. And if thats the case is that something I can fix with just a seal? And also would I be able to fix it with the trans still in the car?

Those round things on the side are servos and look kind of like this (although this is from a GM transmission):
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n97/Vinceflt/IMG_1454.jpg

Wipe down the transmissoin really well and take it for a short spin and then get under it again to see where the leak is from.

 

[joebroni99]

i just had this same problem on my 94. I'm guessin yours is 4wd?

Yes 4wd. Were you able to fix this? Was it a serious job to fix it?

 

[joebroni99]

Those round things on the side are servos and look kind of like this (although this is from a GM transmission):
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n97/Vinceflt/IMG_1454.jpg

Wipe down the transmissoin really well and take it for a short spin and then get under it again to see where the leak is from.

Yea I will do that tonight. If it is the servo leaking is it fixable with the trans still in the car?

 

[joebroni99]

OK found the leak. Its the dipstick tube. So Im guessing that its just an O-ring that I need to replace on the tube that inserts into the tranny?

 

[IZwack]

OK found the leak. Its the dipstick tube. So Im guessing that its just an O-ring that I need to replace on the tube that inserts into the tranny?

Yeah it has an O-ring - orange I believe, maybe brown.