OH NO! Transmission problem..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
OH NO! Transmission problem..
I walked out into the garage last night and to my surprise there was a "blood trail" going just under the little fender out to where I store my battery charger.... 
.... I looked at my vette and "what's wrong?" came out 
. anyways, I looked under the car and there's about 3 quarts of tranny fluid under the car
. The car hasnt been started nor moved in almost a month. Maybe she's just wanting attention?
haven't been showing her much lately (to busy
)
Any Ideas what? why? or how? this came to be. anyone else had this problem before?
Never had a trans dump oil and not have been run. (I do start it up every now and then, but that's it. Last time the car moved it never saw rpms above 2,000)
.... I looked at my vette and "what's wrong?" came out . anyways, I looked under the car and there's about 3 quarts of tranny fluid under the car. The car hasnt been started nor moved in almost a month. Maybe she's just wanting attention? haven't been showing her much lately (to busy) Any Ideas what? why? or how? this came to be. anyone else had this problem before?
Never had a trans dump oil and not have been run. (I do start it up every now and then, but that's it. Last time the car moved it never saw rpms above 2,000)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
Not yet, It's usually to late at night to start poking around. Tomorrow is my day off And I'll look at it in the afternoon, maybe even take it to a shop just to be safe. What worries me is the fact that I don't see any "drips" on the trans pan. The fluid is roughly under the engine/TQ converter area. I just hope it nothing major.
If it's worse case senerio.... I was thinking about a shift kit and a little bigger converter. What's recommended? it's a DD/cruiser
If it's worse case senerio.... I was thinking about a shift kit and a little bigger converter. What's recommended? it's a DD/cruiser
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,154
Likes: 553
From: Glenbeulah Wi
I walked out into the garage last night and to my surprise there was a "blood trail" going just under the little fender out to where I store my battery charger.... .... I looked at my vette and "what's wrong?" came out . anyways, I looked under the car and there's about 3 quarts of tranny fluid under the car. The car hasnt been started nor moved in almost a month. Maybe she's just wanting attention? haven't been showing her much lately (to busy)
Any Ideas what? why? or how? this came to be. anyone else had this problem before?
Never had a trans dump oil and not have been run. (I do start it up every now and then, but that's it. Last time the car moved it never saw rpms above 2,000)
.... I looked at my vette and "what's wrong?" came out . anyways, I looked under the car and there's about 3 quarts of tranny fluid under the car. The car hasnt been started nor moved in almost a month. Maybe she's just wanting attention? haven't been showing her much lately (to busy) Any Ideas what? why? or how? this came to be. anyone else had this problem before?
Never had a trans dump oil and not have been run. (I do start it up every now and then, but that's it. Last time the car moved it never saw rpms above 2,000)
It is not uncommon for a transmission that sits for a few months (especially in cold weather) to loose some fluid. What happens is the torque convertor slowly drains into the pan causing it to overfill and leak out from the fill tube gasket. It would be ideal if this did not happen but if it does not leak when you use it on a regular basis I would refill the transmission and just start it every few weeks to refill the convertor.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 520
Likes: 6
From: Elverson PA
My trans leaks from this area when it sits for a long time too. First I bought a $150 aluminum trans pan with a rubber gasket. That didn't help. My mechanic and I both thought it was the seals on the front of the trans. I then had the trans pulled and new seals put in. When he took it out, he couldn't get the thing apart to change the seals, so he took it to a trans shop. They said while they were in there they should change out the soft parts too, as they looked pretty worn (130,000 miles). It wasn't too expensive, so I told them to fix her up. Well, the new trans is great, but it still leaks when it sits for a long time (i.e. couple weeks or so). I thought it was the pan, but maybe it is that plug.
When I got the car it sat for long periods of time and never leaked. It all started when I pulled the pan to change the filter. Only thing different is that I did not use RTV when I reinstalled the pan. Are you supposed to use the RTV? I was told not too then. Now my mechanic tells me to try this stuff called The Right Stuff (I think). I bought it for $25, but have not tried it yet.
Dave
When I got the car it sat for long periods of time and never leaked. It all started when I pulled the pan to change the filter. Only thing different is that I did not use RTV when I reinstalled the pan. Are you supposed to use the RTV? I was told not too then. Now my mechanic tells me to try this stuff called The Right Stuff (I think). I bought it for $25, but have not tried it yet.
Dave
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 520
Likes: 6
From: Elverson PA
5pinball i have never used rtv on tranny pan, its not needed. are you useing a torque wrench? if not, use one. ive even reused gasket and not had problems. maybe your pan is bent
Yes, I used a torque wrench. And I did think the pan must be bent, that is why I spent out on a TCI aluminum pan. And still leaking. I do have one scratch on the mating surface of the trans. The mechanic scratched it a little when prying off the old pan that was RTV'd on there. I was upset at first, but have gotten over it. It was very hard to get the pan off the first time. Maybe I will just try a dab of rtv right there.
I will also check out the seal around the fill tube. Thanks for the tips. When I get a chance I will check it out further.
Dave
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Old Orchard Beach Maine
I put my '85 w/ 700R4 in the trailer in Nov and bring it out in Apr. Every year a small puddle of trans fluid. When the fluid level is full, the torque converter (inactive) will leak down causing the now full trans to leak usually out, usually from the fill tube area. Even a small cup trans fluid on an flat alum or conc. floor can look like a large problem.