Red Puddle Found Under Car
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Port Orchard WA
Red Puddle Found Under Car
I pulled my A4 coupe out of the garage and noticed the puddle. 
I'm pretty sure its transmission..... Its toward the rear of the car just forward of the axle and more towards the passenger side of the car. Until I can get the car on my jacks, can anybody give me some advise. I mean I'm hoping that this is just the sump pan and not a blown transmission seal or something that I'd have to take in. Car is and was running fine. Car in now parked. Thanks!!! R/ Al
I'm pretty sure its transmission..... Its toward the rear of the car just forward of the axle and more towards the passenger side of the car. Until I can get the car on my jacks, can anybody give me some advise. I mean I'm hoping that this is just the sump pan and not a blown transmission seal or something that I'd have to take in. Car is and was running fine. Car in now parked. Thanks!!! R/ Al
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,108
Likes: 26
From: 4th on the list of top 100 in USA Ga.
puddle
Red is definitely trans. fluid.If you are like me I drive mine very little and it sits in the garage sometimes 3 wks. or longer before I drive it . The seals dry up a little and it leaks a few drops,when I drive it and bring the motor temp. up it stops leaking.I have 4 vehicles and it's hard to drive them regularly. I put a sealer additive in my 97 ford powerstroke diesel and it stopped leaking all together.Don't want to go that route in my vette.:o
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: exeter CA
ATF is a pretty red/pink color....but so is the coolant. From your location should be ATF.
When we the last time you had is changed?
How about driving down to the oil change place and having them check your 4l60E level? They will probably recommend a fluid change, but that never hurts.
When we the last time you had is changed?
How about driving down to the oil change place and having them check your 4l60E level? They will probably recommend a fluid change, but that never hurts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,899
Likes: 1,839
From: Hot Springs AR
Be careful about having Joe Cool mechanic check your tranny fluid level. The C5s require you to pull the drain plug with the engine running on level ground, if it's full then the level will be slightly below the plug. Craziest system I've ever seen.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Port Orchard WA
ATF is a pretty red/pink color....but so is the coolant. From your location should be ATF.
When we the last time you had is changed?
How about driving down to the oil change place and having them check your 4l60E level? They will probably recommend a fluid change, but that never hurts.
When we the last time you had is changed?
How about driving down to the oil change place and having them check your 4l60E level? They will probably recommend a fluid change, but that never hurts.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 321
Likes: 3
From: bloomington Indiana
My A4 had a rear seal leak. It only acted up when the temps got to 45 degrees or less. Finally got fed up with it & fixed it myself during the winter. Plently of wrench time to replace a $48 seal. Drop the rear cradle, exhaust & diff.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: San Angelo TX
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Be careful about having Joe Cool mechanic check your tranny fluid level. The C5s require you to pull the drain plug with the engine running on level ground, if it's full then the level will be slightly below the plug. Craziest system I've ever seen.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
and i dont think you need the engine running to check the fluid level in the M6 either but i could be wrong just the way i used to do it in my fbody
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,398
Likes: 1,139
From: Dyer, IN
So can you tell me exactly where the automatic transmission dipstick is on a c5 vette?
Last edited by lucky131969; Nov 9, 2007 at 05:30 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,899
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From: Hot Springs AR
http://www.idavette.net/hib/C5diy/c5diy2.htm is Hib Halverson's writeup on the C5. Check the "Transmissions and Rear Axle" section of this page.
Good luck, and have a good one,
Mike
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
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From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I had the same trouble last winter. A friend who works only on Vettes (and not for a dealership) told me that it's pretty normal when the temps dip. When the tranny warms up it seals.
There is also a vent on top. If you can see fluid on the top of the tranny there's a good chance it was overfilled.
Checking it is a bummer, make sure that it is really secure on the lift. I tried to develop a small dipstick, but brazing to the check plug was a total waste of time. If someone could fix up a dipstick where you could just check it from underneath it would be great and the'd get rich.
I'm adding a cooler up front together with a deeper pan. Trying to figure out a sight glass of some type around the cooler to check the level.
There is also a vent on top. If you can see fluid on the top of the tranny there's a good chance it was overfilled.
Checking it is a bummer, make sure that it is really secure on the lift. I tried to develop a small dipstick, but brazing to the check plug was a total waste of time. If someone could fix up a dipstick where you could just check it from underneath it would be great and the'd get rich.
I'm adding a cooler up front together with a deeper pan. Trying to figure out a sight glass of some type around the cooler to check the level.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Port Orchard WA
There is no dipstick. Trust me, I've done both M6s and A4s.
http://www.idavette.net/hib/C5diy/c5diy2.htm is Hib Halverson's writeup on the C5. Check the "Transmissions and Rear Axle" section of this page.
Good luck, and have a good one,
Mike
http://www.idavette.net/hib/C5diy/c5diy2.htm is Hib Halverson's writeup on the C5. Check the "Transmissions and Rear Axle" section of this page.
Good luck, and have a good one,
Mike
Thanks everybody. Weather has been cold this week (below 48) so that may be a contributing factor. I'll keep you posted. R/ Al
Last edited by aschiftner; Nov 11, 2007 at 09:06 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
crapo, I think I have to do dat too. It's starting to get cold here in KS, and the garage floor where the car sits has wet lubricating spots on it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Port Orchard WA
Well, I got under the car today and the leak is coming out of the rear of the transmission sump/pan....which to me is a huge relief as compared to what it could have been. I'm suprised that is what I found. I'm wondering now if this maintenance has been done before..... Seems unusual that a sump leak would start at 60,000miles. Whether done before or not the filter, gasket and fluid will get done asap. Easy fix as far as I'm concearned. Thanks forum!!!! R/ Al
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Ashburn Virginia
If you have an automatic, usually i would say start there. another possiblity is if someone has put stop leak in your powersteering. stuff like lucas show up as red in the power steering system.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
pan gaskets dont leak on those trans(unless someone put a cheap one on), fluid leaks through a small hole in the center bottom between trans and diff, then works around pan gsk to make it look like a pan gsk leak. brake clean the area off, spray some powder leak detector around that hole and drive/wait/watch (my money is on a output shaft seal)
been there many times, also replace the outshaft seal on the diff side while your there they leak also
labor should be 6.7hrs if you get a qoute
been there many times, also replace the outshaft seal on the diff side while your there they leak also
labor should be 6.7hrs if you get a qoute
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 321
Likes: 3
From: bloomington Indiana
As far as what it takes to fix the seal yourself, check out:
http://mikemercury.home.att.net/342.htm
http://mikemercury.home.att.net/342.htm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
pan gaskets dont leak on those trans(unless someone put a cheap one on), fluid leaks through a small hole in the center bottom between trans and diff, then works around pan gsk to make it look like a pan gsk leak. brake clean the area off, spray some powder leak detector around that hole and drive/wait/watch (my money is on a output shaft seal)
been there many times, also replace the outshaft seal on the diff side while your there they leak also
labor should be 6.7hrs if you get a qoute
been there many times, also replace the outshaft seal on the diff side while your there they leak also
labor should be 6.7hrs if you get a qoute
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Port Orchard WA
Well, being that I thought it was just the pan I thought I'd pay the money for the flush and fluid swap. After taking it to a national shop that I have taken my other vehicles too they called me and said that they did not see a leak and that they were not going to work on it. They recommended the dealership.
So I took it to the dealership. Grey Cheverlot in Port Orchard. Real nice people. Again figuring just a flush and fluid swap. Plus I'd feel allot better after what I was told at the other place. \\ OUTCOME: \
\\
I have a leak in the fluid pan and 2-4 servo cover seal..... $300 to fix which includes the parts, labor and new fluids. Thoughts????
Thanks forum!!! R/ Al
So I took it to the dealership. Grey Cheverlot in Port Orchard. Real nice people. Again figuring just a flush and fluid swap. Plus I'd feel allot better after what I was told at the other place. \\ OUTCOME: \
\\
I have a leak in the fluid pan and 2-4 servo cover seal..... $300 to fix which includes the parts, labor and new fluids. Thoughts????
Thanks forum!!! R/ Al
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
my money is still on having to pull the diff
300 bucks is cheap if thats all it is
keep us posted
26 years working on drivetrain for GM, can't remember the last time i fixed a leak due to a servo cover seal though
300 bucks is cheap if thats all it is
keep us posted
26 years working on drivetrain for GM, can't remember the last time i fixed a leak due to a servo cover seal though