Ramblin Fever

Next to the auto transmission pan, on the driver's side, there's this snail looking type part - does anyone know what that is??

Seems there might be tranny fluid leaking from there. I'm guessing, but the funny thing is the fluid sure looks an awful lot like oil, and it feels like oil too.

I do have a seeping issue of the valve cover on the driver's side engine - don't know if it's making it's way down to the transmission pan.

I had one of the bolts on the tranny pan make it's way lose about 2 months ago, and a few drops of fluid dripped out and it was pinkish/red, not like this watery brown color I'm seeing tonight - however there is some road grime build up as it looks like that side of the transmission is getting caked in something. But I know, all it takes is one drop of oil to make a horrible mess.

How expensive is the snail looking type part?

Also, why would tranny fluid be weeping from the fill hole on the transmission pan? The last time the fluid was changed was right at 30k miles ago, just today I noticed a VERY TINY amount of fluid "weeping" from the fill hole. Just barely enough to swipe up with your finger tip.

The fill hole is on the passanger side of the truck, so it's not being effected by the gunk on the driver's side.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd be glad to hear them.

I was gonna take the truck in in early March, but it's going in on Wednesday, can't chance frying the tranny if it is leaking fluid.

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1997 3.2L V6 Rodeo
32" Yoko's, 16x8 MB Wheels, 2" lift, Brushguard, KC Fog's, Loadwarrior Rack
On it's way to 185k strong

2004 3.4L Tacoma TRD off-road 4x4 Double cab
32" Yoko's, Westin Bull-bar, KC Fogs 60K miles

rodeo02

The snail thing is the low gear-o-meter . Only thing I can think of on the driver side is the range sensor. It's kind of a semi-circle shaped doohicky with a cable plugged into the top. ATF can seep out of the shift arm that the TRS attaches too. AFAIK, it would take a complete tear down to replace the seal on the shift arm. Let it go unless it's a major hemorrhage.

Joel

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2008 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD 2.7L
2008 Honda Odyssey LX chick magnet
Gone but not forgotten : 2007 Chevy Cobalt LS, 2001 Ford Windstar LX, 2005 Trailblazer LS 4x4, 2002 Isuzu Rodeo LS 4x4 & and many more.

Ramblin Fever

Ok, you're saying that the range sensor is attached to the shift arm? And that this can be where it's leaking from?

If it's a mild leak, how often would I need to check the tranny fluid? If I chose to just let it be.

These tranny's are not the easiest to check the fluid on, as you know.

Is this a sign that the tranny's weakening?

__________________
1997 3.2L V6 Rodeo
32" Yoko's, 16x8 MB Wheels, 2" lift, Brushguard, KC Fog's, Loadwarrior Rack
On it's way to 185k strong

2004 3.4L Tacoma TRD off-road 4x4 Double cab
32" Yoko's, Westin Bull-bar, KC Fogs 60K miles

Tom01Rodeo

Since there is no dipstick, I'd fix any leak asap. The shift arm should be removable, You'll have to drop the pan and possibly the valve body. I've done this before on another tranny when installing a shift kit. Not too bad of a job.