Transmission leak?
midfiman
11-15-2005, 02:24 PM
Hi gang,
This is my first post here. Can someone please help me. First off, looks like my tranny is leaking. I honestly don't know much about transmissions. However, looking right in between the 2 front tires, there's a rod that goes across the width of the truck (not all the way, i'd say maybe 3.5 ft across). In line with that rod (not the rod itself), there's a joint where there's a leak with a light, clear, very faint brownish liquid leaking. It only leaks like 1-2 drops per day if I had to guess.
A couple of questions:
From what i've read, this sounds like a seal leak. Is this expensive to repair? Anyone have any ideas of what kind of cost I can expect?
Secondly, can I just manually add in my own transmission fluid for now? Do I use Dextron III? It's a 2002 S-10 LS 4.3 V6. Where do I put it in?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
This is my first post here. Can someone please help me. First off, looks like my tranny is leaking. I honestly don't know much about transmissions. However, looking right in between the 2 front tires, there's a rod that goes across the width of the truck (not all the way, i'd say maybe 3.5 ft across). In line with that rod (not the rod itself), there's a joint where there's a leak with a light, clear, very faint brownish liquid leaking. It only leaks like 1-2 drops per day if I had to guess.
A couple of questions:
From what i've read, this sounds like a seal leak. Is this expensive to repair? Anyone have any ideas of what kind of cost I can expect?
Secondly, can I just manually add in my own transmission fluid for now? Do I use Dextron III? It's a 2002 S-10 LS 4.3 V6. Where do I put it in?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
OverBoardProject
11-15-2005, 03:40 PM
Welcome to AF there midfiman
Is it an auto or 5 speed?
What year?
If it's an auto it's easy to add the fluid.
just check the dipstick with the motor running, and use a funnel to add the right amount.
If it's a 5 speed there's a thread in plug on the side probably about 1/2 way up.
Pull this plug, and use yor finger to check the level.
If it's low add fluid until it starts to run out the plug.
If you have the owners manual check with this to see what type of oil to use.
If you don't have it let us know, and someone will look it up for you.
About the leak.
If it isn't too bad, you might want to leave it until you have to pull the transmission for another reason.
Can you take a picture of where it's leaking from. Then we can tell you how hard it is to fix
Good Luck
Is it an auto or 5 speed?
What year?
If it's an auto it's easy to add the fluid.
just check the dipstick with the motor running, and use a funnel to add the right amount.
If it's a 5 speed there's a thread in plug on the side probably about 1/2 way up.
Pull this plug, and use yor finger to check the level.
If it's low add fluid until it starts to run out the plug.
If you have the owners manual check with this to see what type of oil to use.
If you don't have it let us know, and someone will look it up for you.
About the leak.
If it isn't too bad, you might want to leave it until you have to pull the transmission for another reason.
Can you take a picture of where it's leaking from. Then we can tell you how hard it is to fix
Good Luck
midfiman
11-16-2005, 06:05 AM
Welcome to AF there midfiman
Is it an auto or 5 speed?
What year?
If it's an auto it's easy to add the fluid.
just check the dipstick with the motor running, and use a funnel to add the right amount.
If it's a 5 speed there's a thread in plug on the side probably about 1/2 way up.
Pull this plug, and use yor finger to check the level.
If it's low add fluid until it starts to run out the plug.
If you have the owners manual check with this to see what type of oil to use.
If you don't have it let us know, and someone will look it up for you.
About the leak.
If it isn't too bad, you might want to leave it until you have to pull the transmission for another reason.
Can you take a picture of where it's leaking from. Then we can tell you how hard it is to fix
Good Luck
Hi overboard, thanks for your response. It's a 2002 automatic 4.3 V6 I finally found the dipstick yesterday after looking in the manual where to find it. It's definately not very intuitive. Yes, I will try and take a picture tonight for you. There's a pipe that goes straight up where that bar I described above is. It's at the bottom of that "pipe" that the leak is occuring.
Thanks again.
Is it an auto or 5 speed?
What year?
If it's an auto it's easy to add the fluid.
just check the dipstick with the motor running, and use a funnel to add the right amount.
If it's a 5 speed there's a thread in plug on the side probably about 1/2 way up.
Pull this plug, and use yor finger to check the level.
If it's low add fluid until it starts to run out the plug.
If you have the owners manual check with this to see what type of oil to use.
If you don't have it let us know, and someone will look it up for you.
About the leak.
If it isn't too bad, you might want to leave it until you have to pull the transmission for another reason.
Can you take a picture of where it's leaking from. Then we can tell you how hard it is to fix
Good Luck
Hi overboard, thanks for your response. It's a 2002 automatic 4.3 V6 I finally found the dipstick yesterday after looking in the manual where to find it. It's definately not very intuitive. Yes, I will try and take a picture tonight for you. There's a pipe that goes straight up where that bar I described above is. It's at the bottom of that "pipe" that the leak is occuring.
Thanks again.
RahX
11-16-2005, 10:04 AM
it sounds like the rear main transmission seal, not too hard to change. is the 'rod' holding up the rear of the transmission? if its not leaking really bad i wouldnt mess with it for now. if its leaking quite a bit youll have to pull the driveshaft. before you pull it, mark the driveshaft and the flange on the diff so you can line it back up when you put it back together. using a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, use the driver to bend the seal so you can get a good bite with the pliers and twist+pull. your goal is to get the old one out any way you can without scratching up the inner surface(where the old seal seals against the transmission) then get a socket that is big enough to go around the seal(rubber part) and sit against the metal part so you can drive it in with a hammer. try to hit it square and make it go in straight. when youre all done lube up the seal with some old or new trans fluid so its not dry. there may even be grease in the seal already, spread it over the sealing lips. just enough to wet its whistle. next clean off the end of the driveshaft that goes into the transmission, lube it up with some new/old trans fluid and slip it in. dont worry about lining it up on the transmission end, it MIGHT be keyed so it only goes on there one way but its unlikely, just make sure its in the same position with the diff as it was when you took it out. thus the reason for the marks you made before you pulled it out :) all in all it should only take about an hour at the longest. its not all that hard to do.
OverBoardProject
11-16-2005, 10:49 AM
If the weather clears up here I'll be doing the same job to my transfer case soon.
If it isn't too dirty I might take some pic's as I go.
I'll see
If it isn't too dirty I might take some pic's as I go.
I'll see
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