trans leak

so my trans may be done, but i am hoping not.

the issue is that the other day, it n-bombed its self 3 times before i got the car warmed up.
the next day, it did it 4 more times.

every time i was sitting at a stop sign or something like that.

after checking the fluid level i found it was 1-1.5 quarts low on fluid.
i added fluid and it is fine.

anyway. since the problem just started, and i am now seeing fluid pools develop under the car when it sits for a while running, i am thinking that something is pretty wrong.

what should i check when i am under the car.
are there any obvious things to check that would be leaking like this?
thanks for any help.

:2cents: :2cents: so my trans may be done, but i am hoping not.

the issue is that the other day, it n-bombed its self 3 times before i got the car warmed up.
the next day, it did it 4 more times.

every time i was sitting at a stop sign or something like that.

after checking the fluid level i found it was 1-1.5 quarts low on fluid.
i added fluid and it is fine.

anyway. since the problem just started, and i am now seeing fluid pools develop under the car when it sits for a while running, i am thinking that something is pretty wrong.

what should i check when i am under the car.
are there any obvious things to check that would be leaking like this?
thanks for any help.


it may be something as simple as your tranny pan gasket but it may not... just because it leaks doesn't mean it is completely shot. It is when we keep driving the car and adding fluid instead of taking it to the shop what really kills it. Take that thing to the shop and see if they can give you an idea of where its coming from then fix it yourself if you can. :2cents:

Diagnosing the leak will be half the price of having it fixed. Just look at the pan gasket and cooler lines. Leaks are usually very easy to find. If you can't tell what's leaking, then take it to a shop.

update...

yesterday, i put the car into reverse, and after backing up into my parking spot, i noticed a 2" thick stream of trans juice on the ground...
checked my level and it was barely on the dipstick.
so...
i guess im gonna have to tow to a shop unless anyone has any ideas


note:
it started leaking when i put the car into reverse. there was not any noticable trans juice on the ground while i was moving foreward.
dont know if this is an important bit of info, but hey... cant hurt.

another update.

its not coming from the front seal or whatever... where the torque converter is.
i dont think its coming from the pan gasket cause i tightened all the bolts and it still leaks.
it only leaks in reverse that i can tell.
when it leaks it pours out and is frothy.

i need help here.
cant afford a shop.

Get under there with a few cans of brake parts cleaner and a bag of rags. Clean everything off around the pan, tailshaft, torque converter, etc. With it clean you can identify new leaks.

I'm not sure why it would only leak in reverse, but I suggest the output shaft seal. Fortunately its pretty easy to replace.

But, what you describe isnt' death, just symptoms of a leak. The fluid gets low, it won't have enough pressure to engage a gear, you put more in and its fine for a while. I strongly suggest against driving it with low fluid levels as that can cause permanent damage, but I doubt you've hurt anything at this point.

another update.

its not coming from the front seal or whatever... where the torque converter is.
i dont think its coming from the pan gasket cause i tightened all the bolts and it still leaks.
it only leaks in reverse that i can tell.
when it leaks it pours out and is frothy.

i need help here.
cant afford a shop.

check around the dipstick tube. the one on my gmc jimmy leaked from there, what about the rear seal on the trans? can it leak from where the shift linkage enters the transmission case?
just some ideas... im not a trans guy just my :2cents:

You describe a frothy appearance.

It's possible that you are putting a bit too much in there and it is coming out of the vent tube, located on the top of the transmission - just aft of the bellhousing. It could also indicate a front pump cavitation issue - oil in the transmission becomes foamy and comes out of the vent. Sometimes, it will also come out of the dipstick tube.

A front pump cavitation can be caused by an improperly installed/sealed fluid filter.

but why would it all the sudden fail like that.
i have had no work done, and have not put any fluid in in a while until i checked it earlier this week and it was low.
i left the level at the botttom of the full range.

its not overflow.
it is coming out from inside the trans somewhere.

im thinking its the pan gasket that failed, or a valve body possibly.

It won't be a valve body leak, as this would be internal. It could be a pan leak, or a dipstick tube seal leak, or a TV cable/seal leak. None of these, however, will explain foam.

Have you 'bottomed' out the car lately? Driven on rough roads? This could cause the filter to loosen enough to allow air into the front pump, causing cavitation, foaming and ejection of the fluid.

ive talked to a mechanic and he thinks that it could be some kind of reverse thing.
apparently there is a device (i forget the name) above where the pan seals to the body of the trans and it is held in place with a rubber donut/gromet thing.
he thinks that the rubber may have deteriorated and is leaking.

i may have bottomed out, but there is no visible scraping anywhere.