80 cherokee trans fluid pouring out ?

[troubles789]

My 1980 cherokee with a 258 6 cyl auto trans has started pouring trans fluid out in any gear and even in neutral. It looks to be at the trans engine mating area. Looks like some kind of metal half piece shield covering the converter where the trans fluid is coming from. This is my snow plow vehicle and I got 400 feet of a 700 foot drive still buried after this storm. I run out of trans fluid that i had in the barn all of 1 QT. So I am waiting for a drop off of a case of fluid tomorrow from a friend in town. Give me any ideas what could cause this to leak so badly. I mean it pours out, not drips. Also what parts and cost? I try to do my own labor most of the time. Will trany have to be pulled all the way out? Thanks for any advice, Buried to my waist in snow in paradise.

[JDPascal]

Sounds like either the torque converter has a leak or the pump seal has come out or failed some other way.

If you remove the shield and rotate the engine by hand, you will see if there is a drain plug in the t/cv and you may see where the oil has been running down.
If there is a drain plug and it is still in place, then the transmission will have to be removed. The leak is probably from the pump seal around the converter hub but it could be the outer pump gasket and seal as well. If it is the hub seal, check the hub bushing and hub real close for wear.

JD

[MagicRat]

JD is correct.
But as you say it pours out........and converter seals usually just drip, they don't pour.

Have a good look at the transmission cooler lines that go to the radiator. Since this a plow truck, and old, with salt and all, one may have ruptured. Sometimes they can spray fluid several feet, making it difficult to tell where the leaking is coming from.
Also, the trans has several plugs on it that cap off fluid perssure testing ports. One might be loose or missing.

But in my experience 99.9% of all massive trans leaks are due to the cooler lines. They are cheap and easy to fix. Usually my local auto parts store sells 6 ft lengths of 3/16 inch line already flared with fittings.
In a pinch, you can cut out the rusty bit and use a length of 3/16 rubber fuel line (or better yet trans cooler line) and some tiny hose clamps instead.

[xj31]

i had an 86 that the front seal just disintegrated.one day it was dry as a bone and the next day atf came out almost as fast as you could put it inby the way I think you mean 3/8 lines.3/16 is brake lines

[JDPascal]

The cooler lines are a possibiltiy. They never even crossed my mind when I was writing the response.

But I have seen a front seal fail like this a couple of times. Not common but it does happen.

Like xj31 says, these seals get old like the rest of us and break easier.

Merry Christmas!!!

JD

[troubles789]

OK, Thanks for the ideas. Not a cooler line checked them. Put 5 quarts of atf and 4 12oz bottles of trans sealer fluid. It pretty much stopped the leaking down to a drip for now. It is coming from shield under the converter, front seal area. Hope this gets me through to spring. Its -16 and had to get the 4x4 tractor on the farm across from me to finish the lane. Great christmas gift it was.
Thats the way this one was, poured out as fast as i put it in. I wonder if the seal dried up from setting from march-dec. Thank you all and merry christmas.

[troubles789]

Just a update. 30 days later and the seal is not leaking. The 4 trans sealers and new fluid is not even dripping now. Must have just been the seal drying up during the summer no usage period. Do you all think that is possible. Just dried up seal would pour out like that. Thanks all for your help.

[MagicRat]

I have heard this happening to a tailshaft seal, but not a converter seal. Consider yourself lucky and the leak fixed!!