Tranny leak & Over head temp display

[a_alyte]

Lately, I've noticed transmission fluid dripping off the bottom of my front bumper. The fluid also seems to be getting on the fan shroud & the top side of my splash-shield.

Tranny fluid was added about a month ago & was slightly over filled. The drops on the ground are minimal but fluid is visibly noticable once the hood is opened.

The day after I noticed the tranny leak, my over head temp. display started reading "0 & -1" degrees when it was at least 30 degrees outside! The compass is still acurate, for the mean time. Could the leak have anything to do with this?

[dksob81]

could be, the tranny fluid could be on the outside air temp sensor (Located behind the grill) and it might have froze on it causing the temp to show an inaccurate reading.

the leak is prolly coming from the auxilary tranny coolaer, small black radiator grill looking thing on the passenger side in front if the AC condensor and radiator.

[JDPascal]

My 96 has a slow atf leak from the same area. It is the cooler lines that run along the frame, under the battery. A short section looks like they are hoses.

I have to take the time one of these weekends and have a closer look - maybe order some parts too.

Your over head display may have the capability of displaying in Farinheit or Celsius. On mine, the button nearest the driver on the overhead consol switches the display between the two. It would make sense because 30F is about -1C.

JD

[dksob81]

hahaha, never thought about that JD, thats a great point.

[a_alyte]

My mistake on the overhead temp display, it was set to Celcius, thanks JD.

My 1st thought was the cooler lines as well, just had a new rad put in a month ago! Hopefully something just needs tightenting! The leak seems to be concentrated on the drivers side of the Jeep, just left of the air filter, & the passengers side seems pretty dry!

Unfortunately, I don't have a garage so I'll have to find a suitable location (free from snow) to look from underneath!

[Caribbean ZJ]

2 weeks after putting in a new rad i noticed a leak like yours. Mines came from the lower tranny cooler line hose. Its the 2 O rings at the end, on the inside of the line that fail. Keep checking your fluid level. I still have this problem after 4 months. An NY dealership told me that this line on my 93' is discontinued. Sounds like BS to me. You need to buy the Whole line they dont sell 'just' the O rings. Careful this stuff gets on your left brake rotor and can reduce braking power.

[a_alyte]

Thanks for the info. Caribbean ZJ, do you know if it's difficult to install a new "line," or is it pretty simple?

I'll ask around in my area about the O-ring, I'm not too knowledgable on this topic, but hopefully the whole line doesn't need to be replaced!

[a_alyte]

The tranny line going to the top portion of my radiator was a little loose, I got a few good turns on it! Now the bottom line seems a bit tricky.

If the bottom tranny line is loose, I'll have to remove the bottom radiator hose in order to access it!

My question is, does the Jeep have to be cold in order to remove the bottom radiator hose? I don't want to be under there if coolant will rush out!

[dksob81]

well coolant will rush out, and yes let the jeep cool down before proceding.

Question:
You can't get to the Lower cooler line from the top (on my 5.2L it is a lil tight, but I can get to it).

[a_alyte]

That's correct, I cannot get to the lower cooler line from the top. I can see the lower line from the top, but it curves so that I cannot see where it meets the radiator!

[JDPascal]

If you were able to get a crowfoot wrench in a 12pt flarenut like this

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

you might get in to tighten it with a ratchet and extension.

It doesn't have to be snapon but that configuration.

Better to drain the rad before you take the rad hose off. My first experience with hot antifreeze was the lower rad hose coming off while I was laying under the front of the engine. Bad news!!!

JD

[a_alyte]

Thanks for the tip JD, I'll look around for one of those crowfoot wrenches!

If I don't drain the Rad, & I let the Jeep sit overnight to completely cool, would there still be alot of antifreeze coming out of the lower Rad hose?

[JDPascal]

If you just pull the lower rad hose off, you'll get antifreeze coming out of the rad and the block at the same time. Not a good way to try and catch it in a drain pan. The total capacity is 12 qts for th e 4.0 and 15 for the 5.2 . You'll have to catch most of it if you take the lower hose off.

I haven't had to drain mine yet but there should be a standard rad drain along the bottom rad tank somewhere. Be sure to remove the rad cap so it will drain properly.

JD

[dksob81]

Yes the is a drain plug, along the bottum, Iif I am correct it is on the right (passengerside) of the radiator (4.0L engines) engine side of the radiator. 5.2L engines it is located on the driverside of the radi toward the engine. also if it is the same as the 5.2L you will have to twist and pull the plug to get it out (it's not screw in).

[Caribbean ZJ]

The nipple for the lower tranny line is right next to the Lower rad hose. Just get a flashlight no need to drain coolant or mover coolant hose.