trans leak

[munchman]

hi, i have a 98 windstar, trans leak, looks like it comes from a line on the top left side (looking into engine) of radiator, any help please??

[Ab-normal]

I would clean the area thoroughly and have a second look after a day or two.

Driving can cause wind that blows fluids anywhere. Also, drips from above can trickle down to another location and eventually drip from a lower location that is not anywhere near the actual leak.

Clean it up and place a piece of cardboard under the vehicle. Then look up and trace it back that way. Careful with those tranny lines to the radiator!! They can twist off and break if you don't have the right tool and try to tighten them. Also, if you have a tow-package installed, I think there is a separate tranny fluid cooler to handle the extra load. Check that as well.

[wiswind]

There is a "special" type of connection there.
This is the "Hot" input to the radiator mounted transmission cooler.
The fluid flows into the top of the radiator mounted cooler....and out the bottom. www.autozone.com may show the connections. I have not personally worked with those connections.
There could be a problem with the connection.... OR....I would double-check to make sure that there is not a restriction to flow through the cooler. If there is a restriction (due to crud from the transmission) in the cooler, the transmission can overheat and fail.

There is a TSB from FORD that states that whenever a transmission is replaced, the radiator mounted cooler must be backflushed (fluid run in the bottom...and out the top) to flush any crud out..... and that the flow through the cooler be verified.
Correct flow rate with transmission in Neutral, engine at idle is at least 1/2 quart in 30 seconds. This is with the return line to the transmission....from the cooler disconnected.

The cooler repair process....is to replace the whole radiator assembly.