Trans leak

[rumblecloud]

Went for a ride yesterday. Parked the truck in the shop. Got out and went to get jack to raise the front end and see if I can improve on the alignment. Turned around and trans fluid was streaming down underneath - not dripping, a nice little stream.
I can't tell where it is coming from exactly, but it is from the passenger side. It's not the pan, but somewhere above the pan. I can't see up there nor get my fat fingers up to feel for it cause the cat is in the way. It's very tight.

So what's up there that can just come loose? There were no indications that anything was amiss. I have to look at it again today when the cat isn't hot, but it would be nice if I kinda knew what I was looking for.

Thanks for any ideas.
r

 

[Uncle Gump]

Cooler lines...

 

[DILLARD000]

Vent line?

 

[Shran]

Cooler lines, vacuum modulator, dipstick tube...those are all on the passenger side, maybe the breather at the top of the trans could be in play as well, got hot enough to puke out, rubber part disintegrated maybe? My money is on the cooler lines too though.

M5OD swap sounds like a good fix.

 

[DILLARD000]

Yep diptube can get loose. Use a hex socket to tap it back into its seat.

 

[rumblecloud]

Just crawled out from under it. The coolant lines are grimy, but it doesn't appear to have come from there. Hard to trace and there's no room.
I'm hoping its the dip stick tube. Dropping the tranny is not on my list of top10 to-do's.
Thanks gentlemen. I will keep you al posted. Have to go move rocks now ---ugh!

 

[Shran]

There is an O ring on the dipstick tube, I have had that go bad several times and leak all over. Easy and cheap fix but you have to remove one of the bellhousing bolts to get the dipstick tube out.

 

[rumblecloud]

I'm going to have to wait till tomorrow to see if I can figure out where the leak is coming from. And I need more trans fluid. I'll try to catch as much as I can in a clean tub then filter it and re-use till I find the leak.
Right now the fluid level is normal, but I know you have to check warm and idling. Sooooo...that means adding fluid till it starts to leak and see if I can trace from underneath. That means the cat will be hot...pppfffft.

Stay tuned.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Does it drip sitting there idling?

How bad is it leaking?

If it's a steady drip... probably not the filler tube... or the vent.

 

[rumblecloud]

Sitting and not running it is not leaking. Yesterday, after the initial spill of at least 1 quart, I backed it out onto the dirt- still idling - and it slowed to a stop. It's just strange. I put a quart back in and it did not leak as it was idling.
I need to confirm all this tomorrow when I have more time. When it happened, it caught me by complete surprise. I was staring at this red liquid pouring down on my new concrete floor WTF. lol
I did change the trans filter and fluid in the pan - not in the torque converter - last month and have not had an issue till yesterday. I stopped checking the fluid level after about a week of running it as it was all good.

 

[rumblecloud]

Found the leak.
Was able to get under it while it was running (necessary safety precautions met) and got a pic of the source of the leak.
The pic is taken from the passenger side looking back at the front of the trans pan above the crossover.

It looks like it's coming from the front corner of the pan, but from what I could see it's coming from just above the pan from that round doohicky (technical name).
Okay so now what do I do.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That's a servo... I don't know exactly but I'm sure onre of these guys will know.

You look in the library for pictures to ID?

 

[pjtoledo]

a few years ago I had a servo cover crack on the 2000, damn thing squirted oil out under pressure.

 

[rumblecloud]

That's a servo... I don't know exactly but I'm sure onre of these guys will know.

You look in the library for pictures to ID?

Tech Library A4LD Service Manual.
I believe it is the Overdrive Servo and the piece that is sticking out is the Retaining Ring #E860343

Now I have to figure out how to fix it.

EDIT: It looks like it's a snap ring and I may be able to pop it back in place. Also looks like new replacements are available...yippee!

 

[Shran]

I was staring at this red liquid pouring down on my new concrete floor WTF. lol

For the sake of science you could send a pic like this to your friends, family and wife with no description and see what they say.

My wife about shit a brick.