94 5sp. leak

[45acp]

94, 5 speed manual, 4.0L, ext cab,

I've got a slow leak coming out of the upper section of my tranny, so naturally I suspect the shifter rail plugs. QUestion is - can I get to them through the shifter boot opening (at least enough to do the permatex fix)?

Thanks

 

[Jspafford]

Yes and No.

You can reach them if you pull the boot off, but be careful around the sheet metal. I was only able to pull them out and RTV them. There was no way to get the metal freeze plugs driven in thru that hole.

 

[45acp]

thanks Js

Thanks!
even though this truck (94) only has 124k imaculately maintained miles, - it's beginning to become a P.I.T.A. with these small problems. Last week it was a bad bearing in a non-existant (parts number wise) idler pully for the serp. belt. Now a leak in the trans. & air in the clutch ( which was gone through -all new- rear main seal to front trans seal 35k ago). So i'm gonna sell & upgrade a few years. Don't want to dump a "leaker" on anyone though, but I figure the RTV fix on the seals will hold untill it's time to drop the trans for the next clutch. UNLESS... I have to replace that slave cylinder. THAT makes me miss my toyotas.

One "tech tip" that I havn't seen anyone mention here that I have used a lot when working on boats. When replacing any small leaking plug/gasket in a hard to get to spot with permatex-etc., most failures are due to the fact that the surface had not been cleaned of the previously leaking fluid. USe spray carb cleaner. Just be sure NOT to contaminate your exisitng fluid (in this case trans fluid) with the carb cleaner and don't get it on paint or upholstery.

 

[afralick]

Rubber Plugs

How long has your tranny been leaking? You may want to fill it back up with synthetic tranny fluid. I have melted one down already because of those stuip little plugs.

 

[Jspafford]

I just assumed one would know to clean the ATF off the plugs before using any sort of sealant. I used brake cleaner on the transmission and the plugs before re-installing.

Been fine ever since.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Don't want to dump a "leaker" on anyone though

Some people want a truck with problems because its cheaper to get and they can fix that stuff themselves. I am one of them.

 

[Simple_serf]

Mine has been leaking since I got it...I just top off the fluid on every oil change. The only time it was annoying is when the shop in Seattle over filled it and it puked trans fluid all over my camper. It has 192K miles on it and hasn't melted down yet.

 

[94STXRanger]

Can you get to the shift rail plugs from underneath reaching up through tranny tunnel?

 

[Jspafford]

Only if you drop the crossmember and lower the transmission and transfer case down.

 

[MAKG]

Only if you drop the crossmember and lower the transmission and transfer case down.

And rest the engine on the coil pack.

Be careful about what gets pressed into the firewall. There is a fair amount of stuff to break near the top of the engine.

 

[hutch08]

Mine leaks, whats the easiest way to access the shift rail plugs... through the floor shifter opening or under reaching up the tranny tunnel??

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

ya i just found out my 94 b-3000 has been leaking in the same spot somewhere from the top and i cant figure out wheres its coming from and i tried taking the shifter boot off but i couldnt get the 4x4 shifter knob off to get the hole boot off. but i cant see anything from the shift top so im at a loss of words about where its coming from. im just goin to tighten all the bold and top the fluid up.

 

[hutch08]

http://www.binaryweb.com/fordtech/trannyplug/index.asp

 

[Jspafford]

And rest the engine on the coil pack.

Be careful about what gets pressed into the firewall. There is a fair amount of stuff to break near the top of the engine.

Your right, I guess I should stop assuming everyone knows to watch out for things like this.

I didn't mean to drop it down until it touches the ground, however.

 

[94STXRanger]

Alright so i know when i took off my shift boot it didnt seem like i had a lot of room to reach back there, but if you pull the carpet back is there a big ole cover to take off for easy access?