Need help, guys, A4LD puked

[Fast Doc]

I can't afford this right now...

1992 STX 4X4 A4LD 93,000 miles.

Was driving home from the river with a 1,500 pound boat. About 10 miles, max speed 55. The truck seemed fine, but when I put it in the garage it was dripping tranny fluid. I let it sit, and then when I started it it had a wandering idle speed, going from about 300-1200 RPM and then it settled down. That never happened before.

I checked the dipstick, and it looked full (at the bottom of the hash marks, at the level of the upper hole). Can't tell where it's leaking from, it's a mess down there. It appears to be coming from the junction of the bell housing and the engine, but who knows.

The dipstick was in place.

What's up here? The pan gasket looked dry.

FWIW in March Jiffy Lube changed the tranny fluid and I never checked to see if it was overfilled. This is the first time I've towed with it since then. Could it have been overfilled? Where does the extra fluid go in this case?

Please help guys. I need this truck. Soon to be exwife is getting the new Dodge...

 

[Bruce]

Sounds like tranny may have overheated a little bit and puked some oil out of vent tube or front pump seal. It may not leak once it cools down but then again it could still leak. If its the front pump seal tranny has to come out if it is still leaking. Since truck has cooled down pop the radiator cap off and see if coolant is low in radiator...if it is then that is the reason for the overheat.Trans cooler is in the radiator(if not externally cooler equipped ) and when the coolant level falls low in radiator tranny will overheat.

 

[Fast Doc]

I went to the store and got some degreaser. I'll clean it up and see. How big (expensive) a job is the front seal?

 

[Fast Doc]

OK. It is leaking from between the bell housing and the back of the engine out a little gap in the bottom. What is this going to cost me?

 

[Ronin]

Are you sure that it is not residual ATF coming from the vent tube up above?

A shop topped up my trans when it was cold so when I got it up to operating temp it came out the vent tube and covered the bottom of my truck. When I parked it, it dripped just like yours between the engine and trans and I thought for sure it was the front seal.

Hopefully that is all it is, otherwise the trans has to be removed to get to the front seal.

 

[Bruce]

OK. It is leaking from between the bell housing and the back of the engine out a little gap in the bottom. What is this going to cost me?

Sir: if it is the front seal leaking i cannot tell you what it will cost in your area to have it fixed...the best idea would be to take it to a GOOD repair shop or transmission shop for a quote to repair.

 

[Fast Doc]

Are you sure that it is not residual ATF coming from the vent tube up above?

A shop topped up my trans when it was cold so when I got it up to operating temp it came out the vent tube and covered the bottom of my truck. When I parked it, it dripped just like yours between the engine and trans and I thought for sure it was the front seal.

Hopefully that is all it is, otherwise the trans has to be removed to get to the front seal.

Don't know. The funny thing is that the dipstick reads full, so I think it may be overfilled and never got hot since the overfilling. Maybe I'll drive it some more, checking the level frequently and see.

If it's no good, I know a good shop, but cash is a little tight now with the Big D.

 

[Fast Doc]

Can I see the vent tube?

 

[Ronin]

Don't know. The funny thing is that the dipstick reads full, so I think it may be overfilled and never got hot since the overfilling. Maybe I'll drive it some more, checking the level frequently and see.

If it's no good, I know a good shop, but cash is a little tight now with the Big D.

Be really careful about that if you decide to do it. If you lose all your ATF you will burn up your trans which is major money. I was fortunate in that I just had my Ranger in the shop and they thought they were doing me a favor topping up all my fluids so it was easier for me to figure out what happened. The vent tube is at the top of your trans almost directly above the split between your engine and the bellhousing.

Did you check your coolant level? Is it low?

 

[Fast Doc]

Coolant was fine, and fresh, and the temp gauge always points to te low end of the arc.

Only less than a teaspoon of fluid under the truck this AM. Checked the fluid and it remains full. Drove it to work (7 miles) and will look under it later to see if it is dripping, then recheck and drive it home tonight. Will report back with results.

Thanks for the location of the overflow. Can it be seen directly? With a mirror?

 

[Fast Doc]

I drove it about 30 miles today checking the fluid every 10 miles or so and it remains full. No more dripping. Maybe I got lucky and it was overfilled?

 

[AllanD]

at the risk of making anyone think I'm willing to discuss A4LD problems
(DO NOT let that idea get into your head or I'll stop my plan of building
a trebuchet and build a Guillotine instead)...

when an A4LD gets hot it tends to puke fluid out the vent.

However little mud dauber wasps and other insects like to build nests
in the end of the vent tube... so then when the tranny gets hot instead
of venting air then fluid blow off out the vent, the building pressure follows
the path of least resistance... and blows past the torque converter seal
into the bellhousing.... and since leaking atthat point is in an area completely filled with fluid....

Need I draw anyone a map?

If the input seal was properly staked into the front pump cover top it up with fluid and it'll be fine, if it wasn't properly "staked" to prevent the seal from simply blowing out you'd know.... because if it did "blow out" you'd leave a 6" wide trail of ATF from where it blew out to the spot where your truck would have ground to a halt....

If I know something aobut an A4LD problem I'll offer it, but please don't
ask me A4LD questions...

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[Ronin]

I drove it about 30 miles today checking the fluid every 10 miles or so and it remains full. No more dripping. Maybe I got lucky and it was overfilled?

I take it your truck is shifting fine? If so it sounds like you lucked out like me.

 

[2ranger87]

While I would never dispute AllanD's advice/expertise.... He's helped me on more than one occasion.....

The mud wasp theory IS a possibility, but if you look closely at an a4ld vent tube (certainly on anything newer than an '89) it also has some holes punched through the tube close to where the it does the two 90 degree bends at the top of the bell housing........(you would need it out of the truck to actually see them)

I've also had the "phantom" leak out of the bell housing in a few of my trucks, for no apparent reason.

An m50d was always the remedy...........

 

[Fast Doc]

Thanks guys. It never had a problem shifting. I still get an occasional few drops after driving it but it drives well and reads full.

I think this was an overfilled issue, but I'm nervous about towing with it next time. I may go a few miles and pull over and check and look under the truck before continuing.

Maybe this will help the next guy. CHECK the fluid after someone changes it. Particularly someplace like Jiffy Lube.