[ladivadoll]

Hi All - I have a '72 1800ES that has historically leaked transmission fluid - just had a rebuild done on the trans and it STILL leaks trans fluid. Is this a design flaw in the car model?? Has there always been a problem with this car since inception? Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[sulley007]

Automatic transmissions are very complex and not easy for just anyone to diagnose whats wrong with it or where its leaking. Best way to find the leaks are to jack the car up and put on jack stands for safety. Then use a degreaser or cleaner to remove all the dirt and grime from the transmission. Lower the vehicle and drive it at very slow speeds to keep from blowing the leaking fluid far from its source. Then put the car back on jack stands and look for the leak.

Common places for it to leak from is the fluid pan, filler pipe, cooler lines, or speedometer sensor. If its coming from the pan, most likely its going to be the gasket and just needs changing (its a good idea to change the filter while your in there if the car is equiped with it). Other parts, depending on where they are leaking, either will have to be replaced or tightend.

Some of the probable causes for the transmission to leak is that the transmission was over filled. If you over fill the transmission the fluid will find its way out through a seal or wherever because the transmission is not meant to be over filled, loose or broken input shaft bearing retainer or its o-ring or lip seal is damaged. If you just filled it up and its leaking, it could be due to over filling or not retightening the plug all the way.

 

[BHart]

My '73 leaks too. Not much, but if it sits for a few weeks, small drips appear on the floor.

Fixing oil leaks can be costly since they usually involve major disassembly. I have a leak at the front of the transmission. This means either the transmission input shaft seal or the engine crank seal. The labour to remove, change a $20.00 seal and refit all this stuff is huge. Plus, when you're in this deep, you might as well change the clutch/pressure plate/release bearing and do the output seal, check the overdrive....etc.

I'm going to live with a small leak for now.

 

[ladivadoll]

Automatic transmissions are very complex and not easy for just anyone to diagnose whats wrong with it or where its leaking. Best way to find the leaks are to jack the car up and put on jack stands for safety. Then use a degreaser or cleaner to remove all the dirt and grime from the transmission. Lower the vehicle and drive it at very slow speeds to keep from blowing the leaking fluid far from its source. Then put the car back on jack stands and look for the leak.

Common places for it to leak from is the fluid pan, filler pipe, cooler lines, or speedometer sensor. If its coming from the pan, most likely its going to be the gasket and just needs changing (its a good idea to change the filter while your in there if the car is equiped with it). Other parts, depending on where they are leaking, either will have to be replaced or tightend.

Some of the probable causes for the transmission to leak is that the transmission was over filled. If you over fill the transmission the fluid will find its way out through a seal or wherever because the transmission is not meant to be over filled, loose or broken input shaft bearing retainer or its o-ring or lip seal is damaged. If you just filled it up and its leaking, it could be due to over filling or not retightening the plug all the way.

Thanks for the suggestions! I took it back to the transmission place and they're investigating it. Again. I would've thought after a rebuild the problem would've been figured out since the leak was the reason behind the rebuild in the first place. Fingers crossed they find the problem.