Sources of leaks while sitting

[turbojimmy]

My trans has been doing this for a long time and I finally decided to get under there and see what's going on. Unfortunately, after looking at it I have no answers.

When sitting on an incline that has the nose lower than the front, the trans basically drains itself. LOTS of fluid on the ground. It's not overfull, and it will drain itself to the point where nothing shows on the stick. When it's level it will leak out until it gets to about the right spot on the stick, maybe a little low.

I thought it was either the TV cable housing or the dipstick tube but I got under there with a mirror and they're both fine. Lines aren't leaking. The pan bolts are all wet which would make me think that it could be the pan seal but I didn't think the fluid should be above the gasket when filled to the right level? There is some fluid above the pan gasket, too, on the front but it could be blowing up there. It does not appear as if the front seal is leaking (and it wouldn't leak while it was sitting anyway, right?).

So you think this is just a pan gasket? Is there any other spot I should check for leaks-while-sitting other than the TV cable, dipstick tube and pan gasket?

TIA,
Jim

 

[GBGN1]

Sounds like a dipstick issue make sure its not leaking from behind and dripping forward--Has hapenned many times at the shop.
Brian
remember when u shut it off the convertor draines into the pan raiseing the level

 

[turbojimmy]

Sounds like a dipstick issue make sure its not leaking from behind and dripping forward--Has hapenned many times at the shop.
Brian
remember when u shut it off the convertor draines into the pan raiseing the level

I looked up there with a mirror and it didn't look like it was leaking. BUT, last time I dumped a quart in it much of it ran right out on the floor. I couldn't tell where it was coming from.

I have a new grommet for the tube - it can't hurt to swap it out.

Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

TV cable housing was cracked where it goes into the trans. All fixed now.

Jim

 

[A. G. Olphart]

TV cable housing was cracked where it goes into the trans. All fixed now.

Thanks for the follow up post. It is nice to see the solution (I hate it when we just get left hanging).

 

[turbojimmy]

Thanks for the follow up post. It is nice to see the solution (I hate it when we just get left hanging).

No problem. Hopefully it will help someone out. I neglected to mention that the actual repair was replacing the cable. TCI now makes a cable that works like the stock cable (push the tab and it ratchets out). The old version of the same cable had a manual adjustment.

Jim

 

[3.8TransAM]

Retarded things I have seen leak on a 2004r:

Cracked TV cable bushing

Cracked TV cable housing at the trans

Cracked pan gasket(hairline at front only leaked downhill)

Porous case(imagine the suprise when its like "dude! your case is bleeding)