What or where is my stinkin trans leaking from?!?!

[2002WRXSTi]

It has been smoking a ton more than it usually does the last week or so? Then I noticed I am going threw trans fluid faster and faster. It did 2 quarts in 1000 miles and now I look outside this morning and see a trail or oil from where I stopped and backed into my driveway
Anyone have any idea where one would all of a sudden start leaking like mad from? The cooler lines are dry where they go into the trans and the thing is wet above the pan so

 

[richduty455]

tail shaft seal or maybe the rear tail housing???...if it was an old car I'd say vacum modulator........

 

[kracker]

if not the rear seal check the dipstick o ring it is a pita to get to though does it mainly leak onto the ground on the passinger side if so it is the oring

 

[94m5]

Output shaft seal. That or the dipstick O-ring......


That looks EXACTLY like what my T45 MarkVIII looked like when the output seal went bad.

 

[XLRVIII]

if it's the dipstick tube it's leak more when the engine is turned off, than it will when it's running.

Refill the trans.. and see if you can see it "drip"..
Then turn the car OFF and see if it drips.

If you see an increase in leakage right after killing the car, it's probably gonna be the dipstick tube or the pan gasket.
the fluid level goes above both points when the engine is off..

The clean area on the passenger side of the pan IS right where the dipstick tube will run down when it leaks.
Mine leaked and my exhaust looked just like that.

 

[2002WRXSTi]

I would hope it is something as simple as the dipstick tube but it leaks more when I am driving it. I saw where it was dripping from a bit this morning and it was before the cross member it seemed? Wish it was the rear seal but it is clean back there and the fluid seems to be wet half way up the trans towards the front.

I put 1 quart in this morning after I checked for the leak and went to check on some jobs. So I'm looking at maybe a 10 or 12 mile trip and the thing started to drop out of gear on me. I pulled over and put in another quart I had with me just in case and then it ran fine to my friends house the I bought the car from. BSed with him for a few and when I backed out there was a nice wet spot right where I was parked.

If it is the dipstick oring I would like to know why all the insulation in the trans tunnel is soaked with trans fluid? The tube should just be a leak and it is soaked all over under there both sides

 

[98CobraStarLSC]

Wow man! Thats leaking pretty bad.. Might clean the whole trans with brake clean and dry it real well. Maybe a line or something as well. If its leaking that bad, i wouldnt think it would be the o ring but you never know..

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Wow man! Thats leaking pretty bad.. Might clean the whole trans with brake clean and dry it real well. Maybe a line or something as well. If its leaking that bad, i wouldnt think it would be the o ring but you never know..

Yeah I don't think the O ring would do that and not that far back on the trans to. When I pulled into my drive way backwards it left a major leak line of fluid and it did the same in my friend drive way

Is there a solenoid cover above the pan anyplace or what cause it seems to be a pressurized leak or something??

 

[XLRVIII]

yea... from what you say it's doubtful it's the dipstick tube.

And becareful what you wish for.. changeing the dipstick tube oring is a PITA unless you have "girl sized hands".

I agree that you should brake kleen the trans and see if you can spot the leak...

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Kinda makes me wonder cause I just had the filter changed 2000 miles ago. I put in 3 quarts the first 1000 miles with one being some Lucas additive. Then it seemed to start needing more and more trans fluid till I'm at 1 quart for like 1 or 2 miles

It ain't gonna be easy trying to clean the trans lying on my back and the pan ain't dirty at all since it was just done.

 

[98CobraStarLSC]

I changed my Dipstick o ring yesterday, it took me about an hour. Its one bolt and its a B!TCH!!! That bolt as sooo tight on mine and theres only room for a small wrench. I ended up using a 2' 1/4 drive extention and a swivel 10mm to get at it but its sooo tight.. Maybe take it to a shop and ask them to find the leak.. Most shops will tell you whats leaking and not charge you because they want you to use them to fix it...

That what i do with my customers at least..

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Yeah I have friend with shops and I am gonna go ask them what there think? Last year they did a trans swap in a Mark so I will ask Jim the guy that did it what his thoughts are about it?

 

[XLRVIII]

Kinda makes me wonder cause I just had the filter changed 2000 miles ago. .

I'd re-visit the pan gasket.

They are re-useable, but sometimes they dont reseal very good.

the gasket is cheap for the most part, worst part is.. your gonna lost 4-5 qrts of fluid in the gasket swap

Give it a shot?

 

[Markviiiedrea]

That thing is soaked just look for the highest most fwd dry spot on the trans and thats where the leak is. It is hard to see the front of the trans but to me looks like the front seal. If it pours out more and more when running then the only thing that would do that is the input shaft seal/tq converter seal/front seal. There all the same thing, just $10 from ford but you have to remove the trans to do it. just did the t-bird a few months back, same problem.

 

[XLRVIII]

it's been my experience when looking for trans leaks that usually the "cleanest" wet spot/area is where the fluid is originating from..
or running down from..
find the clean wet spot and look "forward and above" that area.
The fluid will run down.. and back due to the wind under the car.


(just a thought from the peanut gallery)

 

[XLRVIII]

It is hard to see the front of the trans but to me looks like the front seal.

That might be the case as well..though.

if it's the front pump seal, pull the little rubber plug on the bottom of the bell housing and look up around the torque convertor.

IF you have fluid IN the bell housing or dripping from that rubber plug.. the front seal is another suspect area.

hope this helps

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Well while under yesterday I noted that the plug on the bottom of the bell housing is not there. I could see the flex plate teeth and there was no fluid dripping from that hole.

Went to friend shop today and asked him his thoughts on it. First was take it back to the place that did the change and have them put in a new trans gasket. He also mentioned the breather on top of the trans as one source but the trans was dry on the top. It's so wet and dirty under the trans it's almost impossible to tell exactly where it's coming from is the main problem.

Just took this pick of the road and you can see 2 trails from where I back into my driveway. Thats how much I'm loosing when I back up

 

[XLRVIII]

First was take it back to the place that did the change and have them put in a new trans gasket.

If it were me, I wouldn't take my car back to them.

I'd go get a gasket and "just do it".
Then you know the person that did the job did it right..and wouldn't have anyone to blame other than yourself.

Sometimes, you have to put your destiny in your own two hands. sad to say

 

[XLRVIII]

I wouldn't drive it MUCH if ANY more, till it was resolved.

The trans runs low on fluid and drop out of gear?
That is KILLING IT.

Also low on fluid means it's probably overheating as well, again..KILLING IT.

Long before the car "drops out of gear" the trans fluid is low enough to damage the trans due to FOAM.

Fix it before you smoke it.

Pan and Filter is an easy job, worst part is jacking the car up and the smell of the mercron 5

 

[2002WRXSTi]

If it were me, I wouldn't take my car back to them.

I'd go get a gasket and "just do it".
Then you know the person that did the job did it right..and wouldn't have anyone to blame other than yourself.

Sometimes, you have to put your destiny in your own two hands. sad to say

Yeah but I used to work at this place back in 99' so I know the manager. This was I give then a chance to fix it on there dime and if it is anything that I can blame on them they can pay to fix it.

If it came down to the trans having to come out it would also be me swapping in my lower mile spare 96' engine

 

[XLRVIII]

I see where your coming from
Ex Employee returning as a customer.
Yea.. I agree.

GIVE EM HELL.. I WOULD.

 

[2002WRXSTi]

I wouldn't drive it MUCH if ANY more, till it was resolved.

The trans runs low on fluid and drop out of gear?
That is KILLING IT.

Also low on fluid means it's probably overheating as well, again..KILLING IT.

Long before the car "drops out of gear" the trans fluid is low enough to damage the trans due to FOAM.

Fix it before you smoke it.

Pan and Filter is an easy job, worst part is jacking the car up and the smell of the mercron 5

Driving my WRX since yesterday so the Mark can sit till I take it 2 miles back to the shop.

 

[htrdlincoln98]

Any idea how long this has been leaking. I wonder if this is the same leak from english town meet. I was behind you in the lanes and after you went they had to clean a spill for a few minutes. Any chance its the same.

 

[kustomizingkid]

What is that WRX like to DD?

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Any idea how long this has been leaking. I wonder if this is the same leak from english town meet. I was behind you in the lanes and after you went they had to clean a spill for a few minutes. Any chance its the same.

Same leak, it just got worse and worse till I can't drive for more than a few miles now. They where cleaning up when I went for my second run and then when I went to the stands to film too. Hard to say?

What is that WRX like to DD?

It SUCKS cause I have a Tilton Twin Disc Bronze Puck clutch. It's an On/Off switch that is a royal PITA to drive in traffic