2004R drippy drip

[ssupercoolss]

Last week at the farmers market, when i walked back out to my car, there was a small puddle of oil under my car, which i think i just parked ontop of someone elses mess, but i through a metal pan under my car when i got home, and i noticed just a little bit of trans fluid hitting the ground. got under the car and i think its leaking from where the TV cable attaches at the trans. Its actually not sitting flush in the case, and i dont know why. i did install this trans, and if i missed that when i put it in, shame on me. but its been in there for 6 months with some good driving time on it, and just now this leak shows up. Looking at some pics online, i feel its likely the little bushing that goes in the case is now distorted enough that resetting this may not be the cure. but, if i do go to try to get this back in place properly, 1) is there a chance i screw up my cable adjustment? im thinking the cable just slides back and forth in there, and it wont affect adjustment, but someone here probably knows better than i. and 2) if i take the retaining bolt off that, and try to get it to sit flush, is there any way i might accidently unhook it from inside the trans?

 

[Twisted_Metal]

You're safe doing that.

You need to pull the TV wire upward and hold it with a needle nose pliers to disconnect (or connect) the cable.

Good Luck!

Check the housing of the cable end for a crack as over tightening it can crack them and cause a leak.

 

[1980RS]

Take a close look at the plug on the side of the transmission (pass side) for a leak. On my 2004-R I had a pretty good drip-drip also then I traced it back to the side of the transmission plug (used for the lock-up) that had teflon paste on it but that stuff didn't seal. I ended up using the little teflon tape and put the part back in and the leak stopped.

 

[OFLHLG]

Last week at the farmers market, when i walked back out to my car, there was a small puddle of oil under my car, which i think i just parked ontop of someone elses mess, but i through a metal pan under my car when i got home, and i noticed just a little bit of trans fluid hitting the ground. got under the car and i think its leaking from where the TV cable attaches at the trans. Its actually not sitting flush in the case, and i dont know why. i did install this trans, and if i missed that when i put it in, shame on me. but its been in there for 6 months with some good driving time on it, and just now this leak shows up. Looking at some pics online, i feel its likely the little bushing that goes in the case is now distorted enough that resetting this may not be the cure. but, if i do go to try to get this back in place properly, 1) is there a chance i screw up my cable adjustment? im thinking the cable just slides back and forth in there, and it wont affect adjustment, but someone here probably knows better than i. and 2) if i take the retaining bolt off that, and try to get it to sit flush, is there any way i might accidently unhook it from inside the trans?

Welcome to my world. Mine has been leaking like this for years. I always noticed drops on the bolt heads for the pan….But I check the bolts and they’re tight. No idea where it’s coming from.

 

[Nick'sTransmissions]

Welcome to my world. Mine has been leaking like this for years. I always noticed drops on the bolt heads for the pan….But I check the bolts and they’re tight. No idea where it’s coming from.

Check the vent tube on the top side of the case, just behind the bell housing for anything dripping down...Additionally, it could be leaking at the gasket. If so, drop the pan and replace the gasket. Torque all pan bolts to between 98-110 inch lbs; go all the way around twice to ensure you fully compressed the gasket.

If it's still leaking from the pan (assuming that's the source), then the pan's sealing surface is warped - replace the pan if so.

Other places can include the dip stick tube, TV cable inlet location, servo cover, speedo housing, cooler line fittings, drive shaft/rear case, front pump seal, front pump perimeter o-ring and line pressure port plug.

 

[Twisted_Metal]

AND... the gear selector shaft.

 

[Nick'sTransmissions]

AND... the gear selector shaft.

NO - that never leaks. Haha

 

[ssupercoolss]

Welcome to my world. Mine has been leaking like this for years. I always noticed drops on the bolt heads for the pan….But I check the bolts and they’re tight. No idea where it’s coming from.

i always try to appreciate the good things too, and i appreciate that my trans is 100% dry in between the trans and engine. but yeah, this is a little annoying. the other car had a leak at the speedo, that took 2-3 attempts to get remedied. i ended up somehow swapping to the wrong gear in the end, and now my speedo is further off than it was, but im just happy it now holds all the fluid inside it.

 

[ssupercoolss]

I dont think my leak is actually from where the TV valve goes into the trans. its not seated in there right, but im not finding any fluid around it. i cleaned off the pan, the bolts on the front are what kind of look like they are leaking, but i doubt its actually the bolts. the gasket seems pretty squishy and wet. i took it for a good ride, check when i got home, and all was still dry. so i think my leak occurs when it is sitting.

1) does the level in the pan, after its been shut down, go higher than the gasket? i probably do have the trans a little over filled, due to reading on the net lots of people say to run just a little over due to the pick up on the filter being on the topside.
2) whats everybodys fav gasket? i did use a fel pro rubber gasket, but i also assumed that it was a reusable jobby, as i did pull the pan a week or so after the initial install. maybe i incorrectly assumed that.