Leaking Trans Fluid

Chris2000 · 12-15-2010, 04:30 PM

edit : forgot to include details.

Car is 2.4L 99,950 miles. Plus its Supercharged.
So lately I noticed i've been leaving small spots after a long period of time with the car sitting. So I took it to a shop and they jacked it up and we looked at it. I thought I was leaking oil so I suspected maybe with the cold just starting the drain plug was faulty and letting out some drops. Well the guy and me looked at the pan for the trans fluid and it had moisture around it and he said with the car on from the rear of the pan you could feel air flow.

So I figured alright simple fix the gasket is just on its way out. So they changed it for me and I guess there was quite a bit of fluid missing.

So I parked my car in a different spot last night after getting home (10 minute drive) to see if I could find any spots underneath in the morning. So I go out today and move the car and there is a pink tint in the snow (trans fluid

) It wasn't that much but still.

My questions are:

1. Since the car was only driven for 10 minutes since the change is the gasket still developing a seal ?

2. Where else can I look to find this leak? I don't think I have a hole in my trans because i'm not running through a crazy amount of fluid but could this possibly mean it's on it's way out?

3. Should I take it back to the shop and have them inspect it?

I am driving the car for a snowboarding trip at the end of December up into wausau wisconsin, it's about 6 hours one way so I need to make sure the car is going to make it.

colonel6632 · 12-15-2010, 06:24 PM

lmao, dont be like me, drive for 6 hours on no tranny fluid.

is the car standard?

on my getrag 5 speed the output seals were leaking around the axles. and the one side was leaking because my axle had a groove in it

Chris2000 · 12-15-2010, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonel6632

lmao, dont be like me, drive for 6 hours on no tranny fluid.

is the car standard?

on my getrag 5 speed the output seals were leaking around the axles. and the one side was leaking because my axle had a groove in it

Its automatic.

widbyj · 12-15-2010, 08:08 PM

Put a big piece of white cardboard (pizza box would do) under the trans when its going to sit after being warmed up. Use rocks, bricks or whatever so it won't blow away overnight. By morning you may see some stains. If you make a couple of sharpie (alignment) marks straight down from corners on the trans you will be able to examine the spots on the cardboard in the light and locate the drip points. Remember, oil drips from the lowest point it can get too which is not necessarily where it came from. Before doing much though I would want to make sure everything is clean and dry.

Good luck. Keep us updated.

robalero · 12-15-2010, 09:45 PM

just curious but are you sure they cleaned up after themselves? it could just be the left over residue too

Chris2000 · 12-15-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robalero

just curious but are you sure they cleaned up after themselves? it could just be the left over residue too

I doubt it.

And it's way to freaking cold outside to do anything myself.

colonel6632 · 12-15-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2000

And it's way to freaking cold outside to do anything myself.

if thats how you feel just take it back.

zzyzzx · 12-16-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2000

3. Should I take it back to the shop and have them inspect it?

No. They have already proven to be incompetent.

Chris2000 · 12-16-2010, 05:30 PM

My car is having the strangest things happening right now it's really annoying !!!!!!

Took the car back and they re-torqued all the bolts on the pan and the leak stopped (I think).

So he brings the car around front I get in it say thanks alot get in put it in drive and it dies. So I try to start the car and it turns over and dies, basically only staying on if giving it gas. So I unplug the iac sensor and plug it back in thinking maybe it's just a gremlin. That didn't work so I went back in and the guy came out and checked it out.

He brought out a scan tool and it was throwing a map sensor code saying the 2 bar map sensor for the supercharger was showing 0 volts (It's supposed to show 5). Got a new sensor and put it in and it still will not stay running.

Please any help??? Idea's?

We're thinking maybe a broken/pinched wire somewhere or a vacuum leak. It's at the shop right now and they're looking at it trying to figure out wtf is going on.

robalero · 12-16-2010, 05:32 PM

I hope your not paying for this repair, I got a feeling they did it maybe not intentionally but by accident specially if they forgot to torqued down the bolts on the pan

Chris2000 · 12-16-2010, 09:44 PM

Update : Leak should be fixed completely but i'll know for sure in the morning if there is any hint of pink in the snow.

I told the "certified master tech" at the shop that I thought it was the IAC valve in the first place causing the car to not stay on and he told me "nope it shouldn't be" Well it was the iac valve...morons..they put in a new ac delco iac valve for me and the car is running perfect now. I took the old iac valve (which i replaced 2 weeks) back to autozone (EFF DURALAST) and demanded my money back. They basically told me nope, store credit or a swap for another iac valve. Yeah sure i'll take a replacement POS duralast iac valve that will fail again in 2 weeks...no I took the store credit for $85.59. So if anyone wants this card PM me i'll give you a little discount.

zzyzzx · 12-17-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2000

Update : Leak should be fixed completely but i'll know for sure in the morning if there is any hint of pink in the snow.

I told the "certified master tech" at the shop that I thought it was the IAC valve in the first place causing the car to not stay on and he told me "nope it shouldn't be" Well it was the iac valve...morons..they put in a new ac delco iac valve for me and the car is running perfect now. I took the old iac valve (which i replaced 2 weeks) back to autozone (EFF DURALAST) and demanded my money back. They basically told me nope, store credit or a swap for another iac valve. Yeah sure i'll take a replacement POS duralast iac valve that will fail again in 2 weeks...no I took the store credit for $85.59. So if anyone wants this card PM me i'll give you a little discount.

That's what you get for buying Duralast brand parts in your car. Should take the store credit and use it for filters and fluids and get real parts at a real auto parts store like NAPA or CarQuest. Only exception might be a battery or other special ordered parts at Autozone to get a better brand that they don't normally stock in the store.

Chris2000 · 12-17-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzyzzx

That's what you get for buying Duralast brand parts in your car. Should take the store credit and use it for filters and fluids and get real parts at a real auto parts store like NAPA or CarQuest. Only exception might be a battery or other special ordered parts at Autozone to get a better brand that they don't normally stock in the store.

Lesson learned I suppose. The first duralast replacement lasted 9 months so I mean that wasn't too bad but once this second one went in less than 2 weeks it was just like, "wow, seriously?"