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Leaking Transmission

27K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  spacecoast 
#1 ·
It appears that I have a leaking transmission, and I'm not sure what's leaking. I mean, I know what's leaking, but I'm not sure what it's called.



It looks like I have a leak from that electronic module on the front of the transmission housing. Is there transmission fluid inside that module? It looks electronic in nature, but who knows. Or maybe the leak is on the pan itself and it wicks up that module?

I'm cautiously optimistic that this will be covered under the lifetime powertrain warranty.
 
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#3 ·
x2. Solenoid pack is leaking more than likely. It's a common leak point on the 41TE, especially the older ones with the separator plate. It IS part of the powertrain so you should be in luck.
 
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#5 ·
Okay, so it is the solenoid pack. Looking at alldatadiy.com, it looks like it might be serviced as an assembly. I guess I'll carry the van to the dealer and have them do whatever they need to do.

This is exactly why we sold the (5-speed) Corolla. My wife couldn't drive it when the van was in the shop. Now that she can drive my car, fixing the van becomes much less stressful (especially now that school's back in).

Thanks guys.
 
#6 ·
By the way, this is the language from the lifetime powertrain warranty coverage:

Transmission: transmission case and all internal parts; torque converter; drive/flex plate; transmission range switch; transmission control module; bell
housing; oil pan; seals and gaskets for listed components only. NOTE: MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PARTS ARE NOT COVERED AT ANY
TIME.


Jeff, would you be able to tell me if the solenoid pack would be covered under the lifetime powertrain warranty? Thanks!
 
#7 ·
If it's not under warranty, it looks like a verrrry slow leak or seepage, looks like it would take quite a while before even a droplet would form. My pan is bone dry, but is starting to rust :(
 
#8 ·
Jason I'm thinking it is not covered, but I'll check for sure. And the older one's had a gasket that could be replaced, the new ones have to be replaced as a unit. Jason I'm sending you a PM.
 
#9 ·
I took the van to Hendrick Chrysler on Wednesday for the repair.

The good news: the solenoid pack is indeed covered under the Powertrain warranty. Thanks, Jeff, for checking on that for me.
The bad news: Chrysler will not repair the van, because it's not leaking. It's "seeping". No kidding; they actually told me that with a straight face. They told me to come back when the leak---'scuse me, seep---gets worse.

That's fine. Chrysler will just have to eat two diagnostic charges to fix this problem, rather than just one. They did wipe the pan down for me, so now I'll know how fast this "seep" will return.
 
#10 ·
Completely stupid. Lol pour some AFT+4 down the front of the trans so that there are drips hanging off and will look like a "real" leak.
 
#11 ·
or you could just syphon all the fluid out and drive it til the tranny self destructs, have it towed in and say "i guess it was seeping quite a bit, guess you owe me a new transmission!" HA
 
#13 ·
The solenoid pack sits on a horizontal shelf that protrudes from the transmission. Three long vertical bolts (106 inch lbs, I believe) hold the solenoid pack to the shelf with a $4.00 gasket in between. The gasket could be leaking or the solenoid pack casing could be leaking. Then again the transmission cooler lines above that could be leaking where they connect to the transmission. With colder weather, the leak will likely get worse. Anybody have a drive in freezer where you can store your Van for an hour or so? :lol:
Maybe the three bolts are not tight enough. You can always loosen them and speed up the leaking process. :)
That's a good picture you took by the way. I see the output speed sensor there plus the cap screw covers for the "testing" ports at the bottom of the solenoid pack.
I would put a cloth between the solenoid pack and the cooler line connections to see if it is the cooler line connections that are leaking.
Any chance oil or transmission fluid may have gotten spilled in that area since the leak seems inactive?
 
#14 ·
Any chance oil or transmission fluid may have gotten spilled in that area since the leak seems inactive?
Recall that when we had the TSB completed for the power steering system shudder, the technician spilled what seemed to be an extra quart of ATF+4 all over the top of the transmission, and a lot of it leaked out on to my in-law's driveway. That said, the next week, we had the van back to the dealer and they cleaned it up pretty good. I just changed the oil at 42,000 miles, and didn't notice all this "seepage" then, and I think I would have. I'll change the oil again in another 1,000 miles or so, so I'll see how bad the leak gets by then.

It looks to me like the little sheetmetal cover on the front of that solenoid pack is leaking. Uh...seeping.
 
#15 ·
I had what I thought was a transmission pan leak and bought all my parts to change the gasket on the pan, the filter, and tranny fluid. I was sitting at the parking lot of the auto hobby shop waiting for the place to open and I received a ping from "mva5142" on my iPhone warning me that it could be the solenoid pack that was leaking. So I looked around and saw a lot of other people in line for the place to open and decided to chance it and proceed with the pan gasket change. I needed the lift and was not going to risk loosing my place in line for the lift rentals.

As I was lifting my 2002 grand caravan I remember thinking "...please, please, don't let it be the solenoid". Well guess what? The solenoid pack did show evidence of leaking. Curse word #1 was blurted from my mouth. So I made the decision to proceed with my sway bar bushing change and the pan gasket while I had her on lifts.

Sway bar bushings were a breeze and got them done in about 30 minutes. And then the transmission pan drop came.:lol:

Removed the pan bolts very carefully thinking the pan would just drop. Of course not, the pan did not drop, yes I could see this was going to be fun the stealership used RTV! and of course it was stuck to the tranny. Took a rubber mallet and banged arround the pan to no avail. I finally gave up and used a screw driver to separate the pan, that was scary. I found a place where I could safely pry without damaging the flanges. Took quite a bit of effort.

What came next was a nightmare, removing the RTV from both the pan and the matting surface at the tranny. Took me a good two hours to remove all the RTV that was welded to the pan and tranny. I swore to myself if I ever found the technician who did my last tranny filter change I would brake his face.:angrya: (cursewords #2 thru ???? came to mind) I used the time to remove the filter and let the trany drain with the old filter out.

With the sealing surfaces cleaned with scrapper, scotch-brite, and acetone i threw the pan up and bolted all the bolts to the specified torque and gasket in place. Went to put the torque wrench away at the work bench and lo and behold there it was. I was so pissed and angry that I forgot to put the filter in the trany! :eekkkk: Yep had to do it all again, and what is worse, I had to re-use the gasket.

Six hours after I started my maintenance I was finally driving home. So far no leaks, but I do expect to see something coming from the solenoid pack and, unfortunately, the pan gasket since I had to re-use it. With all this bad times I did find out something that made the gasket installation easier. Felpro makes the gasket with the holes under sized so that you can hold it in place with bolts. So if you're going to change the fluid I would recommend you use a felpro gasket. I got mine at Autozone for about (7$ US)

Take care,

Carlos

Up next solenoid gasket change and yet another transmission fluid change with new gasket. :lol:
 
#18 ·
Up next solenoid gasket change and yet another transmission fluid change with new gasket. :lol:
Wasn't that a reusable gasket? It appears to have worked as such.
 
#17 ·
yup that is what I used to clean up the pan when I did my trans fluid/filter change for the first time

then I put rtv back on, no leakes, took 1.5hrs

but having the lift avail, would be so much better
 
#20 ·
Ok so here I am three years later (and a couple fluid changes later) I'm finally going to get of my ar$e and tackle this TCS leak. Went to order the gasket from rock auto and saw they also offer o-rings.

Anyone got any info as to where those o-rings would go? I'm guessing they go on the insides of the TCS, but I'm not sure.

So basically I'm trying to figure out if I need them. I know I need the gasket just not 100% sure on the o-rings.

2002 Dodge GC, 3.3 Flex Fuel, a lot of mile. ?????


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
 
#21 · (Edited)
Chrysler will not repair the van, because it's not leaking. It's "seeping". No kidding;
I understand your frustration, but they are correct. When it starts leaking, you will have at least a drop of trans fluid on the garage floor after every single trip. I know. I found a new OEM unit for about $70...and that has fixed my problem. Also, I did the gasket repair, but than effort didn't solve the problem.

Also, the fact that you can "see" the leak indicates a very slow seep, since it attracts dirt. When mine was leaking, I could clean the entire unit and pan, drive the van for a day or two, and then find a drop on the garage floor..but the pan and unit still looked clean. You really couldn't "see" the leak until a few days of additional vehicle use. I wouldn't worry about it untill you see a drop on the floor...then get it fixed.
 
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