Date:         Thu, 30 Mar 2000 10:22:54 -0500
Reply-To:     John <johnpatt@WARWICK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John <johnpatt@WARWICK.NET>
Organization: PattonSystems International
Subject:      Leaking automatic transmission
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi list,

I would appreciate some insight with the following ATF leak problem. The
vehicle is a low mileage '91 automatic vanagon and the auto trans works
just fine and does not ordinarily leak ATF. However when the
transmission is very hot, a massive ATF leak occurs in the torque
housing, leaking down on the forward crossover exhaust pipe creating a
smoking, dripping mess! once cooled down the transmission can be
refilled and the leakage washed off and the vehicle will function
normally with NO LEAKAGE for days or weeks as long as the drive cycle is
short and the overall transmission temp is not pushed to the maximum. My
spin is that there may be a heat sensitive crack in the torque converter
shell that only leaks when the shell hits a high temperature. My records
from the PO indicate that the torque converter oil seal was replaced at
a "young" 33,000 miles, so I think the PO was vexed by this unusual leak
also. If my hunch is correct, what does a torque converter cost these
days ?

TIA            John