Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 21:10:58 -0700
Reply-To: armando guzman <razeprotrk@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: armando guzman <razeprotrk@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Transmission leak
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hi, there are several seal from where transmission fluid can leak: the
torque converter seal, which will leak at the point where engine and tranny
mate. The fluid will drop right over the exhaust pipe. The governor seal, a
round cup about 4 inches in diameter with a wire clamp over it. Then, at the
forward end, over the transmission front mount, the two hollow bolts that
hold the small fluid cooler against the transmission body, which could come
loose and leak fluid. Other than these seals, the only other cause could be
a cracked case, which you probably don't have. The biggest danger, however,
is to have the two seals that separate trans fluid from gear oil. To check
for this problem, you can take the axle side plug out and check if the gear
oil
is contaminated with transmission fluid. About the cost: being a mechanic by
trade, I removed engine and transmission, separated one from the other and
installed a good used automatic transaxle I found in Sacramento, CA. for
aboaut $700. A good rebuilt automatic transaxle could run somewhere around
1800 to 2K in the west coast, plus labor.
Good luck and I hope you don't have that problem. Armando
>From: "Sylvie et Germain" <reglys@sympatico.ca>
>To: "armando guzman" <razeprotrk@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Re: Transmission leak
>Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 21:53:38 -0400
>
>Hi Armando
>
>Thank you for your good advice. According to your reply, it looks very
>serious. Do you know if there is other seal in the auto transmission where
>the oil could leak?
>
>I hope this is not a major trouble. How much did you have to pay for your
>repair (if you don't mind?).
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "armando guzman" <razeprotrk@hotmail.com>
>To: <reglys@SYMPATICO.CA>
>Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 7:26 PM
>Subject: Re: Transmission leak
>
>
> > Hello, Germain, I don't want to scare you, but I would check that leak
>right
> > away. I am in the middle of a very expensive auto transmission repair in
>my
> > 1988 Wolfsburg GL. This is what happens: the automatic transaxle is in
>fact
> > two units: the transmission part and the rear end or rear axle. The two
> > units are bolted together by four bolts (studs). The transmission
>section
> > uses automatic transmission fluid, and the rear axle uses 90W gear oil.
>The
> > main shaft goes from one unit to the other, and there are two seals
> > positioned back to back that separate one type of oil from the other. If
> > these seals fail, automatic transmission fluid will go into the rear
>axle
> > section, and that will cause a fatal failure in the ring and pinion
>gears
>as
> > well as the bearings in a very short time: several hundred miles. I
>would
> > remove the pan on the rear axle section, drain the gear oil and check it
>for
> > the presence of auto trans fluid in it. A sure sign is that if your
>trans
> > fluid level keeps going down, and you have to add often, is going into
>your
> > rear axle. If the leak is between the engine and transmission, than the
> > torque converter seal failed, and that is not too bad, although the
>engine
> > needs to be removed to replace that seal, but if the fluid comes from
> > somewhere else, you better have it checked quick!. You can do this test:
> > drive your car in reverse and check for an increase in fluid leak. If it
> > increases, than the fluid is coming out of the top vent in the rear axle
> > section that is averfilled with contaminated gear oil and automatic
> > transmission fluid. Good luck and hope for the best...Armando
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: Sylvie et Germain <reglys@SYMPATICO.CA>
> > >Reply-To: Sylvie et Germain <reglys@SYMPATICO.CA>
> > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >Subject: Transmission leak
> > >Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 22:43:34 -0400
> > >
> > >Hi
> > >
> > >I own a Westy 87 with an automatic transmission. Right now I have a
>slight
> > >automatic transmission oil leak which append mainly when the motor is
>hot.
> > >My mechanic said he does not touch transmission and was not able to
>locate
> > >the leak (my vehicule had a oil treatment last fall). Any idea where it
> > >could come? Any common problem on transmission leak? Is it always big
>bucks
> > >to fix a leak on a transmission.?
> > >
> > >Thank you
> > >
> > >Germain
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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>
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