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major drivetrain fluid leak!

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spic21

10+ Year Contributor
240
0
May 14, 2010
albany, Louisiana
i have been doing a lot of work to my car in the last month or so. u may have seen other threads a have started. before i start keep in mind i have not been driving the car. last time on road was about a month or so ago and it was literally only for about 3 mins just to see how it would go do the road. with that said. when i pulled the car back in garage i notice a small leak around transfer case/ trans(5 speed). it wasn't a big deal(maybe 4 inch puddle ) just figure once car was running again i would go fix it before i got it on road. i did get under it and look but ready couldn't see where it was coming from, so i wipe it all down. thinking when it leaked again i could see it. but its not that little brass plug where drive shaft plugs in that i've read about on vfaq. well i started my car fri trying to get new ecmlink and all other new part setup. once i started it my buddy notice that fluid was pouring out my car in same area(a stream), a lot of fluid like a 3 to 4 foot round puddle. it is a yellowish fliud that looks like clutch fuild. so i clean up oil a got under the car. i still cant tell where it really coming from, kind of looks like where transfer case bolts to the trans, but up in there where i cant see. i dont really know what my first step to find this leak would be and im looking for advice. i can tell you that the fluid is no where near where the drive shaft goes in. i can also tell u that all fluid levels in motor are good. why the hell is it leaking if im not moving?

please give me your input, im getting very frustrated and aggravated with this thing.
 
I just got through a similar situation. The Car would only leak the fluid when the car was running. It was coming from the output shaft seal to the transfercase and coming from the exact same location you are describing. Also, Do not use GL-5 fluid in your trans and the chemicals will eat away the synchros in the tranny. Only use the GL-4 rated fluid in the tranny and GL-5 can be used in the transfer case. I used Redline MT-85 for the tranny and Redline shockproof in the transfer case after replacing all serviceable items on the tranny and seals on the transfer case. Ordered everything from TRE and got the fluid shipped by RRE.
 
I just got through a similar situation. The Car would only leak the fluid when the car was running. It was coming from the output shaft seal to the transfercase and coming from the exact same location you are describing. Also, Do not use GL-5 fluid in your trans and the chemicals will eat away the synchros in the tranny. Only use the GL-4 rated fluid in the tranny and GL-5 can be used in the transfer case. I used Redline MT-85 for the tranny and Redline shockproof in the transfer case after replacing all serviceable items on the tranny and seals on the transfer case. Ordered everything from TRE and got the fluid shipped by RRE.

ok well looks like i will be pulling the transfer case then. thanks

is there any other brand other than redline that i can use im having a hard time finding it around here. i know i can order it but i get cheaper prices at a lot of part store here because of my business accounts for my car lot.

i cant even get any GL-4. whats up with that. only thing anyone carrys is gl-5

update: only thing i can find around here in GL-4 is royal purple 75-90. reg price is $19.99 mine is $10 will this work. if so will it work in tranny and transfer case. vfaq shows using same oils for both.
 
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If in doubt, check the service manuals for the correct oil types. I believe that the oil can be used in the transfer case as well but I am not positive. Personally, before you buy the fluid only to have it run out, open up the fill plug on the tranny while on level ground and see if it runs out. The amount of fluid you say you lost would deffinetely show the tranny being low on fluid. At that point you will have to fix the tranny before putting in additional fluids.
 
I can not see any signs on leaks on it Has it leaked since cleaned?

yea i cleaned it before i started the thread most of the oil is leaking down through where the vent looking things are. where the two bolt go through to bolt to the tranny. its where if u look up through it you can see where the cv joint goes to the tranny. but im not see any oil on cv joint seal

sorry no leaks since cleaned. but i can really start it right now.

i was gonna drain both trans and tranny and see how much fluid i can get out. if ones empty ill no thats it. but i cant find the right gear oil around here
 
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I drained the transfer case last night and it appears to be ok. so my guess is the output shaft on the trans is whats leaking. i would have had the tranny drained as well but i didnt have a 24mm socket which is a must on trans drain plug(use wrench on transfer case). And lucky me a striped the head on the fill bolt for the tranny so now i have to get a socket for that as well. i will be taking down the transfer case as soon as i can get a hand with it. hopefully i will see if its is leaking at the output shaft seal.
 
I just got through a similar situation. The Car would only leak the fluid when the car was running. It was coming from the output shaft seal to the transfercase and coming from the exact same location you are describing. Also, Do not use GL-5 fluid in your trans and the chemicals will eat away the synchros in the tranny. Only use the GL-4 rated fluid in the tranny and GL-5 can be used in the transfer case. I used Redline MT-85 for the tranny and Redline shockproof in the transfer case after replacing all serviceable items on the tranny and seals on the transfer case. Ordered everything from TRE and got the fluid shipped by RRE.

im sorry what does TRE stand for?
 
WELCOME TO TRE   WE SPECIALIZE IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR =TRE

When I ordered everything, since the tranny was coming out, I replaced all service items:
-fork
-fulcrum ball
-Throwout bearing with retainer clip
-slave cylinder
-Speedometer o-ring (whole gear assembly was sent)
-both seals for drive-axles
-seal for output shaft
-transfer case input seal (from tranny)
-transfer case output seal (to driveshaft)

I also did the skateboard bearing mod for the shifter assembly at the transmission at the same time. I think i said all this before but just as a recap, It is smarter to replace all those service items on the tranny as preventive maintenace since the tranny will be out already.
 
So i have to pull tranny to change that seal? was hoping i could just pull transfer case and change the seal while tranny still in car

WELCOME TO TRE## WE SPECIALIZE IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR =TRE

When I ordered everything, since the tranny was coming out, I replaced all service items:
-fork
-fulcrum ball
-Throwout bearing with retainer clip
-slave cylinder
-Speedometer o-ring (whole gear assembly was sent)
-both seals for drive-axles
-seal for output shaft
-transfer case input seal (from tranny)
-transfer case output seal (to driveshaft)

I also did the skateboard bearing mod for the shifter assembly at the transmission at the same time. I think i said all this before but just as a recap, It is smarter to replace all those service items on the tranny as preventive maintenace since the tranny will be out already.
 
Looking at the room to work with, it would be very tight. As long as you are at least ok to admit that if youcannot get it out or the new one in properly, you may have to pull the tranny, then go for it.
 
well crap. ok guess ill find out im still trying to get a set of extra hands to pull transfer case. guess if it has to come out nothing i can do but pull it.
 
ok i got the transfer case, exhaust and drive shaft pulled and now can see what yall where saying about needed to pull the tranny to replace that oil seal. i dont have my book with me here but im guess that means ill have to pull cv joint and to get the tranny out. question here is, is there any way to maybe just get the tranny lowered a bit so i can get to that output shaft seal? i really didn't want to take this whole thing down. if a have to i will but just seeing if anyone has done this before without pulling the whole dang thing apart. this would be my first go at a none rear wheel tranny in like ten years and it really looks like a bit**. i dont even know if i have tools to do this. also i cant find any thread on pulling the tranny nor can i find it on vfaq, so if anyone has a couple good thread id really appreciate them. thanks

WELCOME TO TRE## WE SPECIALIZE IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR =TRE

When I ordered everything, since the tranny was coming out, I replaced all service items:
-fork
-fulcrum ball
-Throwout bearing with retainer clip
-slave cylinder
-Speedometer o-ring (whole gear assembly was sent)
-both seals for drive-axles
-seal for output shaft
-transfer case input seal (from tranny)
-transfer case output seal (to driveshaft)

I also did the skateboard bearing mod for the shifter assembly at the transmission at the same time. I think i said all this before but just as a recap, It is smarter to replace all those service items on the tranny as preventive maintenace since the tranny will be out already.

also if u dont mind me asking what was the cost of all this. im on a budget here since i just spend all my money on a crap load of mods. and the cars not really running to good yet. so to put alot of money in it just doesnt seem to smart yet
 
I will double check for you but If I remeber correctly, it was close to $220 shipped for all those parts and for the fluids from RRE. Again, let me double check first.

Also this should be about the exact same as what you would "theoretically" be doing.

1G AWD Clutch install

thanks, that vfaq did help. 220 is even out right now so dont worried bout the double check. my fund arent even close to that right now. i just spend over 2000 on other stuff for this car. think in just gonna have to change what needs be right now and if a have another prob, ill just have to do it again as sucky as that sounds.

i just found this thread. this is close to what im doing right.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-drivetrain/262221-changing-ouput-shaft-drives-t-case.html
 
Kinda but no. You do not have to open up the transmission to replace the seal at the output shaft. Hopefully that is where the leak is coming from. Once you have the transmission out, you can use a small set of picks to get the seal out and then the new seal just goes back into place using a socket or piece of flat wood to round out the applied pressure. I think this one was more trickey as there is a lip there so I think we used something thin and not sharp to press it in. It have have a been an old beat and dull flathead screwdriver.

I just checked. I accidently thought I needed an input shaft seal as well but with the seal and the rest I mentioned above from TRE it was $164 shipped to Phoenix, AZ. Fluids from RRE was 3 bottles of Redline MT-85 and 2 bottles of Redline shockproof heavy all for $62 shipped. **Prices may not be exact same**
 
i do believe that it looks like that output shaft seal. it was very wet in there. guess i could always put some fuild in there and start turning on the motor and see if it comes out there. would that be ok? shouldnt hurt anything have the t-case off and letting it spin over right?
 
As long as you don't have it in gear and it is only idling, you will be fine. Also, I noticed that it wasn't when the car was running that I had the issue but when the car was turned off. Shortly after, I had a puddle?? it was weird. Once we pulled the seal, we noticed the little spring that keeps the seal tight against the shaft popped off! We pulled the spring off the shaft and put in the new seal. No more issues.
 
cool thats what im gonna do then. my car wont even idle right now. so im just gonna unplug the mpi fuse and turn it over a bunch. i just did a compression test and it even leaked when i did that so it should be easy to see. i also found so real long picks my dad had and might even see if i can get that seal out without pulling trans, but im pretty sure its not gonna happen.
 
just a little update here. holidays slowed me down alot. it was the tranny to transfer case seals leaking. i did have to pull tranny and have ordered all new seals for tranny and transfer case. also wanted to let everyone know i was able to order all the seals from local dodge dealership for under 30 bucks, all i need was my vin and went up there to pick them out. i do have a dealers lic so they may have been a little cheaper but trust me they dont even cut me much slack. should be in this monday. i will start puts together as soon as there in. after that time to tune
 
just a little update here. holidays slowed me down alot. it was the tranny to transfer case seals leaking. i did have to pull tranny and have ordered all new seals for tranny and transfer case. also wanted to let everyone know i was able to order all the seals from local dodge dealership for under 30 bucks, all i need was my vin and went up there to pick them out. i do have a dealers lic so they may have been a little cheaper but trust me they dont even cut me much slack. should be in this monday. i will start puts together as soon as there in. after that time to tune

Glad to hear that you were able to figure that out!! I did all the other stuff too thats why it was expensive for me. I hope changing everything out goes well. Always ask if you need anything!!
 
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