[RESOLVED] tranny fluid leak. need help!!!

[southrneclipser]

ok ive got a 95 eclipse rs with a 5-speed.
the past couple days when i drive, white smoke poors out from the back of the engine. Its not running hot. It has plenty of coolant, clutch fluid, power steering fluid and all other fluids that i can check. I got under it today and its dripping down from where the passenger side axle connects into the tranny. Im not sure if thats where its coming out of though. Where ever its coming from its smoking off the back of my engine.

My question is how do you check the tranny fluid on a 5 speed. There's not a dip stick like on automatics. Iv searched for this and everyone says they're leaking out of their transfer cases but i didn't think i had one since mine is only FWD. Im not going to drive it now because i don't want to burn up my transmition. I do need to get this fixed soon so someone please help me.

 

[dlricker]

I'm pretty sure it would not be your transmission fluid. It sounds like engine oil is leaking on the exhaust causing it to smoke like you say. Your transmission hangs too low for it to do this. I would check the engine oil and make sure it not too low, then find out where on the engine its coming from. And if your for sure the transmission is leaking near the axle, either its from the engine oil leak or you do need to replace that axle seal.

 

[southrneclipser]

im fairly sure its not oil because its a dark red color and my oil is full. Im not sure where its coming from anymore because it looks like its all the way up the back up the engine. How could i check the fluid in the transmition

 

[Calan]

Sure it's not PS fluid? Wipe down all the lines down by the rack, and see if you can see some leaking.

If it's red, it could be tranny fluid, but I believe most GL4 fluid is yellow, unless it's Redline. To check the tranny fluid level, remove the fill plug (with the car level) and stick your finger in there to see if fluid is up to the opening. You'll also see what color the tranny fluid is when you do that.

 

[southrneclipser]

my PS fluid is yellow. Also the leaking fluid has a bit of a burnt smell to it. And where would the fill plug be for the tranny? Ive got some minor mechanical skills but not on these cars.

 

[Calan]

Not sure which tranny you have, but it's usually on the front side, about halfway back from the bell housing and midways down from the top of the tranny.

EDIT:

Now that I think about it, it's probably more than midways down, closer to the bottom than the top. I'll try to find a pic if nobody else jumps in here.

EDIT 2:

Here's a pic of mine:

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[southrneclipser]

ok i'll check it. my tranny is on the other side of my car because ive got the 420a engine. ill look for it though.

i was unsuccesful in finding it. we have different transmitions so i don't know where mine would be. i figured out that the only reason its smoking is because its dripping onto my exhaust. it only leaks when the engine is on. this is just my guess but wouldn't it have to be something that pumps fluid constantly since it does it only when the engine is running. where is the oil pump on the 420a engine.

i am certain that it is tranny fluid leaking out but can anyone tell me wy it would be leaking only when the engine is running?
it looks like its leaking from where the transmition bolts up to the block. can anyone tell me if there is some sort of seal right there that can go bad. its not leaking from the front of the engine but from the back.

well im pretty ashamed of myself now. i couldn't tell what kind of fluid was leaking until i let a bunch leak out into a cup. And surprise, its oil. I have an oil leak. Not a transmition fluid leak. please everyone forgive my 16 year old inexperience.

 

[cyclonekid77]

it looks like its leaking from where the transmition bolts up to the block. can anyone tell me if there is some sort of seal right there that can go bad. its not leaking from the front of the engine but from the back.

Rear main seal.

 

[dlricker]

Ah, looks like i'm right. When you said it looked red I started thinking, well small engine oil drips look red when its used oil. But anyways, hope you take care of the leak.

 

[southrneclipser]

ha ha yes i believe you were.