Solve the leaking ATF mystery on the $400 850

[DME]

I got my $400 850 home without a problem yesterday driving 25 nerve-wracking miles on back roads. By the time I got home the ATF was literally streaming out behind me (I knew it was leaking; thus the $400 price tag).

ATF was blown all over from the front of the transmission case to behind/behind and above it (I suspected simply blown up by airflow). My initial thought was the line that comes into the front/bottom of the case was leaking under pressure, which would explain the fluid blown back from roughly that point.

I hosed it down top and bottom to get a fresh look at it today.

Took it for a couple short drives...nothing. Then a longer 5 minute drive, and...bam, ATF all over :/ So much that I could not pinpoint precisely where it was coming from except to rule out that front line (I assume it's coming in from the rad).

Looking at transmission case from front to back.


Looking up, I assume at the coolant lines that feed the heater core. ATF has blown up on them.


Looking up, rear of transmission case.


Does this ring any bells with anybody? If not, any suggestions as to where I should concentrate my process of elimination?

Mille gracias,

Dave

[jblackburn]

Can you tell if the lines on the top that feed into the radiator are leaking? May have to pull some junk out of the way.

[DME]

I moved the plastic intake out of the way and I still didn't notice anything except gunk. I did, however, take a look at the air filter...



ROFL. That would explain the surprisingly laggy throttle on the drive home It was PACKED.

I got Mrs. to get me some engine cleaner at Wal Mart, so I soaked it and gave it a good rinse. I'll take it out again in a day or so and see if I can find that dang leak.

[ed7]

Maybe try running it in the driveway with the wheels up, on stands of course.
With a pan to catch some juice, you can watch it till it starts pouring out. There will be less of a mystery about the source.
Ed

[anmartin44]

Perhaps a mouse ate through a tranny line! One of the most clogged i've ever seen but not the worst!

[Xilikon]

Perhaps a mouse ate through a tranny line! One of the most clogged i've ever seen but not the worst!

Same guess after seeing the air filter... Surprised that you didn't kill a mouse hiding in the air intake

[regent]

Surprised that you didn't kill a mouse hiding in the air intake

It probably got stuck in the Cat converter (in cooked condition)

[jimmy57]

The ATF leak looks like front pump seal leaks onto torque converter and gets slung around bell housing and leaks out of the lower weep hole and out of the opening for TC bolt access that is adjacent to where the RH drive shaft inserts into trans.
If you look at starter you should also see some oil leaking from where it fits against belle housing.

[DME]

looks like it sthe front pump/torque converter seal. That's a pretty big PITA, right?

Too bad, looks like this is going to get parted out or donated. I really wanted to make a driver out of it, too

[turbozutek]

The job itself is not much worse than doing the clutch on a manual transmission car; if you are handy with the spanners, you COULD do it yourself and save a ton of money.

Chris...