transmission Fluid Line Leak - Less Than 2200 Miles on New Truck!

[JLandry]

Hi guys,

I've got a problem with our new truck...

I stopped at a Home Depot today and when I came back out I noticed several large splatters of a red fluid under the front right corner of the truck. Investigation revealed it's transmission fluid dripping from a metal line which runs above the right frame member and up to the right side of the radiator. Part of this line is visible by looking through the cutout in the right wheel housing splashguard. Further checking reveals it's only leaking AFTER the engine is shutdown... maybe a tablespoon in volume... then it stops. It doesn't seem to leak with the engine running or the truck moving. I think the line may contain a flexible rubber section which is covered (hidden) by a black braided cloth. This hidden section is located under the airbox so I can't reach it....yet. I'm currently looking at it using an inspection mirror. The leak looks like it may be coming from the lower part of the braided cloth area.

My best guess is this is a transmission cooling line which is either under suction when the engine is running... or if not under suction... then the leak somehow seals itself due to operating pressure.

I have an appointment for tomorrow at a local Chrysler dealer about 22 miles away in Mineola, TX, but I'm not hopeful it'll be a quick fix. I suspect an entire new cooling line will need to be ordered then installed. We're currently staying at an RV park just north of Tyler, TX and scheduled to leave here Friday morning. I guess we're stuck unless by some miracle I can temporarily fix this problem myself. I'm thinking if I can expose the leaking area of the line and clean it thoroughly, I'll be able to wrap some self-sealing silicone tape around it.

Never a dull moment!

John L.

UPDATE: I got the braided cover loose and pulled upward on the line. There is indeed a flexible rubber section underneath in the line with crimped connections on each end. The leak is coming from around the lower crimp and the rubber line. I'm not sure what changed, but now it's leaking a constant stream of transmission fluid while the truck is running. Just my luck! Obviously the line is under constant pressure. I sure hate driving it this way, but I've got to get it to the dealer tomorrow to get the ball rolling at replacing the line under warranty. I've checked the transmission fluid level, and while it's a little low, it's nowhere near the "add" mark yet on the dipstick. I have a quart of Aisin ASRC ATF to top it up as needed.

Here are some pictures of the offending line...

The line as seen through the cutout in the right wheel splashguard:

Looking up under the splashguard where the leak comes from:

The top of the line where it goes into the radiator. It's NOT leaking here:

 

[Sticks]

Ain't that a PITA!

I'd swear that a rather large collection of Ford engineers have jumped ship and moved over to Chrylser, to top it off, they found the cheapest supplier/manufacturer of parts with zero quality control.

I may have to go double check mine. I noticed a puddle in the same place you described one day when running errands, but blew it off as "It's an auto parts store, there are more spots and puddles than clean asphalt."

 

[JLandry]

Update No. 2

Things are looking up!

I drove the truck up to the Lone Star Dodge in Mineola, TX with the ATF leak under our truck getting worse by the minute. Before I left the RV park, I'd wrapped multiple layers of paper shop towels around the leak effectively forming a diaper and I secured it with one of my wife's hair clips. She's going to wonder why her hair clips smells funny. :-laf

Shortly after we arrived, a repair tech looked at the leak then came to talk to me. As I suspected, he confirmed the entire cooling line would have to be replaced. The good news is there are (were) 6 of these cooling lines in stock in Dallas about 100 miles away and they'll have one in the morning. As soon as it arrives, the tech said they he'd install it, then have the service writer call me when it's ready.

With it leaking so profusely, the tech didn't want me driving the truck anymore so the dealership sent us home with a nice loaner car for the night. How's that for some excellent service?

John L.

 

[MJWenrich]

Good to hear there are some decent dealers out there. Let's just hope their computers were correct on the number of hoses in stock.

 

[JLandry]

Good to hear there are some decent dealers out there. Let's just hope their computers was correct on the number of hoses in stock.

Both the repair tech and the service writer expressed surprise that a transmission cooling line for a 2014 truck with Aisin transmission was even in stock. Believe me, I was prepared to hear something a whole LOT worse (like maybe the part was on national backorder). On the drive up to the dealer, I'd been discussing with my wife what sort of "bailing wire" repair might work if the part wasn't available. Worst case I figured I could cut out the leaking section of line entirely using a tubing cutter, then slip a length of high pressure fuel hose hose over that missing section secured with multiple hose clamps on each end. But that's really not something I'd want to do on a new truck under warranty.

Anyway, I'm trying not to dream up other possible explanations... like maybe they've ordered the wrong part. In my overly active imagination, that'd explain the plentiful availability.

Off to check my weather apps... we're under a tornado and hail watch... and being in a travel trailer means we're prime "tornado bait."

John L.

 

[JJPage]

Sorry man, what a shame. Now you will have to double check the tech's work also, hope they clean the residual fluid up properly. Does trans fluid harm paint? You said it wasn't at the "add" mark yet, wonder what amount of fluid was actually lost? This makes me ill, and it's not even my truck.

Actually JL, I'm just kind of "bustin yer chops" here , I'm sure it's not that big of a deal, glad your getting your truck back in a timely manner.

 

[JLandry]

Now you will have to double check the tech's work...

Please don't give me something else to think about when I wake up in the middle of the night.

John L.

 

[Steve Martin]

John please keep us posted on your truck. Its great to her there are still good dealers out there. It makes me want to call them and let them know they are giving good customer service. I’m glad to know if I’m ever staying in my RV in Texas that there is a good dealer if I need one....Hope everything comes out ok and you don't get blown away by any tornados....Thanks Steve

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Make darn sure they use 3309 ATF not the +4 that the Mopar trannies take.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Off to check my weather apps... we're under a tornado and hail watch... and being in a travel trailer means we're prime "tornado bait."

John L.

We live in the country about 50 miles northeast of Tyler. Yes, there were tornado warnings for cities north and south of us around 10PM last night. No tornados and/or hail at our location. We received a few wind gusts to around 30-mph and about an inch of welcome rain.

Bill

 

[transe]

Make darn sure they use 3309 ATF not the +4 that the Mopar trannies take.

FYI, the Mopar branded fluid for the Aisin trans is labeled as Mopar ASRC transmission fluid. You are correct, ATF+4® is not the correct fluid for the Aisin trans.

 

[JLandry]

Update No. 3 - A.K.A.: Too Good to be True

I talked to the dealership this morning and was given some bad news...

Turns out the plentiful supply of transmission cooling lines they thought were in the Dallas warehouse... aren't... OF COURSE!

I was told the parts were moved to a "national warehouse" and the soonest they can get delivery will now be Monday morning. They also said they checked availability at other dealers in the greater Dallas area with no luck there either. Obviously I'm disappointed, but it's really not the dealer's fault. They seems to be doing everything they can and were very apologetic about the delay.

So we'll sit out the weekend here an a small RV park north of Tyler, TX and hope for some better news come Monday morning. Thankfully we don't really have to be anywhere else... yet. We are having to rearrange travel dates to see friends in AR and OK, but our only true "hard" deadline is making it to May Madness in Pahrump, NV the end of this month.

John L.

PS: I did ask the service writer to PLEASE check with the repair tech to make sure he uses the correct ASRC transmission fluid when topping up.

 

[Sticks]

If push comes to a shove, find a Parker Hydraulic store and see if they can make the line.

 

[JLandry]

If push comes to a shove, find a Parker Hydraulic store and see if they can make the line.

Thanks. That idea had crossed my mind.

For now, we're just waiting around until Monday to see if the part actually comes in, then based on what happens, I'll go forward from there with a new plan (if needed).

As Tom Petty sang: "The waiting is the hardest part."

John L.

 

[gsbrockman]

I feel for ya on the transmission line. I was involved in an accident with my 2013 RAM 3500 Crew Cab DRW H/O w/Aisin on January 24th, and in replacing both radiators, both trans coolers, PS cooler, a/c condenser, and intercooler, they overlooked a damaged line that was bent and they reinstalled it. Long story short, it rubbed against the belt at the alternator pulley. It took nearly a week to get the line in, partially due to weather conditions at the Cleveland Parts Depot in Cleveland, OH. Hopefully you have an extra pair or two of "waiting" britches...

 

[JLandry]

Hopefully you have an extra pair or two of "waiting" britches...

Getting so much stuff with guaranteed 2nd air through Amazon Prime sure has spoiled me. I'm not used to waiting.

John L.

 

[Sticks]

Getting so much stuff with guaranteed 2nd air through Amazon Prime sure has spoiled me. I'm not used to waiting.

John L.

Can we get an "Amen Brother" from the gallery on that one!

 

[JLandry]

UPDATE No. 4 or I NAILED IT!

So here I've been patiently waiting all weekend for today to roll around so I could find out if the dealership had received the replacement transmission cooling line for our truck. Over the weekend I told my wife I was having a premonition that they'd either get in the wrong part in OR they'd tell me it was still on some lengthy national backorder and days away. I was trying to think positive and not to be a pessimist, but I know how these things typically go.

We'll I just got a call from the dealership, and guess what? They did get a part in... but as I'd feared, it turns out they'd ordered the WRONG ONE! Now they're scrambling trying to figure out what the correct part number is and how long it's going to take to get it. The service writer sounded frustrated, mentioning the problem is because it's a 2014 model truck and access to part information is still limited.

Sigh.

Depending on what they tell me today, Sticks' suggestion to get a hydraulic hose shop involved is starting to sound very appealing.

Still stuck, frustrated, and waiting...

John L.

 

[MJWenrich]

They should have a Spanish speaker at the dealership who could order one from the factory line in Mexico. Probably could be smuggled out in a lunch box like Johnny Cash did. Should come across the border...well under the border..overnight. Wish you luck no matter which way you get it repaired.

Mike

 

[JLandry]

It just occured to me that if I were to take it upon myself to try and repair that transmission cooling line, it'd come at huge risk.

If the repair were to fail, and as a result the transmission were damaged, the entire risk and cost would be on me. I don't for a second think Chrysler would honor any of the associated warranties.

Obviously, the best thing to do is let Chrysler fix it under warranty.

John L.