2014 3500 AISIN Transmission Leaking, Star says needs replaced? REALLY?

[muchsnow]

Our 2014 started spotting on the driveway more than the dealer residue from oil changes. So I rolled under there and noticed half the underside of the truck covered in trans fluid.

This appears to mostly be centered around the junction block on the right of the bell-housing, though a lot of the area has drips on it. I pulled the little insp cover in the bell housing and the converter and flywheel are dry except for a small bit of residue that MAY have been pulled into the holes in the cover. That I could wipe out with one finger. The exterior adapter mating surface has trans fluid visible to the upper back of the block (follows the seam), that reeeealy look like it could just be blown creepage due to wind effect..... I never fired it up and sat under it running (my bad), but instead took it to the dealer after verifying that fluid still registered on the stick.


They are NOW telling me that they THINK the transmission looks like it may need replacement, and that this is the direction they normally go when they see this.......(really?)..


So what? is there really a case failure problem with these transmissions that the rest of the planet doesn't know about?


I still think it's the J-block and/or associated (and very vulnerable) aluminum cooler lines.


Anybody ELSE run across this????

 

[sag2]

I'm not understanding exactly where you think the fluid is coming from. The cooler line fittings/disconnects are a serviced item, as well as the PTO cover with the six bolts. Other than that you get a box unless it was the pump seal or gasket.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

This MIGHT be the same deal as one of my friends with a Duramax Allison. His trans in the new Chevy had a shifting glitch and GM replaced the transmission without letting the service tech at the dealership even take the pan off. Sometimes the problem is lost when the dealer mechanic tries to diagnose.. Hope it turns out good for you

 

[muchsnow]

I'm not understanding exactly where you think the fluid is coming from. The cooler line fittings/disconnects are a serviced item, as well as the PTO cover with the six bolts. Other than that you get a box unless it was the pump seal or gasket.

There's an aluminum block (cooler bypass valve) 1 x 6x 4ish on a standoff to the right of the bell housing that is a junction that the cooler lines from the front come to (fittings) and continue on (via fittings) to the trans. Lotta fluid hanging on that area. Looks to me to be one of the lines either to or from this block... They just made it sound like something from the hip, especially since I had dropped by because there had been no call to me about it. I asked for a status, and then I was told there was a transmission fluid leak (duh...), and that they might have to replace the transmission... I should have worked it a little before handing it off... AWFULLY new to have to go that route though (working on it..).....

 

[sag2]

Before you let them waste $12,000 on a transmission why not clean it off with brake clean and find exactly where it's coming from.

If they are not that bright and replace it, the $12k just gets passed on to you and me in our next purchase.

 

[muchsnow]

Before you let them waste $12,000 on a transmission why not clean it off with brake clean and find exactly where it's coming from.

If they are not that bright and replace it, the $12k just gets passed on to you and me in our next purchase.

I'll take it for a while myself if they don't come up with something definitive. Personally I can usually isolate a Hyd leak under ANY conditions, and know a few tricks also (20 something years Naval Aviation maintenance).

Still had/have to give them a chance, I'm usually well received when the intent is for ALL to learn something..... gotta get past ego's sometimes....

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Maybe that block is loose or something is cross-threaded on it. There are lots of dealers in the SLC area; you should be able to find a tech with some intelligence. I agree with sag2--some dealers immediately go for the high ticket item beause they make more money and it seems easier for them to fix it that way. So, they get a new trans, put the old block onto it, and the problem remains. Oops. They don't care, they didn't pay for it. I had that happen about 33 years ago with a NP435 trans. The shifter hung in neutral sometimes while the trans was in gear. The dealer replaced the trans, put the old tower on it, and that didn't help because the problem turned out to be that a pin between the shift rails in the tower was missing from the factory.

 

[TFucili]

I agree with Joe and sag2, get a proper diagnosis first. From everything I have read, and feedback I get via my buddy, the retired Mopar engineer, the Aisin has a warranty rate as close to zero as you'll ever find.

 

[sag2]

The dealer will make a 40% markup on $7800 if he repairs it with a box. Not a bad profit margin for a couple of hours of work, and a total waste to Chrysler if it doesn't need it.

 

[transe]

Amen! The thermal bypass valve in the cooler line is leaking, and they want to replace the TRANSMISSION? Give me a break! I would run from that dealership.

I agree with the suggestion to clean off the TBV and cooler lines, and see where the leak is actually coming from. Probably one of the threaded connections, and hopefully can be easily resealed.

 

[gsbrockman]

Here's a few pics of the transmission cooler lines from JLandry's thread https://www.turbodieselregister.com...d-Line-Leak-Less-Than-2200-Miles-on-New-Truck! :

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...200-Miles-on-New-Truck!?p=2389140#post2389140

#ad


#ad


#ad

 

[muchsnow]

Well, I can now tell what is NOT leaking,....

I agree with Joe and sag2, get a proper diagnosis first. From everything I have read, and feedback I get via my buddy, the retired Mopar engineer, the Aisin has a warranty rate as close to zero as you'll ever find.

I spent some time at the dealership today, they actually let me do my own look at the problem and eventually come up with the same observations they had made.

First off, believe it or not the leak is coming from the top of the bell-housing where it appears that there is a cast, bolted on block with a vent fitting on it (kind of yellow 90 degree). this was verified to leak mainly before the unit was warmed up to op temp and in conjunction with being in gear.

Near nothing in park while idling after initial start. What I had done was Talc and Sock the entire area before starting (Aircraft Hydraulic leak trick), and after some warm-up and driving it around the lot in first gear for a minute, it was tracking Trans fluid down both sides of the bell housing to the small inspection plate at the bottom and on the ground at a rate of 30 or so drops a minute. I left it in gear and once the trans lines and pan were reading around 180 degrees, it tapered off to about 3 to 5 drops a minute. In inspecting with a mirror and light on the driver side of the bell housing you can actually see the drops coming off the plastic fitting on the top of the bell housing and tracing off of the bolts that secure the casting that the fitting is attached to.

SO, any insight on this? It's not the Thermostat block or lines....... why would it barf fluid from what appears to be the vent system? Still shifts just fine without any cavitation noise or other irregularities....

And the dealership was VERY helpful in letting me scrutinize this...

 

[Cummins12V98]

There is a guy on the MobileSuites forum "Junkman" that said he had "fluid all over the place" on his 14 Dually. They just popped in a new Aisin and all is good!

 

[muchsnow]

aisin replacement

There is a guy on the MobileSuites forum "Junkman" that said he had "fluid all over the place" on his 14 Dually. They just popped in a new Aisin and all is good!

Looks like that is where we are at now. It's not due in until 21 Oct........

 

[Cummins12V98]

Sounds like the Aisin has gone from the "they don't break transmission" to the "they may leak transmission"

 

[muchsnow]

Sounds like the Aisin has gone from the "they don't break transmission" to the "they may leak transmission"

Yeah, I would love to see what this looks like on top after it's pulled. Because I can't find any pic or roadmap image as to what the top of that bellhousing and associated plumbing run over the top/center of the trans tunnel looks like.....

 

[garrettg84]

SO, any insight on this? It's not the Thermostat block or lines....... why would it barf fluid from what appears to be the vent system? Still shifts just fine without any cavitation noise or other irregularities....

Have you done the fluids yourself? Is it possible the trans was over filled? Overfilling is a common cause of spill over from vents.

Before the trans/engine is at operating temp, the oil would be much more viscous and 'fling' differently than when at operating temps.

Just a thought. I am neither a mechanic nor very experienced with these trucks.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Yeah, I would love to see what this looks like on top after it's pulled. Because I can't find any pic or roadmap image as to what the top of that bellhousing and associated plumbing run over the top/center of the trans tunnel looks like.....

Ask your tech to take a picture and send you. Then you can share with the rest of us!

 

[transe]

Wow. Vent leaks are pretty rare, but when they do occur they are often due to a defect in one of the machined parts. I'm not familiar with the internals of the Aisin trans in the area of the vent, but in 68RFEs we had some vent leakers years ago that were caused by a casting defect in the pump housing. The casting did not fill completely, which left a small sink area in one of the cast walls amongst the hydraulic passages. This allowed pressurized oil (in one passage) to leak into the vent passage, and eventually overflow out the vent. So I'm guessing perhaps your Aisin trans suffers from a similar defective part, that's allowing pressurized oil to get into the vent passage.

 

[muchsnow]

2014 Ram aisin as69rc six-speed automatic Leaking

Wow. Vent leaks are pretty rare, but when they do occur they are often due to a defect in one of the machined parts. I'm not familiar with the internals of the Aisin trans in the area of the vent, but in 68RFEs we had some vent leakers years ago that were caused by a casting defect in the pump housing. The casting did not fill completely, which left a small sink area in one of the cast walls amongst the hydraulic passages. This allowed pressurized oil (in one passage) to leak into the vent passage, and eventually overflow out the vent. So I'm guessing perhaps your Aisin trans suffers from a similar defective part, that's allowing pressurized oil to get into the vent passage.

I agree this is a possibility, since it defys logical explanation at the moment.. Cuz it still leaks, even with barely registering on the bottom of the stick (now) of the factory fill.......