Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Hey, Y'all:
A question, first, then a request for advice:
I had my truck into ATS recently for a transmission rebuild. About six months later my input shaft (the factory job) gave up the ghost, so I went back for a new billet input shaft.
The truck has run great, but has leaked transmission fluid in the driveway ever since I got it back from ATS about a month ago, with its new input shaft installed.
I'm in Basalt, CO, and that's about a four hour drive from the Denver area where ATS is located, so I'm not anxious to make that return trip if there's a simple fix to the leak I'm noticing.
First thing I did was follow the manual's instructions to test the level of the transmission fluid. It's far more problematic than determining the oil level, as everyone knows. Particularly since, with my "double-deep" transmission pan, it's not easy getting the transmission fluid up to the recommended temperature (180 degrees!) to test for proper fill.
In the month or so that the truck's been home, I've tested the level several times. Initially, it seemed to be over-full; the level of the warm fluid was above (by 1/2" or so) the s-bend in the dip-stick.
ATS technicians told me that this was not going to cause the seals to blow out, because the over-full condition would be "vented". I have no idea where the transmission vent is located, but the fluid appears to be running down one of the cooler lines (at least the line, itself, remains damp with fluid and a "drop" forms at the nut near where it turns 90 degrees), and the wind blows it back all over the transmission, skid plate, etc.
When I'm under the truck, there are two half-inch, paint-covered lines that disappear up under the area where the transmission fill tube would emerge into the engine compartment. One of these—the longer one—is a metal tube with a compression fitting on its end, and it seems to be the one that's leaking up near the top, by the threaded brass fitting.
The other tube terminates in a cloth hose that's about 8" long. It's dry. I'm wondering if the vent is at the top of the first tube's location, or, if not, if I should just try to get a wrench on that compression fitting and further tighten it.
The truck has (prior to its trip to ATS) never leaked a drop of transmission fluid and it's got 170,000 miles on it, so I'm not understanding why it'd be leaking from bad transmission lines, now, unless it's just a loose nut or something equally simple.
I checked the transmission fluid level yesterday, and it appeared to be perfect -- just where it's supposed to be on the stick. This means that either it's vented enough fluid that the proper level has now been achieved, or it means that the fluid wasn't over-full to start with, and I just have a continuing leak that needs to be repaired.
First, I need to determine if the vent is at the top of that line (see above), because if it is, it's just been venting fluid down the outside of the line, and there's no "problem," other than an over-full condition that fixed itself.
If that's no the location of the transmission vent, then I need advice about how to troubleshoot the leak, and how to determine "how tight is tight enough?" on the nut at the top of that 1/2" tube?
Thanks for your patience and help.
A question, first, then a request for advice:
I had my truck into ATS recently for a transmission rebuild. About six months later my input shaft (the factory job) gave up the ghost, so I went back for a new billet input shaft.
The truck has run great, but has leaked transmission fluid in the driveway ever since I got it back from ATS about a month ago, with its new input shaft installed.
I'm in Basalt, CO, and that's about a four hour drive from the Denver area where ATS is located, so I'm not anxious to make that return trip if there's a simple fix to the leak I'm noticing.
First thing I did was follow the manual's instructions to test the level of the transmission fluid. It's far more problematic than determining the oil level, as everyone knows. Particularly since, with my "double-deep" transmission pan, it's not easy getting the transmission fluid up to the recommended temperature (180 degrees!) to test for proper fill.
In the month or so that the truck's been home, I've tested the level several times. Initially, it seemed to be over-full; the level of the warm fluid was above (by 1/2" or so) the s-bend in the dip-stick.
ATS technicians told me that this was not going to cause the seals to blow out, because the over-full condition would be "vented". I have no idea where the transmission vent is located, but the fluid appears to be running down one of the cooler lines (at least the line, itself, remains damp with fluid and a "drop" forms at the nut near where it turns 90 degrees), and the wind blows it back all over the transmission, skid plate, etc.
When I'm under the truck, there are two half-inch, paint-covered lines that disappear up under the area where the transmission fill tube would emerge into the engine compartment. One of these—the longer one—is a metal tube with a compression fitting on its end, and it seems to be the one that's leaking up near the top, by the threaded brass fitting.
The other tube terminates in a cloth hose that's about 8" long. It's dry. I'm wondering if the vent is at the top of the first tube's location, or, if not, if I should just try to get a wrench on that compression fitting and further tighten it.
The truck has (prior to its trip to ATS) never leaked a drop of transmission fluid and it's got 170,000 miles on it, so I'm not understanding why it'd be leaking from bad transmission lines, now, unless it's just a loose nut or something equally simple.
I checked the transmission fluid level yesterday, and it appeared to be perfect -- just where it's supposed to be on the stick. This means that either it's vented enough fluid that the proper level has now been achieved, or it means that the fluid wasn't over-full to start with, and I just have a continuing leak that needs to be repaired.
First, I need to determine if the vent is at the top of that line (see above), because if it is, it's just been venting fluid down the outside of the line, and there's no "problem," other than an over-full condition that fixed itself.
If that's no the location of the transmission vent, then I need advice about how to troubleshoot the leak, and how to determine "how tight is tight enough?" on the nut at the top of that 1/2" tube?
Thanks for your patience and help.
) start the truck and idle in reverse while you watch for a leak. most of the time the fluid runs all over and is blown everywhere so its harder to find the point of origin. Bad news on the transmission vent, it is at the top of the front pump assembly. Requires R&R the trans to get at it. BTW, if you take the lines loose, its a good time to ditch the factory hose and install a braided line (the short one that goes up to the cooler on passenger side) it is prone to failure, cost $45. hope this helps, Dave.
