Losing transmission fluid.

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James McCracken

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2004 4.6L 4x4

obviously I have a leak.

At first it appeared to be coming from the dip stick area however after replacing it it’s still leaking.

Possibly a pinhole leak in the a line that’s spraying? Problem is I can’t locate it without running. It doesn’t leak while just sitting still.

So today I Jack the right side up and get under it while running in Neutral. As I’m looking around I see a good bit of fluid dripping from the rear of the transmission on the top left. Is there some sort of weep hole if it’s over filled?

Before jacking it up I had zero fluid back there so I’m certain it’s still a leak on the right front area. UNLESS it’s leaking from the top right and it’s running back to the left rear due to being jacked up.

best I can tell I can’t see any lines on the top side though and all the fluid while driving is getting on the right side frame and dip stick.
 

Trainmaster

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I had a leak where my dipstick tube rotted a hole in it. But if it's spraying while running I'd suspect a cooling line or connector? Look at them. Forget where it's dripping from the case -- that always fools you. It runs down and around and drips from the low point. Get up there with a light and a mirror.
 
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James McCracken

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I had a leak where my dipstick tube rotted a hole in it. But if it's spraying while running I'd suspect a cooling line or connector? Look at them. Forget where it's dripping from the case -- that always fools you. It runs down and around and drips from the low point. Get up there with a light and a mirror.


I guess what I really need to know is if their is a week hole on top anywhere.
 
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James McCracken

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I doubt it. A vent maybe, but short of the cooler lines, there's the bulkhead connector where the wires pass into the case. They often leak and there were recalls for the o-rungs on them, but nothing that would shoot fluid under pressure. That would be a cooler line.

Ok thank you. I’m going to get it up on ramps in the front and Jack stands in the rear and put it in drive see if I can pin point the leak. I’ve already rinsed under it a few days ago so it should be easier to spot.

I did notice the cooler lines are held together with a black clip to keep them from rubbing I’d assume.
I slid the clip forward. Don’t see a leak while sitting but the line is worn down where the clip was. I’ll find out once it’s off the ground.
 

Plati

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Ok thank you. I’m going to get it up on ramps in the front and Jack stands in the rear and put it in drive see if I can pin point the leak. I’ve already rinsed under it a few days ago so it should be easier to spot.

I did notice the cooler lines are held together with a black clip to keep them from rubbing I’d assume.
I slid the clip forward. Don’t see a leak while sitting but the line is worn down where the clip was. I’ll find out once it’s off the ground.
Maybe I'm paranoid, ok I AM risk aversive, but your plan sounds dangerous.
Maybe its just me?
Lost a good friend doing something like that a few years ago. Pickup truck crushed him.

I dont know what you rinsed it with. When I was trying to identify my rear diff leak I sprayed the whole area thoroughly with brake cleaner. Leak was obvious after that.
 
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James McCracken

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Maybe I'm paranoid, ok I AM risk aversive, but your plan sounds dangerous.
Maybe its just me?
Lost a good friend doing something like that a few years ago. Pickup truck crushed him.

I dont know what you rinsed it with. When I was trying to identify my rear diff leak I sprayed the whole area thoroughly with brake cleaner. Leak was obvious after that.

I suppose it could be dangerous but since I don’t have a lift or the money to take it to a shop I don’t have much of a choice.

after doing this it appears that the fluid is coming out of the vent tube. It’s possible that it has too much fluid in it. Originally the leak was on the right side. I’m 99 percent positive it was from the dip stick. I think it was over filled after that now causing it to come out of the vent tube.

I still have to get my front brake issue taken care of also.

It was warm out and I was coming home from work the front right caliper stuck. Got externally hot.
Well I went to remove the caliper last weekend and could not get the lug nuts off. My Milwaukee impact would not budge them neither would a breaker bar. Pretty sure they’re now seized into the studs after getting that hot. Weather has been cold so no issues since then. Till today again warm out after the cold spell and now it’s wanting to stick again.
I can’t fix it if I can’t get the darn wheel off. I’ve never had the wheel off since I’ve owned it so hard to say if it’s from the brake getting hot or if it was already like that.
 

Hamfisted

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You know anybody with an air impact wrench ? If that's a battery powered Milwaukee impact, then yeah, it ain't gonna break it loose. It'll take an air impact to do it. Check all your other lug nuts now, and make sure you can break them free. You don't want to be stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and run into this issue.
 
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