Transmission Leaking

Timon · 01-10-2009, 11:22 PM

I'm getting a bit annoyed of having to start threads in this section lol. Luckily my car is still running fine, for now.

So I just got off work, and I think* I could smell tranny fluid... I get out to check, and lone behold there's something on the bottom of my transmission, near the drain plug. I'm not sure what part it is, but the part soaked is something to do with where the axle connects (no it is not where the axle initially slides in, a bit further after that). This seems to be where the fluid is more present. If looking at the bottom of the tranny, it's almost directly above the drain plug. It looks like there is a rubber gasket that goes around it - knowing my luck the axle would have to be removed to get in there and replace anything.

I'll grab some pics and post them up in ~10 minute as clarification.

What is the item, why is it leaking, and how would I fix it?

Edit: Pictures

Ben · 01-11-2009, 12:07 AM

From what I can see, it is the axle seal. Axle does have to come out. Replacing the seal is just pulling the old one out and putting the new one in.

328FTW · 01-11-2009, 01:32 AM

I'm with Ben. Those axle seals do give up around this age which is pretty good considering they are sealing a moving part. Mine gave up on my mr2 and looked about the same. Replaced the seal and it was a clean box again.

Actually not that hard. Just drain the box first then with the car jacked up lever the axle out. I think you may have to unbolt the suspension subframe to get it to swing far enough to drop the axle. Once dropped pry out the old seal and pop in the new one. You don't have to even unbolt anything on the box I think because it is non lsd.

Timon · 01-11-2009, 01:05 PM

Thanks, I'll see replacing the seal. It doesn't look too complicated.

Do you know how much, which parts, of the suspension need to be removed?

Also, out of curiosity, would this have anything to do with what feels to be a slipping clutch, but without the RPM increase? I've only had the clutch actually slip (RPM racks up, but no increase in speed) once or twice, however, I do get a lot of what feels to be the clutch slipping, but the RPMs don't rack up, and the vehicle doesn't increase in speed for a few seconds. Would an axle have anything to do with it, or does it sound more like a glazed clutch?

yikes · 01-11-2009, 05:07 PM

undo the six bolts, axle just swings away, if I recall correctly, may have to pry a little. The stub is held in with a "c" piece of spring wire that collapses into it's groove when the stub is pulled out. A pry bar and a good sized hammer will pop it out.
When reinstalling, be very sure to coat the 6 bolts with thread locker, if not they will work loose and the axle will punch a hole in the tranny. hmm, how do I know that?

328FTW · 01-11-2009, 05:59 PM

If you undo the six bolts be careful because the end plate that holds the cv grease in the cv joint can dump grease everywhere. There is no way of telling but some seem to be a bit loose from factory or just bent from previous owners and as soon as the weight comes off the plate it loses its seal and takes a dump. I have had problems with it and there is no pattern or way of telling some just do. Kinda weird.

urladyswidme · 01-18-2009, 08:27 PM

I think I might have to deal with axle leak leak myself. Does anyone a link to the DYI process?

Thanks

Timon · 01-20-2009, 12:24 AM

It's required to pull the driver's side axle when you drop the tranny, so that's basically what I'll use as a DIY. I'm most likely just going to keep an eye on the tranny fluid, and save this fix until I put a new clutch in this spring.

Timon · 03-24-2009, 11:02 PM

Bump*

I'm resurrecting this thread. I got the new clutch put in, the driver's side axle seal was replaced, and I'm still leaking tranny fluid. Any other ideas? I'll look around and see if I can get some more pictures of it if needed.

Edit: I wiped off everything that was wet and I'm going to constantly check it to try to see where it's leaking from.

328FTW · 03-24-2009, 11:40 PM

Drain plugs tight? Simple to check, I had loose ones once, was a 2 minute fix and a 20 minute cleanup lol.

Timon · 03-25-2009, 04:26 AM

I wasn't able to move it at all by hand, but it couldn't hurt to pull out a wrench and make sure it is tightened down.

I'll do that, as soon as it stops snowing, and report back. Thanks.

Wheelman_13 · 04-21-2009, 11:04 AM

The transmission could be leaking from the drain plug or the fill plug, and it will always run down and end up in that same location.

What ever you do DO NOT go around randomly tightening the plugs (other wise THIS could happen) The BGB has a torque spec, you should use it. Also make sure the drain plug has a crush washer. If the fill plug is seeping, I recommend using some type of silicone thread sealer when you put it back in (to a couple of pounds less than recommended torque to account for the lube-effect of the sealer).

01-10-2009, 11:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Timon MR2 MKI AW11 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 669 Thanks: 13 Thanked 42 Times in 37 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Transmission Leaking I'm getting a bit annoyed of having to start threads in this section lol. Luckily my car is still running fine, for now. So I just got off work, and I think* I could smell tranny fluid... I get out to check, and lone behold there's something on the bottom of my transmission, near the drain plug. I'm not sure what part it is, but the part soaked is something to do with where the axle connects (no it is not where the axle initially slides in, a bit further after that). This seems to be where the fluid is more present. If looking at the bottom of the tranny, it's almost directly above the drain plug. It looks like there is a rubber gasket that goes around it - knowing my luck the axle would have to be removed to get in there and replace anything. I'll grab some pics and post them up in ~10 minute as clarification. What is the item, why is it leaking, and how would I fix it? Edit: Pictures Last edited by Timon; 01-10-2009 at 11:45 PM..

03-24-2009, 11:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Timon MR2 MKI AW11 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 669 Thanks: 13 Thanked 42 Times in 37 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Bump* I'm resurrecting this thread. I got the new clutch put in, the driver's side axle seal was replaced, and I'm still leaking tranny fluid. Any other ideas? I'll look around and see if I can get some more pictures of it if needed. Edit: I wiped off everything that was wet and I'm going to constantly check it to try to see where it's leaking from. Last edited by Timon; 03-24-2009 at 11:27 PM..

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01-11-2009, 12:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ben Same In The End Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 4,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 309 Times in 284 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (16/100% )	From what I can see, it is the axle seal. Axle does have to come out. Replacing the seal is just pulling the old one out and putting the new one in.

01-11-2009, 01:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I'm with Ben. Those axle seals do give up around this age which is pretty good considering they are sealing a moving part. Mine gave up on my mr2 and looked about the same. Replaced the seal and it was a clean box again. Actually not that hard. Just drain the box first then with the car jacked up lever the axle out. I think you may have to unbolt the suspension subframe to get it to swing far enough to drop the axle. Once dropped pry out the old seal and pop in the new one. You don't have to even unbolt anything on the box I think because it is non lsd.

01-11-2009, 01:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Timon MR2 MKI AW11 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 669 Thanks: 13 Thanked 42 Times in 37 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Thanks, I'll see replacing the seal. It doesn't look too complicated. Do you know how much, which parts, of the suspension need to be removed? Also, out of curiosity, would this have anything to do with what feels to be a slipping clutch, but without the RPM increase? I've only had the clutch actually slip (RPM racks up, but no increase in speed) once or twice, however, I do get a lot of what feels to be the clutch slipping, but the RPMs don't rack up, and the vehicle doesn't increase in speed for a few seconds. Would an axle have anything to do with it, or does it sound more like a glazed clutch?

01-11-2009, 05:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
yikes Cage Fighter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gnaw Bone, Indiana Posts: 230 Thanks: 2 Thanked 12 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	undo the six bolts, axle just swings away, if I recall correctly, may have to pry a little. The stub is held in with a "c" piece of spring wire that collapses into it's groove when the stub is pulled out. A pry bar and a good sized hammer will pop it out. When reinstalling, be very sure to coat the 6 bolts with thread locker, if not they will work loose and the axle will punch a hole in the tranny. hmm, how do I know that?

01-11-2009, 05:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	If you undo the six bolts be careful because the end plate that holds the cv grease in the cv joint can dump grease everywhere. There is no way of telling but some seem to be a bit loose from factory or just bent from previous owners and as soon as the weight comes off the plate it loses its seal and takes a dump. I have had problems with it and there is no pattern or way of telling some just do. Kinda weird.

01-18-2009, 08:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
urladyswidme Just picked up a 86 MR2 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I think I might have to deal with axle leak leak myself. Does anyone a link to the DYI process? Thanks

01-20-2009, 12:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
Timon MR2 MKI AW11 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 669 Thanks: 13 Thanked 42 Times in 37 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	It's required to pull the driver's side axle when you drop the tranny, so that's basically what I'll use as a DIY. I'm most likely just going to keep an eye on the tranny fluid, and save this fix until I put a new clutch in this spring.

03-24-2009, 11:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Drain plugs tight? Simple to check, I had loose ones once, was a 2 minute fix and a 20 minute cleanup lol.

03-25-2009, 04:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
Timon MR2 MKI AW11 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 669 Thanks: 13 Thanked 42 Times in 37 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I wasn't able to move it at all by hand, but it couldn't hurt to pull out a wrench and make sure it is tightened down. I'll do that, as soon as it stops snowing, and report back. Thanks.

04-21-2009, 11:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
Wheelman_13 I need an adapter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 275 Thanks: 15 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	The transmission could be leaking from the drain plug or the fill plug, and it will always run down and end up in that same location. What ever you do DO NOT go around randomly tightening the plugs (other wise THIS could happen) The BGB has a torque spec, you should use it. Also make sure the drain plug has a crush washer. If the fill plug is seeping, I recommend using some type of silicone thread sealer when you put it back in (to a couple of pounds less than recommended torque to account for the lube-effect of the sealer).