What Are The Common Leak Points on Factory Auto Trans

[GRONK]

Bucket keeps peeing herself in my garage.  When I purchased her in October, she wasn't shifting quite right so I purchase a filter/gasket kit for the tranny.  Replaced and refilled fluid.  She drives PERFECT now, no issues except she leaves spots all over when sitting.  I replaced the tranny pan gasket and felt it was snug and non-warped.  I didn't use any RTV or anything as I didn't feel I needed to. 

Should I?

Is there something better than RTV?

I can't tell exactly where it's coming from and it's making a mess. 

Are there known leak points above the pan?

If I have to pull the pan again I will probably add a drain plug for the tranny to make it less messy in the future.  Might add a magnet to pick up any debris too.

[IowaEagle]

shifter seal is a common one.  It can be done while the trans in the car -- I think MoPar or parts stores have a tool just for this to make it a lot easier.   Also out of the vent if overfilled.   If it performs well with no jerking or hard shifts then the front seal is probably good -- they get destroyed when the converter input shaft lugs crack and spread apart.

[eagleman]

All I have to say is good luck.I to changed my trans filter and have sense dropped the pan three times trying to stop the drip.Cork gasket,rubber gasket and finally used some stuff called the right stuff.Supposed to be the best stuff available and it still drips. Have a large pan under it now until I figure out how to stop the drip.Thinking about two gaskets and using the right stuff and try one more time.Had I had known it was going to be such a problem not sure I would have changed the filter or maybe took it in to a service center and paid them to do it.Quite fustrated to say the least.

[doneagle]

        HI    did you try the dip stick tube or filer tube......Don

[IowaEagle]

All I have to say is good luck.I to changed my trans filter and have sense dropped the pan three times trying to stop the drip.Cork gasket,rubber gasket and finally used some stuff called the right stuff.Supposed to be the best stuff available and it still drips. Have a large pan under it now until I figure out how to stop the drip.Thinking about two gaskets and using the right stuff and try one more time.Had I had known it was going to be such a problem not sure I would have changed the filter or maybe took it in to a service center and paid them to do it.Quite fustrated to say the least.

Did you make sure the pan mounting surface is flat and the dimples are gone from the mounting holes (usually happens when over tightened)?

[GRONK]

I'll recheck when I re-do the seal.  I was even thinking of machining an exterior piece of steel/aluminum that fot over the bolt ring of the tranny pan, allowing me to torque down some real fasteners on the pan.

BFF (Brute Force Fix)

[mudkicker715]

Bff will do nothing but allow it to leak. which possibly is what happened in the first place.

[eagleman]

Well I'm gonna wait and see how yours turns out before I tackle mine again! Everytime I took mine dowm I'd check for flatness, pounded the dimples flat,even when so far as to place it on a table with a small 12volt light under it looking for light to show from under it and it still drips.So you go guy and I'll wait and see.

[GRONK]

Currently, everything is snug but not over tightened.  Everything looked true before reinatallation.    It will be a couple weeks form now most likely but I definitely want to see this one through sooner than later.  I can't stand a car that's not potty trained.

[rollguy]

I concur with what IE says.   The shifter seal is most likely the problem.

[carnuck]

Shifter linkage, sometimes the NSS gets a crack or the o-ring leaks, dipstick tube o-ring, trans cooling lines and the nastiest one of all. The rear band pivot shaft. Only accessible with the tailstock off, but seal-all and right stuff can seal them if you use brake clean to remove as much grease as possible.

[Baskinator]

My trans pan was ridiculous to seal up, and it took forever.

Didn't work with RTV/gasket at all, didn't work with rubber gasket alone. Multiple bolt holes had stripped out threads, causing the bolts to just spin. After tapping three new sets of threads and getting new, larger bolts to fit in them, I used the rubber gasket and spread dielectric grease on both sides. I then put blue threadlocker on each of the 14 bolts, tightened to spec with my in/lb torque wrench, and played the waiting game for 24 hours while everything cured (before filling and/or running). Shift kit installed, and happily NO LEAKS!

I would also highly suggest installing a drain plug. Only about $3 at the auto store, and I don't think I could've done it all those times without one.