Siggy

My 88 IROC is leaking from the front transmission seal. This is a joy car and runs only on the weekend and may not run for up to 3 weeks.
A mechanic said this can happen with the TH700 when used infrequently and suggested installing a check valve in the oil return line to stop flow return while parked and reduce the static level in the pan???
I assumed that he was referring to the transmission oil cooler return line?
I'm not sure if this is a good idea or where to position the valve, which of the two lines and flow direction?

Good advice please.

Guest

no way in hell would i do that... thats goign to make your pump work harder since nwo it have to push the fuild around the ball you will also have less fuild flow into the trans cooler and heat is the number 1 cause of transmission going out... i would just have the seal fixed you can have the done in about 3 hours if your good

3.8TransAM

lol

Sitting for 3 weeks here and there isnt what ruined it.

Its either just given up the ghost or just plain old, which is quite common lol your car is an 88. Its now 17 going on 18 years old.

Lots of times it is just the front seal going bad. Just drop the trans and pull the converter off and u will see it. Just be sure to look for any strange wear on the input shaft, the front bushing and on the converter snout itself.

Lots of the time its the seal, sometimes the front bushing is going out and when it does, there is to much fluid for the seal to hold back and/or the slow makes excessive wear.

I'd try a new seal, should take you a half day if your good or a whole day if your a newbie.

later
Jeremy

Siggy

New seal yeah, its the front seal for sure. I hear your advice and deep down I really knew the answer...I'm not sure that I want to drop the AT and I was quoted around $1200.00 Australian dollars ($800.00US) to replace all seals. This all happened shortly after a full service by a local AT shop...I suspect that prior running was with low AT fluid and the leak was not apparent, I've had the car only 2 years and part of that it was down with an engine fire.

How much trouble am I looking at if I leave it?

I assume that the cooler drains back to the AT sump which brings the level above the seal. This seems to occur only after shut down (parked engine off), I think its called "morning sickness". Would the level get so low that other damaged occurs?

And thanks for your advice.

Ricktpi

It's probably happening while you drive also. You just can't see it dripping until you stop. As said above the only correct way to fix it is to replace the seal and/or bushing. Keep a close eye on the fluid level & judge for yourself how bad it's leaking, then decide if how soon you want to fixi it.