help on tranny leak issue...

[carbed87]

so i just bought my brother a dd. it's an 83 fairmont 4door with the inline six and c4 tranny.

my question is; this things leaking like crazy from the front most tranny fitting on the case (passenger side) i think above the band servo/next to where the dipstick goes into (that area). anyways, i tried to get a wrench on there and tighten it up, no dice, it's at too awkward of an angle. so am i gonna have to lower this tranny or what...

any help would be awesome guys and it definately feels good to be working on a fox again (lol...kinda)

[carbed87]

new dilemna, how would i seal up where the tranny line goes into the fitting going into the tranny. like rtv or something

[Dean_T]

I wish I've worked on my '83 a little more I could be more helpful...

Can you tell if the fitting is cross threaded? I think the line is capable of swiveling like the AOD lines. If so, it may only need a new O ring. You may have to lower the trans a bit to get better access.

I plan on converting mine to V8 and 5 speed but no where near that point, yet.

Good Luck,

Dean T

[carbed87]

yeah, it's that o-ring, not the fitting itself. do i need to get the line re-flared or something.

[TWR2003]

yeah, it's that o-ring, not the fitting itself. do i need to get the line re-flared or something.


Confused - if the fitting seals with an o-ring then it should not have/need a flare fitting. A new o-ring should fix the leak.

T

[carbed87]

well what it is, is the fitting seals fine in the tranny, it's the line going into the fitting thats leaking (between line & fitting) if that makes more sence.

[JACook]

OK, first, let's understand what you're working with. Is this a push-lock
fitting? Or an inverted flare with a nut?

[carbed87]

inverted flare with a nut

[JACook]

OK, if it's inverted flare, there's no way you're gonna solve the leak without getting
the fitting apart, and understanding why it's leaking. An inverted flare fitting does
not use any O-rings or sealers. Most common problem is cross-threading the nut.
Or maybe it's just loose.

I agree it's kinda tight to get a wrench on it. One thing you might try is removing
the transmission crossmember, and lowering the tail down a bit.

[carbed87]

yeah, i did that, so it looks like what im gonna do is go to the junkyardand find one thats not leaking. then cut the line in an easily accesable area and splice it with some hos and a couple hose clamps. lol im not about to go throwing rtv and **** on that line

[carbed87]

lol update, so i replaced both tranny lines and i gues it's been leaking right around the tranny cross member area, dunno where, but thats what im chasing now...lol starting to get a little sick of this car now

[JACook]

Trans fluid really likes to migrate. First thing you gotta do is get under there
with a couple cans of brake cleaner, and get everything clean and dry, then
watch to see where it's really leaking.

Couple common places for leaks on a C4 are the dipstick tube O-ring, and the
modulator valve O-ring. (And of course the pan gasket.) Also if the transmission
fluid level is too high, or the trans cooler in the radiator is leaking, you'll push fluid
out of the vent, which is at the top of the extension housing, just aft of where
it bolts to the main case.

[carbed87]

so i checked the tranny while idleing in park lol and the fluid's halfway up the damn stick...so i'd assume it's coming out of the vent tube your talking about. should i just drop the pan and try and get the fluid online or what

[JACook]

You can use a suction gun and suck it out the dipstick tube, or you can remove
the upper cooler line from the radiator, attach a hose to the end of the line, put
the other end of the hose in a container, start the engine, and let the pump do
the work.

[carbed87]

awesome man, thank you very much for all your help!