Club 80-90 Forums

Plea to all you auto gearbox experts.

Took van for a run today. Left it standing for a while when wife has queried (should the oil be leaking like that?)

Nothing has been done to the box since I have ownerd it.

The gearbox is leaking badly (constant drip) from somewhere out of view at the top part of the box. At this rate there wll be no need to drain the box before removing!

If you lay alongside the left side of the box, and look up the side of the box at the top corner towards the engine, the oil is running down from this area. There is a small recess which I can feel with my finger which is full of oil, and crudge. The van is parked at an angle leaning to the left due to a slope, so it may not be coming from this side.

My worse fear is that there is a crack in the box.
Can this be repaired if it is the case.
Anybody any thoughts.
Is it a big job to drop the box, any body know of a decent mechanic/specialist in the midlands I am from Rugeley in Staffs.

Really p-------ed off now as we were planning a trip next month to celerbrate her maiden voyage as the new owners.

Thanks

Scouse.

Hi mate. Looking in my Haynes manual, the area you describe-top corner near the engine-is actually part of the final drive unit. The actual gearbox part is bolted to the back of this.It's the bit with the sump that the dipstick goes into-that's your gearbox part.I'll have a look under mine tomorrow to see if I can see what it might be-I have an autobox too.Is it the pink autobox fluid that's coming out or is it that smelly, thick hypod gear oil?

Thanks mate

Its the red auto gear box oil leaking out

Thanks
Scouse

Hi mate. I had a look at mine a little while ago and there's not a lot there to be honest. It could be that the dipstick is leaking, maybe from a crack or rust. Or maybe the torque convertor is leaking, but then again it'd be throwing it all out as it spins and you would see it in the engine bay too. I've just had a look in my Autodata manual though, and on that side also is the governor, which is held in place only by a big clip, like the cylinder heads. It's also sealed with a rubber O ring, so maybe it's that that's leaking. It's in the area that you described anyway, just above and behind the driveshaft. Sorry, I've not got a fax or scanner so I can't send you a picture, but I reckon it's your first port of call to check, then the dipstick's not either cracked or rusted and it's secure in the auto box sump. Hope that helps. In the process of checking mine for your's so to speak, I found my transmission fluid is a bit brown and not pink.......

Have a look at MANKEYMUSIC thread as this possible leak is being discused.

Thanks all

I will have a better look on Wednesday using a torch and a mirror. The flow of oil has more or less stopped suggesting that the oil level has now reduced near to where it was leaking from. I wouls expect it to stop when it reaches below this point. I would also estimate that it has lost about 300ml in 24 hrs. I am also going to park it on level ground after checking the level again to see if this makes a difference.

I forgot to add that before this leak I topped the oil up as recoomended by Haynes manual using the correct procedure. Funny it has not done it before. It was driven back from the garage approx 25 miles and did not leak. It was also parked the opposite way rounf so the slope was to the offside and not to the neasrside as it is at the moment.

Will update you as soon as I know more

Regards
Scouse.