I have an '86 sedan with auto trans that has 303K miles on it and until this most recent filter and fluid change everything underneath has been clean and dry. Until last week. I noticed trans fluid pooling under the car and the pre cat and cat have been wet with trans fluid. All the trans pan bolts are nice and snug and I saw a drop of the fluid coming from an elbow on the drivers rear side of the trans pan that goes up into the engine area most likely to the trans cooler. I was able to twist and get a wrench up in there and it was just a little loose. So I put a piece of clean cardboard under there and ran the car for about ten minutes....Lo and behold, there was the puddle again and the elbow was nice and dry. I then reached up and followed another trans pipe more to the front of the trans pan and felt another elbow, but there is no way to get up in there to try and tighten it. I appears I'll have to remove the catalytic converter up to where the pipe (exhaust) comes off of the manifold to be able to reach it. I there an easier way and if not, will I have to buy new exhaust pipe gaskets or can I reuse the old ones? Or would it be easier to just remove the entire exhaust manifold back behind the cat converter and I guess buying a new exhaust manifold gasket being nothing of the exhaust system that far up front has never been removed?
Sorry for the long post.\

Thanks in advance for you valuable advice everyone has always been a great help.

Thanks, XrayBob in sunny Florida

I agree, could be one of the tranny cooling lines is leaking where it clamps near the flywheel. ATF might be blowing rearwards.

More of a longshot, but have you replaced your tailshaft bushing/seal? It's in the rear, but when it goes it sprays ATF all over the place.

BTDT with both of the above....


Good luck,
Jim
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90 244DL about 1/4 million miles - original engine/drivetrain :)

If my memory serves me correctly, the only "elbow" tube on the left side of the engine (Driver's side for USA market) is the tranny dipstick tube and it may have been loose and in need of tightening.

On the right/passenger side of the vehicle are the two tranny cooler lines. There is a spot where the cooler lines run up into the engine bay and they pass a bracket on the side of the engine/exhaust and both lines are clamped to a brace there. This spot is notorious for rubbing and wearing through the lines. If this is the case, you can splice in a section of Transmission Fluid Hose at the break/hole in the pipe(s). Note: Transmission Hose is chemically different from regular fuel hose and costs a bit more. Your local parts store should be able to cut you a few feet of Tranny Hose for under $10.

FYI, if you must remove the exhaust pipe from the exhaust manifold, you will need a new "binocular" gasket. Typical cost is $2 to $5 at a parts store. There are 3 bolts holding that union together. 12mm or 13mm if I remember.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
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'87 Blue 240 Wagon, 252k miles.

Have you checked that tranny cooler line that always rubs up against the flywheel area? On my '86, there was a tranny cooler line leak because the line had rubbed a hole. A couple of little hose clamps and a short rubber hose will suffice a soft patch...the tranny cooler lines don't have that much pressure...until you get a replacement. However,...you said that your leak was coming from the drivers side rear of the pan....maybe a rear tranny seal. I dunno. Good luck.
Cabbie2169

Bob-
You will have better luck with this if you remove the trans crossmember, and gently lower the whole thing on a jack.
I guess I won't recommend you do this if you have wiring harness problems- the flexing might be fatal to the existing crusty harness.

But as long as the wiring is ok, you can lower the drivetrain quite a bit and access those pipes. A flare nut wrench would be best, but I don't remember offhand what size it is.

If you find there's no other way to get to it, I'd take the exhaust apart at the 3-bolt flange for the headpipe. Don't mess with the cat. Just get a new flange gasket ($3 or so) and 3 M10 copper exhaust nuts (dealer or much cheaper at FCP Groton). You can reuse old nuts but only if they're in fine shape.

The exhaust is a bit heavy so you'll want a helper lowering and reinstalling it if you're not strong. You end up having to hold it up while you install a nut, using about 16" of extensions. The nut size is 16mm BTW- make sure you have this socket before even trying. Many sets don't include it.

Good luck!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: Roterande Fläkt Och Drivremmar!

Before you go crazy (like I did) replacing seals,gaskets and retorquing all fasteners. Take a look and see if the seal at the end of the shifter rod has not worked its way out of the trans case. Its an easy fix if thats whats wrong.