Additional info:

I forgot to mention that I replaced both pipes at a cost of £60 so they are not cheap. Though I should think you could fettle a repair using pipes connectors at a fraction of the cost.

Doug


>Here's something for the owners of automatic transmission Volvos.
>
>Earlier this year a [new] little oil stain started to appear under where the >car had been standing. So, old cars leak! Over time the leak got worse until >one day enough oil had dropped on to the tarmac to form a little pool. Just >enough to dip my finger in and have a sniff at; "This isn't engine oil, it's >ATF!". A quick look around under the car did not reveal anything obvious, so I >decided to have a proper look.
>
>My attention focused on the two ATF pipes, feed and return to the radiator >which incorporates the ATF cooler. A small block type clamp secures these two >pipes to the casing of the torque convertor. I removed the clamp and closely >inspected the area of the pipes which are in contact with the clamp. There it >was, a small partial fracture in one of the pipes.
>
>Small depressions had formed on both pipes where they were in contact with the >clamp. If you think about it, the transmission wobbles about on its mountings >and so the pipes also move about , but they are kept fixed at the radiator >end. However, the clamp allows a very small amount of movement between it and >the pipes, which over time wears away the walls of the pipes.
>
>Then, I remembered that years ago, a friendly Volvo technician at a main >dealer (they do exist) told me that his own automatic had been ruined whilst >driving on a motorway. Cause? - fractured ATF pipe under the clamp.
>
>Doug
>
>240 Estate 1985 B230A 120K (AW71)
>UK