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transmission fluid leak


jschunke

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Hi,

It's a 1994 Seville SLS with a Northstar, 4T80 transmission, 140,000 mi.

Transmission fluid is leaking heavilly just under the flywheel/torque converter.

It's not the oil return or sending pipes, nor do I believe it's the pan gasket

because it seems to be leaking from above the pan.

So any idea's what it may be? Cost to fix? My guess it's a leaking torque

converter or a gasket? This may be the end of her.

Thanks,

Eli

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Just dropped the transmission pan, and the large scavenger screen

came out with the pan. It must have fallen loose somehow. The other smaller

one was in place.

Inspected all points for leaks and none found. So it's either the pan gasket

or torque converter seal.

Could the transmission work with just one scavenger screen or will that cause

damage?

After the silicone sealant dries I'll be ready to give it a test. Guess I'm talking to

myself. Where's Scotty?

Eli

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Just dropped the transmission pan, and the large scavenger screen

came out with the pan. It must have fallen loose somehow. The other smaller

one was in place.

Inspected all points for leaks and none found. So it's either the pan gasket

or torque converter seal.

Could the transmission work with just one scavenger screen or will that cause

damage?

After the silicone sealant dries I'll be ready to give it a test. Guess I'm talking to

myself. Where's Scotty?

Eli

Scotty has retired, but his step-brother BodyByFisher is still here. :D

The saddest thing in life is wasted talent

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The screen I believe can not completely come out untill you remove the pan so you may have been OK. I'm not a big fan of RTV on transmissions as it is the last thing you want loose in your transmission. If you buy a filter kit it will come with the two screens and a gasket. Pretty cheep and I believe you will get new gaskets for the screens also. Beware that you will not actually get the filter though. The only way to be sure is to remove the bracket and panel and clean things up abit. Then you will be able to see a bit better. are you positive it is ATF?? I know there is a motor oil dye that can be added and likely one for the trans fluid. Then you can use a light to fing the culprate. It's truely not the end of the world pulling the motor and/or transmission on these cars. Many of us have done it successfully. It's a good excuse to drink beer on a saturday!! Good luck!

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Thanks for the replies folks. After replacing the two screens and trans pan gasket it

still leaks like a coffee maker on steroids. So it must be the torque converter seal

or a cracked case.

I knew that one screen was loose 5 years ago when I dropped the pan to

clean it up. The auto store gave me the wrong screen back then so I put the

old loose one back in. I'll try not to feel guilty that I'm responsible for

the demise of the trans.

I don't have the resources to replace that tranny. Bye Bye Seville.

Eli

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The scavenger screen falling out when the pan is dropped happens sometimes. It could not have been dislodged before you dropped the pan as there is not enough clearance.

Before you make the decision to junk the car, you should do a little more investigation - I doubt if the case is cracked. It could be the torque converter seal which could be replaced by dropping the trans. and R&Ring the seal. You could also have a reputable trans shop replace the seal.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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Eli, this is the member formerly known as Scotty, :lol:

My screen feel out when I dropped my pan also, and I am still running just fine, it was a CHEAP aftermarket screen, and from now on Ill be using AC DELCO replacments, the prior owner used a garage that used aftermarket parts including a CORK pan gasket that leaked like a sieve

It is possible that your torque converter seal is leaking can you tell? Oh I just looked and kevin suggested the same thing.. but that is what I would look at, my guess is a tranny shop will charge you $600 for a seal but if they go that far, I would replace the converter while I was at it

Good luck

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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  • 3 weeks later...

It's cracked! That's what the transmission guy says, and was

my original prognosis considering the raging leak.

He's now going to install a used transmission.

$500 labor

$1200 transmission

I don't like the idea of having a bone yard tranny and would

have trashed the car, only the woman wants her baby and the

tranny guy convinced her the car is in good shape. Who's to argue

with a half crazed woman anyway?

Why would it crack? There aparently is a technical bulletin on these

things cracking. My theory is the tranny to engine brace bolts loosened up,

and one of the four bolts on the brace was not original, and the threads

(on the tranny) seemed to be stripped because that one bolt wouldn't tighten

up. It's a mystery why anyone would have ever removed that brace.

A very disappointed Caddy owner,

Eli

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I wouldn't blame the car for the failure. After all, it sounds like someone cobbled up the bolts on the brace which may have contributed to the failure. Even so, the car is 15 years old - nothing lasts forever.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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Lord, I hope you have not been married to your wife 15 years, you will be kicking her to the curb... :lol:

You FOUND the reason, it cracked, UMMMMMMM, that brace was there for a reason I guess! Good for GM to add the support it must have cracked on them too.

You are getting it fixed quite cheaply, as you know, these are great trannys, we really don't hear too much with them.

If you get sick of the wife let me know, heck she is a cadillac lover! :lol:

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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  • 1 month later...

It's back on the road!

The shop swapped the transmission with a used one for a

total of $1240 (including tax). Pretty good priced I'd have to say.

The mechanic said the original transmission had already been

removed before and wasn't installed correctly, thus the crack

(don't know exactly where the crack was). That explains why

the bolts on the brace were loose, and one was odd and stripped.

Now if only I can fix the dreadful water leak, the infamous

"battery no charge" syndrome, and find out why it's running

rough (probably time for wires which are 7 years old?).

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No Charge Syndrome?, No doubt you have an AFTERMARKET rebuilt alternator, replace your alternator with an AC DELCO new or rebuilt alternator and you will be fine. Check to see what codes you are getting relative to the alternator, you will probably see something about F terminal.

Dreadful water leaK?, keep in mind that you are driving a 15 year old vehicle, and many things can go wrong including rusted heater pipes.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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No Charge Syndrome?, No doubt you have an AFTERMARKET rebuilt alternator, replace your alternator with an AC DELCO new or rebuilt alternator and you will be fine. Check to see what codes you are getting relative to the alternator, you will probably see something about F terminal.

Dreadful water leaK?, keep in mind that you are driving a 15 year old vehicle, and many things can go wrong including rusted heater pipes.

WOW - a fellow "NO CHARGE" member. although you are correct where it can be a bad cable. mine is an AC DELCO, and I get the message. I think I found the supect ground wire. I'll fix it on Saturday.

Water leak? - if you see where it's leaking from I would address it. you have the green stuff, so change it every 2 years, and make sure you use the bars powder.

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Check were the water pump mounts to the crossover assembly my 97 Eldorado's leaked there at least twice and the small bypass hose cracks because of extreme heat especially on a 15 year old both jobs are easy, remove air cleaner and pcm box once out very easy to get to....

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No Charge Syndrome?, No doubt you have an AFTERMARKET rebuilt alternator, replace your alternator with an AC DELCO new or rebuilt alternator and you will be fine. Check to see what codes you are getting relative to the alternator, you will probably see something about F terminal.

Dreadful water leaK?, keep in mind that you are driving a 15 year old vehicle, and many things can go wrong including rusted heater pipes.

WOW - a fellow "NO CHARGE" member. although you are correct where it can be a bad cable. mine is an AC DELCO, and I get the message. I think I found the supect ground wire. I'll fix it on Saturday.

Water leak? - if you see where it's leaking from I would address it. you have the green stuff, so change it every 2 years, and make sure you use the bars powder.

I am curious what your No Charge condition ends up being.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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