leaking transmission

[gc4x4]

FSJers,
came back from a week of vacation and my FSJ ('87GW w/727) greeted me with a puddle of tranmission fluid on the garage floor.

topped off the trans with new fluid and drove it last week. no big leaks. trans shifted just fine - smooth and when I expected it to.

parked the car and didn't drive it for three days - another puddle.

got up under it and most of the leakage is on the driver side but it doesn't leak while the engine is running, while it's in gear or after I shut it off (at least not while I'm watching it).

bought a new trans filter and gasket and will install that. any ideas about where else the leak could be coming from or what could be causing a leak?

Thanks,
Chip

[smithhl]

This is a simple with a simple cure. If the puddle only occurs when it is not being driven, and dosen't leak when you do drive it, then your GW is just trying to tell you that it wants to be driven more often. More drive, less leak.

After you install the gasket & filter, then see if it is still leaking.

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81 Wagoneer Brougham
327 Vigilante T-18 NP-208

74 Volkswagen Sunbug
Superbeetle

95 Olds Achieva
4cyl 5-speed

[ARJeepman]

My 86 does the same thing....if it's driven every day or every other day,very slight leak. Let it sit for 3 days or more and the **** thing bleeds everywhere!! After topping off the fluid,it has to run for a minute or so to engage in gear. My Dodge truck did the same thing......turned out that converter was leaking down while setting and overfilled the trans,which made it leak. I'm thinking the heap,oops,the Jeep,is doin the same thing. Hope you get yours lined out! If it's a sel,try about 1/2 or a pint of laquer thinner in the trans. Will soften and swell seals. Good luck!

[tucsonrick]

maybe an o-ring on the shift control shaft?

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tucsonrick
69'wag (mostly stock)

[DerJeep]

Mine has done that for years. Continued even after changing the filter/gasket.

It hasn't complained (slipped or failed) so neither will I. Of course I don't park it in the garage or driveway for more than a day.

[Lippy]

Get underneath and take a close look at where the leak is coming from. Look for the clean, bare metal spot on the transmission and see where the fluid is coming from. You could have a leaking linkage seal, neutral safety switch, or pan gasket. If replacing the pan gasket, get one made by "Duraprene" Cork gaskets have a tendency to leak after a short while. Also, I had the same problem and it was the washer seal behind the yoke on the transfer case. The seal was torn and would leave the "ARGO MERCHANT" everywhere I parked. I had the EPA after me for pollution! Emptied out my transfer case in about 1000 miles. Just my 2 cents for what it is worth.

Lippy
'88 GW, pure stock, 147,000

[gc4x4]

Thanks for all of the input... I'll check all of the other possible leak sources when I do the trans filter this weekend...