Fluid leaking under Dashboard in VH

[veeque92]

Hi all, I have a bit of a strange one here,
Our VH commodore is leaking red fluid under the dashboard. It is all over the wires and stuff in under the steering wheel and not to sure where it could be coming from.
The car doesn't have power steering so it isn't that,
I though maybe brake fluid but that is normally more of a green than a red and I cant think of anywhere where trans fluid could be coming from.
Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

[Goon]

Do u have an oil pressure gauge? that may be leaking.

If so try plummer's tape.

[85berlina]

Its probably coolant leaking from the heater core or hoses. Coolant can either be green or red and the red stuff is the generally the more expensive stuff.

[Pub247]

No, I know what it is i had the same prob and when i changed my dash i found out it's gearbox oil mine bieng a manual coming out of the speedo cable and leaking down onto my brake pedal take your dash out and have a look at the speedo there was oil all over the back of mine

[308vkcalais]

My word this is an unusal one....???Not that I'm an expert on Manual gearboxes but isn't gear box oil a similar colour to engine oil, stinks like a basta*rd & no doubt would lose it's colour quickly being burnt inside the tranny so wouldn't remain it's normal colour.If Gear box oil is being pumped up the speedo cable then there maybe sum internal pressure build up.Do Manual gear boxes have breather holes like diffs....???

[SL/ENUT]

Well if the manaul geaboxs do have breather holes, i'm yet to see one. Come to think of it they don't. So 308vkcalais might be right, the gearbox is having internal pressure build up and the oil is heading up the speedo cable.

[veeque92]

The car is entirely stock except for its on gas and it is an Automatic,
It looks like clean trans fluid to me but was just confused as to how it could possibly get there,
Its not coolant as we run the green stuff and our brake fluid is green too and it only has the stock oil light which I'm sue would be electric.
Will try and look this weekend. Thanks all for the quick replies.

[9C1pack]

Yep, it will be auto trans fluid. Smell and feel the stuff under the dash and compare it to the fluid on the trans dip stick, coolant wont feel greasy and will have a different smell, I remember a mate had a manual holden do the same years ago, I dont remember the cure though. Ring a speedometer repair specialist and ask them, It may just be a seal or a new cable.
Didnt overfill the trans did you?

[Pub247]

Yeah mine only leaks out when i give it a hiding then slow down and some drips out my gearbox is pretty stuffed was like that when i got it hard to change into 2nd and sometimes grinds but i'm not gonna fix it i only paid 600 for it

[Goon]

dont grinf your box to much, the teeth will snap and she will keep falling "slipping" out of gear !

It's not nice traveling over 100k then the 5th gear slips in N, not a pretty sound and only seconds before damage can occur.

[veeque92]

No worries guys, will pull the dash out tomorrow and have a look. it is mainly around the speedo area/side of the dash so sounds like the problem. No didn't overfill it was actually a bit emptier than it should have been when I noticed it.
Thanks again.

[veeque92]

Found the problem guys and yes it is leaking out the top of the speedo cable.
My next question is do I just replace the speedo cable or is there a seal somewhere to replace.
Thank again for your help.

[Tree cutter]

There should be some sort of a seal around the speedo drive gear on the trans that is the problem. Normally you should be able to drive your car with no cable connected and no oil will come out, so the cable is not the problem

[veeque92]

no worries mate, cheers, will look into that soon.