transmission fluid

[GMHCalais]

hey all. My 5l calais today started leaking a bit of trans oil after i drove it for roughly 5 minutes. Didnt notice till after i moved the car. I then drove it after for about 30 minutes. With it only dropping a couple drops after that. The trans is supposed to have re built before i bought it as it was slipping from first to third. The bloke said it cost 1500 roughly. It shifts good with a stage one shift kit. Anyway, just wondering what would cause the leak, how much i would be looking at to get fixed etc.

Cheers

[The1]

could just be the pan bolts need retightning, especially if they used cork gaskets.

[GMHCalais]

so if i jack the car up i should be able to to see the pan bolts? Why so if they used cork gaskets?

[Brett_jjj]

so if i jack the car up i should be able to to see the pan bolts? Why so if they used cork gaskets?

The pan bolts are all the way around the outside of the transmission pan.You will see them once the car is lifted up a bit,also dont get under the car if the only thing you have to support it is a jack,make sure to use axle/chassis stands,or solid blocks of wood etc.Cork gaskets are commonly used on the auto transmission pan.I regularly service my auto in my VS,I change the filter and fluid etc,and I always use the cork pan gaskets that come in the transmission service kit,and I never have a problem with them leaking.The only time they will leak is if they are years old,or are tightened up too much,which crushes the cork and causes it to leak.The pan bolts only tension up to 11 Nm,which isnt very tight.So just nip them up and they will be fine.A tension (torque) wrench is the best way,that way you can get them tightened exactly to the torque specs that are listed in the workshop manuals.If you find that the old gasket is leaking,its probably easier to buy a transmission filter service kit,(around $20-$30 from places like supercheap etc),and give it a quick service at the same time.You get a new pan gasket in the filter kit.You would probably pay $20 just for the pan gasket on its own anyway.Then you just remove the pan,carefully ,its full of trans fluid ,then remove the old filter,it just pulls out of its locating hole,then you can remove the old filter seal from up in the filter locating hole if it doesnt come out with the old filter,then just fit the new filter and seal.I push the new seal onto the new filter first,then push the filter and seal home,up in its locating hole.Be sure to put some clean trans fluid on the new seal before pushing it home up in the filter locating hole.Then clean the pan and the flat magnet thats located in the bottom of the pan,it gets fairly dirty,especially if the trans has not been serviced regularly.Then once thats done, all you do is refit the pan with the new pan gasket.You also need 5 litres of Dexron 111(3) trans fluid to refill the transmission.Its all pretty straight forward.If you can change the engine oil and filter,you can service the transmission.A lot of people think its too hard to do for some reason.It really isnt... A transmission service at a transmission specialist/mechanics costs well over $100,probably over $200 these days,so you also save a heap of cash doing it yourself.I service my auto transmission every 4th engine oil change or every 20,000 km..I drive my auto like a manual a lot of the time though....

[hako]

In addition the Bretts advice, I'd check the pans bolts are snugged up....not tight, just firm. If none of them were loose, then it's possible the oil was leaking from one of many points so you'd be advised to spray the are with a can of degreaser and hose off then watch where it leaks from. Some leaks can be expensive to fix. I'd also check the fluid level because if it gets low you can then have a different set of problems.

[GMHCalais]

Did exactly what you suggested tonight hako and found out it was the power steering pump leaking fluid, cleaned it all up and turned car on and watched where it leaked from. So much easier than just guessing!

[GMHCalais]

any idea roughly how much it is to fix? Would i be right in saying its also Whats causing the screeching noise Im hearing when the left or right side steering is on full lock or has it got to do with the belt itself being loose?

[wortus]

any idea roughly how much it is to fix? Would i be right in saying its also Whats causing the screeching noise Im hearing when the left or right side steering is on full lock or has it got to do with the belt itself being loose?

You can get reco pumps or you can buy a kit from holden and reco it yourself. Not sure about V8 pumps but outright a V6 is about $99 or a service kit is much cheaper, can't remember exactly. You should also use a new O ring onthe high pressure hose.
I also change the power steerign fluid on a regular basis, it's not part of any regular service but it's a good idea to change it at least every 2 years or when it has gone dark red. there are places where you can take it to have it flushed or I just empty the resevoir with a syringe, refill it with the car jacked up start the engine and turn the wheel to circulate the fluid and do that 3 or 4 tims, it changes enough of it.

[GMHCalais]

yeah i bled the system from the low pressure hose under the chassis. Let it drain and then filled it up with a product called Lucas. It stopped the leak straight away. Just added a bit of extra power steering fluid and all sweet!