TH350, Where's the LEAK???

Club HR to the rescue again. Have a leak. Just changed out pan gasket to a new felpro (rubber type). Get everything in place and bingo, it leaks. Drain everyhting, fully clean, put back on, this time with RTV gasket cement and gasket and Bingo, no leak. Let it idle, get to running temp, rev it, shift it, check fluid levels, let it slowly cool down again and no leaks.
Heres the confusion, go for a ride, 10miles maybe, come home, park it, and BAM, fluid on the floor. Maybe a half a shot glass. Also, its leakin as I drivin. Now the wind under the car will blow it forward-backward etc. Its on the pass side muffler, floorpans, and pan. None by the dip tube, and not that I can tell by the shift cable input, although a little damp. Where is it coming from? I cant put the car under load and climb under it. Real seal does not seem like its leaking, but can it be? Recently changed the VAC mod too, but it looks clean. Help appreciated!!!

Check inside the bellhousing, the front seal could be going. When they first start to go, they only leak when moving fairly fast, due to the higher pressure and flow.

I dont have the cover on the front, so the convertor is exposed. Its clean. Not even a drop.

I'd check the cooler lines.The fittings may be loose. You could wrap a white rag around them and go for a ride them take a look. Good luck
Charlie

I thought that too. Checked them and tightened. They are good, although I wont rule it out. Its just that there's really no fluid there. Is there a way to check real seal? And, would it only leak under load? Also, is there an o-ring or something on the kickdown cable?

Could it be coming from your breather on your valve cover??? Had similar problem myself.

Pat

Valve cover? I think the trans fluid is leaking from the speedo connector. I had ruled out, however, I just went out and removed the holdown clip and pulled the speedo gear holder thingy out. Looks like the o-ring needs to be replaced. This may be it, however, now I think I have another problem!!! I dropped the little white plastic gear that goes into the holder into the hole in the tail. Its laying in there out of fingers reach as fluid is running out. Any ideas how to get it without removing the tail??? One think after another with me, I swear. I should have went to bed!!!!!

You should be able to pull the 4 bolts out of the tail and remove it. Jack the car up from the rear as high as you can get it. I don't think you'll loose that much fluid. Maybe a pair of needel nose pliers that are bent 90deg. will reach it??
I thought you said it was leaking on the passenger side??? Dr. side could be the shifter pin?

I'm thinking the accumulator cover is leaking. Only thing on the rh side that comes to mind.

dip stick tube o'ring, or kick down cable o'ring. they give a lot of problems. they maybe above the oil when you're sitting still. leak going down the rd.

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Originally Posted by lt1s10

dip stick tube o'ring, or kick down cable o'ring. they give a lot of problems. they maybe above the oil when you're sitting still. leak going down the rd.

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Yup, I bet Mike's got it. Check the dip stick tube, especially if you are using one that is not stock.

Pat

Well, now im in a fix. Cant get the nylon gear out of the trans tail. So, I've never done this before. After I remove the 4bolts on the tail and the drive shaft is off, does this thing just come off? Fall off? And while I have it off, do I replace the seal? (another friday night cruise is gonna be missed)

take the drive shaft out, pull the tail housen off, and there is a clip that holds the gear on. whats that got to do with a leak?

While trying to find the leak, I took out the bullet that holds the speedo cable out, and the white nylon gear that slides through the center fell in the tail! Sorry for the confusion. When I fix this, I still gotta deal w/the leak!

OK, so I took the tail of the trans. Got the speedo gear out, bought a new o-ring for the little bulllet that holds the speedo gear and cable, and while I was at it, pounded in a new rear seal. Now I have a nice, leak proof seal by the driveshaft and speedo cable. Took a test ride and I think I found it. Turns out the kickdown cable, which appears to be a hard black plastic, cracked where the bolt goes through it to secure it. Probably overtightened it.
Any quick fix? Or, is replacing it a must???

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Originally Posted by fiftee6

OK, so I took the tail of the trans. Got the speedo gear out, bought a new o-ring for the little bulllet that holds the speedo gear and cable, and while I was at it, pounded in a new rear seal. Now I have a nice, leak proof seal by the driveshaft and speedo cable. Took a test ride and I think I found it. Turns out
e kickdown cable, which appears to be a hard black plastic, cracked where the bolt goes through it to secure it. Probably overtightened it.
Any quick fix? Or, is replacing it a must???

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if there is enough room put a bigger washer on the bolt. **)

Be careful not to tighten bolts too much on the housing or be prepaired to rethread the holes. Ran into a big problem with the kickdown cable on mine. Just speaking from experience. To install a cable with the trans under the car can be a bit tricky. Just depends on houw much room you have between firewall and top of trans. Please do not force anything to match up. Just take it easy and be sure you are straight on the threads.

Do you know how to adjust the cable once its installed??

The seal on the kickdown cable is shot. It has the rubber top hat type, not the o-ring. It is cracked and dry rotted. Does anyone know if you can get this piece without buying the whole cable? GM part number maybe?

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Originally Posted by fiftee6

The seal on the kickdown cable is shot. It has the rubber top hat type, not the o-ring. It is cracked and dry rotted. Does anyone know if you can get this piece without buying the whole cable? GM part number maybe?

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might try the chev. dealer

Mission acomplished! No go at Chev dealers. No one had it, would have to order it. And, they werent even shure if it would be right. Went to Aamco trans shop locally, met a great owner/operater (shocking) who gave me one for free! Turns out he has a classic mg. Got home put it in, made it to Friday night cruise night, and walla---NO LEAK! Life is good again...

I've had that problem. I bought a truck and couldn't find the trans leak and it turned out to be the kickdown cable being broken right at the base and it would only leak every once in a while. I went to Federated Auto Parts and got a new one for like 13 dollars. Easy quick fix.

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Originally Posted by fiftee6

Mission acomplished! No go at Chev dealers. No one had it, would have to order it. And, they werent even shure if it would be right. Went to Aamco trans shop locally, met a great owner/operater (shocking) who gave me one for free! Turns out he has a classic mg. Got home put it in, made it to Friday night cruise night, and walla---NO LEAK! Life is good again...

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thats great!:cool:

get some ultraviolet trans dye and a blacklight bulb - put the dye into the trans and run it for awhile, ck underneath with the blacklight and your leak will show up bright yellow. we use this method at the dealership with hard to find leaks, works every time.