Transmission fluid leaking (96 Ford Escort)

[jsbush]

My transmission fluid is leaking on my car, a 96 Ford Escort wagon (1.9L engine). This car was in storage all winter in a unheated garage, and I have a feeling the seal has gone bad.

I tried locating the drain plug for the transmission, but I couldn't locate it.

Anyone know where I should look? Or do about this leak?


Thanks.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

are you sure it's the transmission and not the power steering box? if tranny, it's likely the top seal, ford escorts are notorious for those leaking.

 

[Vette73]

If its a automatic tranny then it will probable not have a drain plug. You have to drop the pan to get the fluid out, then replace filter and pan gasket.

 

[jsbush]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
are you sure it's the transmission and not the power steering box? if tranny, it's likely the top seal, ford escorts are notorious for those leaking.

Yes, the fluid is red, and its coming out from the pan.

If its a automatic tranny then it will probable not have a drain plug. You have to drop the pan to get the fluid out, then replace filter and pan gasket.

Should I do this, I can't get to some of the bolts? Or just get a transmission sealer or something? I saw what could be a drain plug at the bottom of the tranny. Yes its an automatic.



The leak seems to be coming from the pan.

 

[Squisher]

Be sure it's coming from the bottom, because that isn't very common (but not impossible).

It'd be nice to power wash it. Blow it off and then start it and look for the leak.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

If it's coming from the pan, it's likely the gasket is cracked (most likely) or the bolts are loose. you can take it to get a tranny filter service for like $100 or less depeding on where you go and they will put a new gasket on it when they do the service (the gasket is included in the filter kit on that tranny) edit: this should be done every 30k miles anyway.

 

[jsbush]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
If it's coming from the pan, it's likely the gasket is cracked (most likely) or the bolts are loose. you can take it to get a tranny filter service for like $100 or less depeding on where you go and they will put a new gasket on it when they do the service (the gasket is included in the filter kit on that tranny) edit: this should be done every 30k miles anyway.

The bolts were lose on the pan, I tightened them up. I'll go check and make sure where the leak is coming from.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: jsbush

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
If it's coming from the pan, it's likely the gasket is cracked (most likely) or the bolts are loose. you can take it to get a tranny filter service for like $100 or less depeding on where you go and they will put a new gasket on it when they do the service (the gasket is included in the filter kit on that tranny) edit: this should be done every 30k miles anyway.

The bolts were lose on the pan, I tightened them up. I'll go check and make sure where the leak is coming from.

I was going to suggest this, and there's a good change that this will stop the leak, assuming that's where it was comming from, unless your gasket is toast.