Transmission Pan Gasket Fluid Leak!

Ok this *****..no actually it now drips.:favorites68:
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I assume that the RTV job the dealer did is not working out well or the bolts need sealing? Options required:
Oh only 6,000 miles since fluid flush and pan pulled with new filter from dealer.
I assume dealer uses RTV..??
So with that...should I just pull the pan, drain this quality installation, and get a gasket and re-fill or what?
Is RTV really acceptable or simply a gasket is way better in the long run?

I guess You'll have to drop the damn pan again. I've heard that torqueing bolts is useless and a bit dangerous...
Anyway, while You are at it, why not buy a new pan, afaik it's not an expensive item.

Again, it ***** but, if it wasn't for the precious fluid, not such terrible thing. Do a 'clean' job, maybe they didn't.

I would see if the dealer will redo it.Factory uses RVT too.

I had a leak like that from the rear part of the pan, it turned out that it wasn't the pan, but the speed sensor just above and was dripping down, but it sure looked like the seal was leaking,

not sure if there is a speed senor in the front, someone else would know,
just a thought

I'd take it back to the dealer, most dealers will "warranty" any work they do and make it right. Most dealers around me will if they goof up so that they will get repeat business.

LibertyTC said:

Ok this *****..no actually it now drips.:favorites68:
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I assume that the RTV job the dealer did is not working out well or the bolts need sealing? Options required:
Oh only 6,000 miles since fluid flush and pan pulled with new filter from dealer.
I assume dealer uses RTV..??
So with that...should I just pull the pan, drain this quality installation, and get a gasket and re-fill or what?
Is RTV really acceptable or simply a gasket is way better in the long run?

Click to expand...

No RTV there,they used a gasket and why it leaked.Just take it back as that job has a 12 month/12,000mile warranty and they will fix it for free.

Unfortunately the 12 months has well passed.
I am not sure Troy if they did use a gasket.
As far as I know a gasket has to come from after market (Napa) as the factory installation was with RTV, ( no dealer gasket available?) and I doubt the dealer would use it.
Could it be leaking from above good point Nooby u sure it was (rpm?) sensor or the transfer case part time light, 4x4 shift position sensor?
It was dark with led flashlight and flash when I did that photo. Hard to really get under there/ will have to get it on a lift for further inspection.
Troy would know if it was leaking from above in the front driver's side corner, if it was leaking which sensor it might be from....TROY..??

If RTV was used, you'd be able to see some of it between the pan and the mating surface. I would bet that they used a gasket too. I've faired well using RTV when changing my trans fluid in the past.

x3, you would see rtv, it squeezes out as you apply the torque on the pan. I dont think it is a terribly difficult thing to fix. certainly not something you want to do but it isnt a huge PITA like some things!

LibertyTC said:

Could it be leaking from above good point Nooby u sure it was (rpm?) sensor or the transfer case part time light, 4x4 shift position sensor?

Click to expand...

yes they said speed sensor, and they replaced both of them, but my pan looked wet from on the rear seal and it only leaked when running or a few mins after shuting down, you could see it drip right after turning off the engine, but with in a few mins it wouldn't drip anymore,

diyman said:

I guess You'll have to drop the damn pan again. I've heard that torqueing bolts is useless and a bit dangerous...
Anyway, while You are at it, why not buy a new pan, afaik it's not an expensive item.

Again, it ***** but, if it wasn't for the precious fluid, not such terrible thing. Do a 'clean' job, maybe they didn't.

Click to expand...

Why buy a new ****** fluid pan?

1-Because you are too lazy to scrape off the old RTV....:freak3:
2-You feel that it's warped and rust in the corner one day..:icon_twisted:
3-You need to make it look pretty & paint a bright red before installation!hah.gif

However here is the one reason I like:
You can take the new pan in weld in a drain plug...
and then replace fluid easily in between the flushes!

Ry' N Jen said:

Why buy a new ****** fluid pan?

Click to expand...

Good point, my fault for giving no explanation.... sorry.

If the technician had not been careful while doing his job ( We are just guessing...) he might have bent/scratched the pan lips, and, given the tight tolerances of the (PITA) trans pan, leaking might occour. Then options are either trying to fix it, with a vise, or buying a new one. Just my 0.02.

Also, IMHO carefully applied RTV is at least as safe as a gasket ( and if I can do it properly, this tells the story...smashfreakB.gif )

Ya, but Tim never uses his KJ until the winter or for pulling his boat!

If he drove it more often it wouldn't leak!

When a vehicle sits for long periods of time, the gaskets dry out.
Even with regular start ups the engine and transmission do not get up to proper operating temperatures and therefore the gaskets do not get a chance to "Swell up" and actually seal!

Besides Tim...

You can get a bung welded into the existing ****** pan for less than the cost of a new pan!

Have you tried tightening the bolts, may be a little loose, whats to lose at this point? And I always put a drain in the first time I dump the fluid.

Neal said:

Have you tried tightening the bolts, may be a little loose, whats to lose at this point? And I always put a drain in the first time I dump the fluid.

Click to expand...

Agree.

I put a drain in mine after the 2nd time I changed the fluid. The whole process is a lot cleaner now.

Ya, nice to have a drain plug and all, but still better to have the ****** professionally flushed!

Yes I tried to tighten the bolts. They were tight, but only used a 1/4 drive as to not over tighten them. They moved just slightly.
Lets put it this way when they say professional flush just keep in mind that should also include still dropping the pan w/new filter after the flush.
Make sure you are clear what they are doing.
Since this time it really needs to get up on a lift, to inspect & ensure it is not dripping from above down, impersonating a gasket leak...might as well have them weld in a drain plug. This would be awesome. You could extend your flushes to every couple of years if you were simply able to drain the pan and install 3.7 litres of new ATF +4 every 20,000 miles..

REPAIR UPDATE:
Finally with some time off, I got the Jeep into the dealer for the transmission fluid leak.
According to the dealer it was leaking from the pan RTV sealant at driver's side front corner, just like the photo showed. (I got lucky )
They removed the ****** pan, resealed RTV and filled with New ATF+4 and updated some computer stuff for the TCM etc (new oil relearn?) all covered under the power train warranty of 7 years-120,000km. ($100 deductable=tx)
It seems to be shifting better now too.
I guess they looked at the history as well and realized it was 18 months ago or 14k miles, that the flush was done..so I guess that RTV job or bolts in hole that need RTV was not right.
I am glad it was not something worse, like pinion seal, or transfer case sensor seal !!

After a highway boogie today (with Techron in fuel) I finally got under the kJ to inspect and photograph the transmission pan re-seal job. It is rather obvious that indeed a gasket was used by the dealer last time. This has me baffled, as no gasket was listed under parts on the last repair order, when it was last flushed back in 2008.
Anyways to all that said RTV was not used I believe that to be true and RTV is probably the better course of sealing the pan in the long run.
It is rather obvious that the gasket does not seal well by my original photo and leak.
Looks like they did not clean the bottom of the pan that well either. I will have to crawl under and clean the pan up myself in the near future. I also think that a transmission pan skid would be a good idea as well. Any recommendations for one and how it mounts?
Here is the before and after photos again posted.
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