Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.

Nonetheless I went ahead with the work and the leak was eliminated and all
has been fine until about 2 months ago when I spotted a drop on pavement of
the driveway under the same location. When I looked, I saw the same area wet
with a drop hanging as originally seen. When I then checked the transmission
fluid level (which I hadn't done since the work; dumb, I know) I saw that it
had been overfilled, and I'd been driving that way since I had the front seal
replaced about a year before, so I siphoned out about 2.5 quarts of fluid,
added a bottle of Lucas (hoping the leak was from the "new" front seal I'd
previously replaced and that Lucas might help a little) plus 1/2 quart of new
transmission fluid to bring my level up to "normal" in the cross-hatch area.

As of now, I'm still getting the 1-2 drops per 24 hour period from the
transmission housing.

Is it likely that driving around for 12 months with the overfilled tranny
applied too much pressure and foobar'd the "new" front-seal I'd replaced 15
months ago causing it to leak?

TIA

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/jeep-cars/200707/1

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:21:06 GMT, "jimboe via CarKB.com" <u15312@uwe>
wrote:

>I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
>discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
>drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
>could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
>couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.


A few things can cause early failure. Improper installation (either in
seating or failure to prelube seal) Damaged area where seal rides
(this would be obvious) or a hot running tranny can cause early tranny
failure. Ther torque converter is the main heat maker in tranny when
it is riding stall a lot and it can get quite hot at times if stalled
too much or too long.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:21:06 GMT, "jimboe via CarKB.com" <u15312@uwe>
wrote:

>I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
>discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
>drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
>could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
>couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.


A few things can cause early failure. Improper installation (either in
seating or failure to prelube seal) Damaged area where seal rides
(this would be obvious) or a hot running tranny can cause early tranny
failure. Ther torque converter is the main heat maker in tranny when
it is riding stall a lot and it can get quite hot at times if stalled
too much or too long.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:21:06 GMT, "jimboe via CarKB.com" <u15312@uwe>
wrote:

>I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
>discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
>drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
>could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
>couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.


A few things can cause early failure. Improper installation (either in
seating or failure to prelube seal) Damaged area where seal rides
(this would be obvious) or a hot running tranny can cause early tranny
failure. Ther torque converter is the main heat maker in tranny when
it is riding stall a lot and it can get quite hot at times if stalled
too much or too long.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:21:06 GMT, "jimboe via CarKB.com" <u15312@uwe>
wrote:

>I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
>discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
>drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
>could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
>couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.


A few things can cause early failure. Improper installation (either in
seating or failure to prelube seal) Damaged area where seal rides
(this would be obvious) or a hot running tranny can cause early tranny
failure. Ther torque converter is the main heat maker in tranny when
it is riding stall a lot and it can get quite hot at times if stalled
too much or too long.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

You fixed the 'symptom' of a failure, a leak. Seals don't normally just
up and leak, they need a 'cause' to do this, normally a blown or worn
out bearing or bushing or in the case of a tail or nose of a t-case or
pinion, a bad u-joint can 'cause' the bearing to fail which blows the
seal which causes a leak...

When the front of my tranny has leaked in my current Jeep and past
vehicles, I always addressed the cause of the problem and replaced the
bearing or bushing along with the new seal.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)



jimboe via CarKB.com wrote:
> I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
> discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
> drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
> could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
> couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.
>
> Nonetheless I went ahead with the work and the leak was eliminated and all
> has been fine until about 2 months ago when I spotted a drop on pavement of
> the driveway under the same location. When I looked, I saw the same area wet
> with a drop hanging as originally seen. When I then checked the transmission
> fluid level (which I hadn't done since the work; dumb, I know) I saw that it
> had been overfilled, and I'd been driving that way since I had the front seal
> replaced about a year before, so I siphoned out about 2.5 quarts of fluid,
> added a bottle of Lucas (hoping the leak was from the "new" front seal I'd
> previously replaced and that Lucas might help a little) plus 1/2 quart of new
> transmission fluid to bring my level up to "normal" in the cross-hatch area.
>
> As of now, I'm still getting the 1-2 drops per 24 hour period from the
> transmission housing.
>
> Is it likely that driving around for 12 months with the overfilled tranny
> applied too much pressure and foobar'd the "new" front-seal I'd replaced 15
> months ago causing it to leak?
>
> TIA
>

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

You fixed the 'symptom' of a failure, a leak. Seals don't normally just
up and leak, they need a 'cause' to do this, normally a blown or worn
out bearing or bushing or in the case of a tail or nose of a t-case or
pinion, a bad u-joint can 'cause' the bearing to fail which blows the
seal which causes a leak...

When the front of my tranny has leaked in my current Jeep and past
vehicles, I always addressed the cause of the problem and replaced the
bearing or bushing along with the new seal.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)



jimboe via CarKB.com wrote:
> I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
> discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
> drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
> could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
> couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.
>
> Nonetheless I went ahead with the work and the leak was eliminated and all
> has been fine until about 2 months ago when I spotted a drop on pavement of
> the driveway under the same location. When I looked, I saw the same area wet
> with a drop hanging as originally seen. When I then checked the transmission
> fluid level (which I hadn't done since the work; dumb, I know) I saw that it
> had been overfilled, and I'd been driving that way since I had the front seal
> replaced about a year before, so I siphoned out about 2.5 quarts of fluid,
> added a bottle of Lucas (hoping the leak was from the "new" front seal I'd
> previously replaced and that Lucas might help a little) plus 1/2 quart of new
> transmission fluid to bring my level up to "normal" in the cross-hatch area.
>
> As of now, I'm still getting the 1-2 drops per 24 hour period from the
> transmission housing.
>
> Is it likely that driving around for 12 months with the overfilled tranny
> applied too much pressure and foobar'd the "new" front-seal I'd replaced 15
> months ago causing it to leak?
>
> TIA
>

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

You fixed the 'symptom' of a failure, a leak. Seals don't normally just
up and leak, they need a 'cause' to do this, normally a blown or worn
out bearing or bushing or in the case of a tail or nose of a t-case or
pinion, a bad u-joint can 'cause' the bearing to fail which blows the
seal which causes a leak...

When the front of my tranny has leaked in my current Jeep and past
vehicles, I always addressed the cause of the problem and replaced the
bearing or bushing along with the new seal.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)



jimboe via CarKB.com wrote:
> I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
> discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
> drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
> could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
> couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.
>
> Nonetheless I went ahead with the work and the leak was eliminated and all
> has been fine until about 2 months ago when I spotted a drop on pavement of
> the driveway under the same location. When I looked, I saw the same area wet
> with a drop hanging as originally seen. When I then checked the transmission
> fluid level (which I hadn't done since the work; dumb, I know) I saw that it
> had been overfilled, and I'd been driving that way since I had the front seal
> replaced about a year before, so I siphoned out about 2.5 quarts of fluid,
> added a bottle of Lucas (hoping the leak was from the "new" front seal I'd
> previously replaced and that Lucas might help a little) plus 1/2 quart of new
> transmission fluid to bring my level up to "normal" in the cross-hatch area.
>
> As of now, I'm still getting the 1-2 drops per 24 hour period from the
> transmission housing.
>
> Is it likely that driving around for 12 months with the overfilled tranny
> applied too much pressure and foobar'd the "new" front-seal I'd replaced 15
> months ago causing it to leak?
>
> TIA
>

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

You fixed the 'symptom' of a failure, a leak. Seals don't normally just
up and leak, they need a 'cause' to do this, normally a blown or worn
out bearing or bushing or in the case of a tail or nose of a t-case or
pinion, a bad u-joint can 'cause' the bearing to fail which blows the
seal which causes a leak...

When the front of my tranny has leaked in my current Jeep and past
vehicles, I always addressed the cause of the problem and replaced the
bearing or bushing along with the new seal.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)



jimboe via CarKB.com wrote:
> I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
> discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing (about 1
> drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the leak
> could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and they
> couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.
>
> Nonetheless I went ahead with the work and the leak was eliminated and all
> has been fine until about 2 months ago when I spotted a drop on pavement of
> the driveway under the same location. When I looked, I saw the same area wet
> with a drop hanging as originally seen. When I then checked the transmission
> fluid level (which I hadn't done since the work; dumb, I know) I saw that it
> had been overfilled, and I'd been driving that way since I had the front seal
> replaced about a year before, so I siphoned out about 2.5 quarts of fluid,
> added a bottle of Lucas (hoping the leak was from the "new" front seal I'd
> previously replaced and that Lucas might help a little) plus 1/2 quart of new
> transmission fluid to bring my level up to "normal" in the cross-hatch area.
>
> As of now, I'm still getting the 1-2 drops per 24 hour period from the
> transmission housing.
>
> Is it likely that driving around for 12 months with the overfilled tranny
> applied too much pressure and foobar'd the "new" front-seal I'd replaced 15
> months ago causing it to leak?
>
> TIA
>

Re: Can tranny seal go bad months after replacing?
 

The tail of the torque converter where it mates with the seal probably has
some wear too. Sometimes you can clean this up with fine emery paper.
Sometimes you can get an undersized seal. The bushing that the torque
converter fits in, in front of the transmission, is probably part of the
front pump. If you conclude that this bushing is bad, it is probably a case
for a transmission specialist.

Cheers,

Earle

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:46b497b6$0$30098$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosti ng.com...
> You fixed the 'symptom' of a failure, a leak. Seals don't normally just
> up and leak, they need a 'cause' to do this, normally a blown or worn
> out bearing or bushing or in the case of a tail or nose of a t-case or
> pinion, a bad u-joint can 'cause' the bearing to fail which blows the
> seal which causes a leak...
>
> When the front of my tranny has leaked in my current Jeep and past
> vehicles, I always addressed the cause of the problem and replaced the
> bearing or bushing along with the new seal.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
>
>
> jimboe via CarKB.com wrote:
> > I had my front transmission seal replaced about 15 months ago when I
> > discovered dripping from the transmission/torque converter housing
(about 1
> > drop/day). At the time, the mechanic told me it was risky because the
leak
> > could either be from the front seal, or the torque converter itself and
they
> > couldn't guarantee success after changing the seal.
> >
> > Nonetheless I went ahead with the work and the leak was eliminated and
all
> > has been fine until about 2 months ago when I spotted a drop on pavement
of
> > the driveway under the same location. When I looked, I saw the same area
wet
> > with a drop hanging as originally seen. When I then checked the
transmission
> > fluid level (which I hadn't done since the work; dumb, I know) I saw
that it
> > had been overfilled, and I'd been driving that way since I had the front
seal
> > replaced about a year before, so I siphoned out about 2.5 quarts of
fluid,
> > added a bottle of Lucas (hoping the leak was from the "new" front seal
I'd
> > previously replaced and that Lucas might help a little) plus 1/2 quart
of new
> > transmission fluid to bring my level up to "normal" in the cross-hatch
area.
> >
> > As of now, I'm still getting the 1-2 drops per 24 hour period from the
> > transmission housing.
> >
> > Is it likely that driving around for 12 months with the overfilled
tranny
> > applied too much pressure and foobar'd the "new" front-seal I'd replaced
15
> > months ago causing it to leak?
> >
> > TIA
> >