Help!!! Transmission Fluid Leak(radiator)

pslider · Post by **pslider** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:51 pm

HELP!!!

I started my car('99 Lanos) this morning and I notice what looks to be a transmission fluid(red fluid) leak @ the front of the car around the radiator... Im ready for bad news... Any help is greatly appreciated..

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:55 am

their is no news till you see were the leak is comming from... could be as simple as a lose clamp or as bad as cracked radiator pipe... could be a cracked hose

check the exact area of leakage and replace the faulty part... still not to bad news unless you'd have to replace the whole radiator or so

MMamdouh

Pir0 · Post by **Pir0** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:40 am

Red fluid near the radiator?

Sounds like Power Steering fluid. Don't think it's the radiator as you shouldnt really have red fluid in there :b Unless your anti freeze was red.

Check the power steering pump and the power steering lines, they run right along the bottom of the radiator if i remember correctly, beside the AC lines. Could be as simple as tightening a bolt or something. Or as bad as a corroded power steering pipe. [Mine are pretty corroded, might need new ones soon]

pslider · Post by **pslider** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:20 pm

Thanks for the responses... I went home yesterday to check it and couldnt reproduce the leak, let the car run for 15 or so mins took it around the block still no leak... Hopefully the issue has fixed itself... I checked the power steering fluid and its still full... Dont know how to check tranny fluid but seems to shift fine...

Pir0 · Post by **Pir0** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:30 pm

I'm pretty sure it was a PS fluid leak. It takes that type of fluid you described and the pump is close too the rad, and the PS lines run along the bottom of the rad. That stuff doesnt dry up the quickest, open your bonnet and look down at the bottom of the radiator, you should see several pipes, make sure the car's cold or you'll burn yourself, but just run your hand along the pipes and see if you can feel any fluid. then trance it to see where it's coming from.

Or, you could look down and, while the car's running, get a friend to go from lock to lock on the steering/rev the engine [ps runs off the engine so if you rev the engine more the pump will pump more] and see if you can see any ps fluid leaking anywhere

Don't rely on the problem 'fixing itself' lol, especially a leak. It's odd that the PS is full, but other than that I can't see what else it would be, because there shouldnt be any transmission fluid from the gearbox near the radiator at all. Just outta curiousity, did you see where it was leaking from before? Or was there just a puddle under your car close to the radiator? Check your Differential inspection plate under the gearbox. the seal might be away on that.

daewoomofo · Post by **daewoomofo** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:40 pm

auto tranny fluid is red, is the car has a trans cooler then it will have ared fluid running through it.

pslider · Post by **pslider** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:57 pm

I did feel the lines from under the car when I got home but there was no fresh fluid and no dripping... I plan on doing more work this week to try and find where it is/came from...
I didnt get a good look @ where the leak started as it was 20 something degrees out and I was running late for work...

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 3:25 am

pslider wrote:HELP!!!

I started my car('99 Lanos) this morning and I notice what looks to be a transmission fluid(red fluid) leak @ the front of the car around the radiator... Im ready for bad news... Any help is greatly appreciated..

Possibly a power steering fluid leak. But doubtful seeing as you have been watching the reservoir and its not changing it's level, right?

So check and see how low your ATF is. ("How to" link below)

As MM suggested? It could be the hose or the hose clamp/s that run into and out of the (built into the radiator) transmission cooler.
or (again, doubtful but could be) a crack in the cooler itself..
Check radiator fluid for ATF in it, oil floats on water so it would be obvious when you look in the radiator reservoir. Open carefully and not when hot.
Transmission cooler and lines are on the left side of the radiator (as viewed from the drivers seat of your car, no matter where your drivers seat is located or what country your in when your sitting in it.)

A good thing to check as these hoses get brittle and can leak around the clamp/s.
A small leak here will usually only leak while the engine is running. You wipe it clean and it will take quite a few miles of driving before it shows up again.

For the 4T40-E GM automatic transmission, type of fluid :
Dexron 111 and yes, Piro, it's red!

How to check the ATF level:

http://www.daewootech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8041
(CAUTION: Make sure your car is level and block it so it can't move. Check it hot. Don't burn your fingers.)

Also, see this for more info :
http://www.daewootech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2492

let us know your findings?

Pir0 · Post by **Pir0** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:27 am

I actually didnt know the auto trannys in lanos' had a cooler. And i know it's red, thanks

The original daewootech forum

Help!!! Transmission Fluid Leak(radiator)

Help!!! Transmission Fluid Leak(radiator)

Re: Help!!! Transmission Fluid Leak(radiator)