I bought a 97 TJ 2.5L auto with 188K miles about a year ago. I’ve been reading many of the post on this site over the last several months as I’ve slowly fixed and replaced various things. I’ve gained tons a great info from this site, so many thanks to all who support it. Now I’m finally posting my first question.
I am now on my fourth attempt to fix my leaking transmission pan. It continues to be wet and dripping along the back edge of the pan. My first attempt I just changed the gasket with a cheapy from autozone, torqued to FSM. It was back dripping a couple weeks later. The second attempt I ditched the gasket and went to RTV. And I also changed the output shaft seal because I thought I was seeing fluid coming out of the weep hole. But unfortunately a couple weeks later it was leaking again. And it seemed to be coming through and around the pan mounting bolts. I didn’t see any fluid coming from up above, only at the gasket edge and the bolts. At that point I thought maybe the pan is bent or dented around the mounting holes. So third attempt I bought a new pan (stock style, nothing fancy or different), and I bought a good FelPro gasket, and I used a nice healthy dose of gasket sealer recommend on this forum. I thought for sure I had it licked. But a few weeks later I started seeing drips again, and it’s wet along the back edge again. As I inspected the leak each time, I found the pan bolts weren’t completely tight any more, and I could tighten them a bit before they hit the torque spec. I wouldn’t call them loose though, just not at spec any more. So I’m wondering if they are loosening up as I drive.
Now my fourth attempt, I bought a lubelocker gasket and I’m going to try that. I also changed the park/neutral position switch because I think fluid was leaking through the switch (is that possible?). And finally my question, I’m considering putting some blue threadlocker on the pan bolts. I’m thinking that maybe the pan bolts aren’t staying tight, maybe some threadlocker would help. What do you guys think? Is that a good idea? Would that hurt anything?
Thanks for your help.
I am now on my fourth attempt to fix my leaking transmission pan. It continues to be wet and dripping along the back edge of the pan. My first attempt I just changed the gasket with a cheapy from autozone, torqued to FSM. It was back dripping a couple weeks later. The second attempt I ditched the gasket and went to RTV. And I also changed the output shaft seal because I thought I was seeing fluid coming out of the weep hole. But unfortunately a couple weeks later it was leaking again. And it seemed to be coming through and around the pan mounting bolts. I didn’t see any fluid coming from up above, only at the gasket edge and the bolts. At that point I thought maybe the pan is bent or dented around the mounting holes. So third attempt I bought a new pan (stock style, nothing fancy or different), and I bought a good FelPro gasket, and I used a nice healthy dose of gasket sealer recommend on this forum. I thought for sure I had it licked. But a few weeks later I started seeing drips again, and it’s wet along the back edge again. As I inspected the leak each time, I found the pan bolts weren’t completely tight any more, and I could tighten them a bit before they hit the torque spec. I wouldn’t call them loose though, just not at spec any more. So I’m wondering if they are loosening up as I drive.
Now my fourth attempt, I bought a lubelocker gasket and I’m going to try that. I also changed the park/neutral position switch because I think fluid was leaking through the switch (is that possible?). And finally my question, I’m considering putting some blue threadlocker on the pan bolts. I’m thinking that maybe the pan bolts aren’t staying tight, maybe some threadlocker would help. What do you guys think? Is that a good idea? Would that hurt anything?
Thanks for your help.
