So my 98 Sahara has been sitting on a lift for the past couple weeks as I get all the suspension bits figured out (should have bought stock in PB Blaster). I've noticed while it's sitting up there that ATF is leaking from under the drivers side, specifically the second hole back on the skid plate (see picture). It's enough to cause a small puddle underneath the car. Tried peaking up there without taking down the skid plate and didn't really see any obvious leaks. Planning on taking down the skid plate later this week, but was wondering if someone could give me a potential idea of what it might be or where to start my troubleshooting? Thanks!
Help with 32RH transmission leak
- Thread starter Camhabib
- Start date
The leak could also be coming from the tcase since it is also filled with ATF. You're going to have to drop the skid plate to really be able to see anything. Support the transmission in front of the skidplate before dropping it. Don't forget to remove the four transmission mount nuts on the bottom of the skidplate first before dropping it.
Appreciate it. Are there any common points I can check for leaking from? Car hasn’t been started since on the lift so it’s been leaking from just sitting.
Okay so I got the skid plate off today. It looks like there may be two leaks, one from the rear of the pan itself, and the other from a connecter going into the transmission. Checked the front and rear of the transmission and they were bone dry. There was however what looks like a small oil leak coming from the bottom of the transfer case. Few pictures attached. Any chance someone could tell me what exactly that connector is for, and how to go about servicing it?
Dug around a bit, switch looks like the park / neutral position switch. Manual lists it as part 56028181 for a 98 32RH, but I can only find 56028181AC in stock. No idea if they're different or not. I also found the washer (2408143) but not sure if it's as simple as take out and replace or if there's anything else involved. FSM just says "remove and install at 25lbs."
I also have no idea about the (much) smaller leak from that lower transfer case bolt.
I also have no idea about the (much) smaller leak from that lower transfer case bolt.
Just FYI. Rockauto had the Felpro oil pan gasket for the 32rh on sale a bit ago for like 5 bucks or less. I bought one just to put in my parts bin.
Must have missed that. Picked up a LubeLocker instead, planning on putting it in Monday along with a new filter. Guess I’ll buy the sensor and washer and just swap them both out now to eliminate having to problem solve that part later.
So a little bit of an update to this. Removed to transmission pan and installed a LubeLocker. I've been waiting for the switch to come in before filling the transmission back up, but I still have a leak and I can't for the life of me tell where it's coming from. When I get to the Jeep in the morning, there's always a few drops on the floor, though I can't see any spot on the transfer case it might be leaking from. Front and rear outputs are bone dry, transmission is drained of ATF, and I don't see any drips on the transfer case input. Are there any sensors or vent tubes or anything else that I can check?
The tcase, again, is also filled with ATF so it's a possible source too. My tcase started leaking after nicking one of the big o-rings around the speedometer gear housing, it took me a while to track it down to that.
The transfer case has to be where it's coming from at this point since it's the only thing that has ATF in it (aside from a little remaining in the radiator). I haven't started the Jeep up in over 2 weeks but I still see the leak, which makes me think that wherever it's leaking from is bellow the fill line. This rules out the speedometer gear which I checked anyways. How did you eventually track it down? Use of dye or just caught it in the act?
I cleaned everything off thoroughly which made the next leakage pretty easy to see where it was coming from.
I gave everything a good wipe down but didn't really see anything on the case itself, just the floor. I can try giving it another clean, perhaps with some degreaser this time.
Any idea if something like this would be safe to use in the ATF for a short while?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008I2VPC4/?tag=wranglerorg-20
There are three possible sources of leaks on the tcase... input shaft, speedo gear housing, output shaft. Check the transmission coolant lines too.
Review and update. Transmission pan was leaking. Removed and installed, no ATF added yet. Noticed red ATF leaking from rear left of skid plate, unable to find leak which I assume was from transfer case given that it is the only thing that has ATF in it. Went to go drain transfer case today and liquid looked exactly like pepto bismal (water in the fluid from what I understand).
Assuming the leak isn’t from the transfer case given the difference in color, and the transmission hasn’t had any ATF in it for 2+ weeks, where could this leak possibly be coming from? And how could I wind up with so much water in my transfer case?
Assuming the leak isn’t from the transfer case given the difference in color, and the transmission hasn’t had any ATF in it for 2+ weeks, where could this leak possibly be coming from? And how could I wind up with so much water in my transfer case?