32RH transmission fluid leak

[Clarythedrill]

To all, I have a 2001 TJ with the 4.0 and the 32 RH transmission. I have had it for about 3 years now. When I bought it I drained all fluids and changed to factory recommended just to kind of start over fresh. I dropped the transmission pan and changed the filter and fluid and put it back together with a new gasket and used some RTV also. A few months after that I noticed a little drip and after inspecting I thought it was coming from one of the seals from the transmission or transfer case, not the pan. I didnt do anything to it since it was winter in chicago and was getting ready to move.

Well, fast forward to about a month ago and I had the skid plate removed and was getting ready to drop the transfer case to fix what I thought was the seals leaking. Once I got the skid plate off I realized that the leak was from the pan. So, I went and got a new gasket and some RTV and went through the process of putting a new gasket on. Well, guess what, it is still slowly leaking, but seams to come from just a couple of bolts at the rear of the pan. So, i guess my question is, do some of the bolts go all the way through the wall and into the fluid, so that a sealant is needed? The pan looks perfectly straight, and there is no nick or gouge on the transmission. It just slowly leaks from two or three bolts at the rear of the pan. Thanks for any help in this.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

While the 42RLE has two pan bolts that require RTV to seal them, I was surprised that the FSM says your 32RH pan bolts have no such requirement. The FSM just said to seal the pan as usual and makes no mention of any of its bolts having any special sealing requirements.

 

[redjin]

I had a leak in my 32rh a couple years ago that looked like it was the pan leaking. Redid the pan but still came back. Turns out it was the selector shaft seal leaking down making the pan look like the culprit. Something to look closely at if resealing the pan doesn’t fix it.

 

[Clarythedrill]

While the 42RLE has two pan bolts that require RTV to seal them, I was surprised that the FSM says your 32RH pan bolts have no such requirement. The FSM just said to seal the pan as usual and makes no mention of any of its bolts having any special sealing requirements.

Jerry, thanks for that info. I think i am going to put some sealant around them anyway and see what happens. I am a little befuddled by this, and that is the only leak I have so I would like to get it sorted out.

I had a leak in my 32rh a couple years ago that looked like it was the pan leaking. Redid the pan but still came back. Turns out it was the selector shaft seal leaking down making the pan look like the culprit. Something to look closely at if resealing the pan doesn’t fix it.

redjin, I looked at that based on a post I read on here about a month ago, and there is nothing coming from the selector shaft. Everything above the pan is good and dry.

 

[primetime4]

I had a leak in my 32rh a couple years ago that looked like it was the pan leaking. Redid the pan but still came back. Turns out it was the selector shaft seal leaking down making the pan look like the culprit. Something to look closely at if resealing the pan doesn’t fix it.

This. I had the same leaked fixed 3 times in two years at the dealer until Jerry recommended to check the selector seal. Telltale sign are the bolts towards the back of the pan look wet. Had it replaced and no more leak. Keep in mind the dealer couldn’t even figure this out.