Tran pan leak 99 T & C

So I go to Cottman (who have done good work for me in the past) and get a full drain, flush, pan drop and clean service on my transmission. Verify proper fluid. A few weeks later I notice a very minor oil leak on my carport. I didn't put two and two together and figured I had developed an oil seal leak, vehicle has a lot of miles. After a couple of months of this I crawl under to verify and find it is not an oil seal but a very small leak from the transmission pan. So I go back to Cottman thinking they will make it right and am told there is no warranty on pan leaks after thirty days. They will see about it but charge me again. This is a vehicle that never leaked anything before I brought it to them. So I express my displeasure and leave.

I wonder if it is just a matter of resetting the torque on the pan screws. Or could they be over torqued. Or if I'll have to remove the pan and reseal it. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks

Frank

Reply to
Frank Boettcher
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My opinion is if they used the factory RTV (most likely since it is cheaper for them), then you will probably not be able to get it to seal correctly without removing the pan, scraping the old RTV away and then re-installing correctly. If they used the re-usable silicone/metal gasket then yes, it might be a case where they missed torquing a bolt or two.

That said, you have little to lose in checking the torque settings and tightening the pan bolts near the leak if they were not correct, but be careful cause those bolts will snap if over torqued. Good luck.

The real question is how much total time and mileage elapsed before you got it back to them and will you go there again?

Bob

Some Number of Months Later ...

Reply to
Bob Shuman

My only comment would be to consider using the metal-silicone sandwich gasket that you can have the dealer order. Chrysler has those available thru the dealer for all their later model trannys (and probably some older ones too). It is less installer-dependent on how well it seals. Also easier to deal with on the next pan drop (reusable, no silicone sealer to scrape off - except for the first time you use it of course - goes on dry, no stick). I did that on my LH car, and I know many people on the LH forums have also - have never read of one single problem with them leaking. They're a little pricey - IIRC around $30 three years ago

- price has probably gone up.

Do a search on this news group and you should find the part number (dealer parts guy probably will deny there is such a thing unless you give him the part number).

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Reply to
Bill Putney

sealer that the dealers use.

...is what I intended to say.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Reply to
Bill Putney

Reply to
philthy
7 months ago I installed the re-usable pan gaskets on my '92 Dynasty and my '99 Caravan. Both sealed up as tight as a drum, Zero leakage. A nearby dealer had them in stock, and they cost about $35.00 each, and IIRC, they are good for up to 3 disassemblies/reassemblies. Very easy to use, and no mess as you might get from using RTV. I used no sealer with them.

Reply to
Bret Knol

I too have used the silicone/metal trans gasket on three different vehicles ('96 Vision, '99 T&C Van, '01 Intrepid) and they have all sealed perfectly when torqued to FSM specs. They are supposed to be good for three re-uses, but have not gotten to that point yet to say if they will hold leak free the third time or not.

Bob

Reply to
Bob Shuman

Do you happen to have the pan screw torque spec. I guess I could pull one, get the size and grade and get it out of the Machinists or Tool Engineers handbook, but to save that step......

Thanks,

Frank

Reply to
Frank Boettcher

I do not have my FSM here with me, but from memory, I believe that the torque for the trans pan and oil pan bolts is 105 inch-pounds (12N-m).

Bob

Reply to
Bob Shuman

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