Final drive fluid test?

[superba]

Hi Doyt,

You've already answered part of the question.  If the leaking fluid is clear
reddish in color, then there is a good chance that it has not been
contaminated.  However, the clear reddish fluid is in the high pressure side
and you want to guard against it being migrated to the hypoid side.  I DO
NOT HAVE experience with the AT in the 200;  however, there should be a fill
hole with a plug at the top of the hypoid case.  A VW tranny hex key with a
3/8 socket fit the older ones, a very common socketed hex key.  By rigging a
long series of socket extensions you can remove that plug, very carefully
and delicately, I might add.  If the car is level when the plug is removed,
the hypoid fluid level should be close to the plug threaded opening.  If the
fluid freely flows out when the plug is removed, you ought to get the tranny
dropped and overhauled or at least examined by someone that knows what to do
about it.  You don't want the hypoid fluid to be diluted by the tranny fluid
because it quickly ruins its protective abilities.

WRT to horror stories about tranny repairs;  there are plenty.  I helped put
a tranny repair shop out of business because of a horribly botched job they
did on my car;  the California BAR actually did it because of multiple
complaints including mine.

You are better off driving a rental car until you find a tranny shop that
YOU CAN CONFIRM knows about your transmission than you would be taking it to
some of the shops, even the nationally known ones.  In your case, you must
confirm that the shop has actual experience with your specific model of
tranny, generic won't do.

Hopefully someone on the list can recommend a good shop to you.  If all else
fails, you could go to an Audi dealer.

HTH.

Jim Jordan

>  Message: 5
>  Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 00:11:14 -0500
>  From: "Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt at buckeye-express.com>
>  Subject: Final drive fluid test?
>  To: quattro at audifans.com
>  Message-ID:
>  	<5.1.0.14.2.20031220222322.014aa080 at mail.buckeye-express.com>
>  Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
>  Is there a way to test the final drive luid in an automatic
>  transmission,
>  to know if the seal between the diff and tranny fluids is leaking?
>
>  I have a chance to buy a 1991 200 FWD (150k miles) that has been
>  fanatically maintained, with complete records. The only problem
>  is a tiny
>  leak of tranny fluid onto the floor under the transmission....a
>  few drops
>  overnight. This is clear reddish fluid. The leak did not exist a year
>  ago....it is a new thing. This worries me greatly.
>
>  THIS CAR'S HISTORY: Two years ago the car had a complete change of final
>  drive fluid and tranny fluid, as well as tranny fluid filter. The tranny
>  fluid that came out was very dirty.  The new final drive fluid
>  was synthetic.
>
>  PERFORMANCE: The tranny sounds good and shifts well in every
>  direction at
>  every speed and temperature.
>
>  ARCHIVE SEARCH RESULTS: The 200 automatic transmission has a
>  long history
>  of being a weak link in the power train. I have a dozen archive files
>  relating horror stories about cars eating 3 automatic trannies; repairs
>  taking a year to accomplish; only available trannies being new
>  transaxles
>  complete; rebuilds if anyone will risk it costing $3,000; No one
>  wanting to
>  even offer rebuilds; etc.
>
>  QUESTION: Anybody have any way to test to see if the tranny fluid is
>  already leaking into the final drive? Seems like you would have
>  to remove
>  some final drive fluid and test it somehow,
>
>  Doyt Echelberger
>  happy owner of a 5ktq with manual transmission
>