[V8] Automatic Transmission Leak

[Dave Head]

There is a 'union' between the body of the trans and the cooling line. 
The loose part is normally the 'union/coupling' where it screws into the 
trans. The coupling is about 2 inches long. Then the cooling line 
attaches to it.
To get a 'good' look at it, remove your airboxs (upper and lower) and 
the passenger side air tube. Get yer chin down nearly to the fender with 
a flashlight and look through the headers, under the steering rack - 
you'll have a line of sight to the upper cooling line and the coupling.

Best  fix is to break torque on the cooling line connection, then 
tighten the coupling, then tighten the cooling line connection.

You can get some additional room in there by removing the passenger side 
trans support. Support the back end of the trans (barely) with a small 
hydraulic jack. There are 2 bolts that connect the support to the 
subframe and 3 bolts that bolt it to the side of the trans.

Keith may have some other tips. Its a bitch job, but it beats pulling 
the trans!

Gunter Lorberg wrote:

> Well...the leak is most definitely coming from the area where the 
> plumbing exits the transmission to go to the front for cooling.  I 
> thought that it would prove easy to tighten things up but became less 
> certain when I was finally able to get a 22mm spanner on it.  I don't 
> know what's involved in the plumbing there and could not find a page 
> in the service manual where I could get a visual/description.  When I 
> applied a 22mm spanner, I found that there was a tiny amount of play 
> in what appeared to be the whole setup extending into the body of the 
> transmission.....I could, in effect, wiggle it just a hair 
> counterclockwise.  Just for diagnostic purposes, I applied firm 
> pressure clockwise but it didn't budget.  So...without having more 
> info, I decided to abort the project until I knew enough to be able to 
> go in there to do it right without causing a worsening of the 
> problem.....my probing with the wrench did not worsen things thankfully.
>
> If you could tell me what it is I'm looking at and what I specifically 
> need to do, that would be great.  I don't know if there's a housing 
> that is screwed into the main transmission body into which the pipe is 
> then connected.........is there a pipe union/coupling somewhere 
> there?...I just can't visualize it well enough to know what I should 
> be doing.
>
> Sorry to bother you with this.........but if I can fix this irritating 
> problem, the machine will be running really well without any real 
> vices......
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Gunter
>
> */Dave Head <v8q at bellsouth.net>/* wrote:
>
>     If you say its on the passenger side of the car, then it is likely
>     the
>     upper cooling line connection is slightly loose - *just as it goes
>     into
>     the case*... BTDT a couple of times. Its a bear, but it can be
>     accessed
>     with a wrench or a crowfoot - and its like a 22 or 24 mm.
>     The vent hose vents from a non pressurized area - actually, I
>     think its
>     the differential. It will NOT be the source of your leak
>     On the driver's side up on top there is a vent with what looks like a
>     little flat topped bell on it about 2 inched across. If its
>     leaking from
>     there you're in trouble. That's a high preesure leak inside somewhere
>     and you have to pull the trans and have it rebuilt - BTDT
>
>     Gunter Lorberg wrote:
>
>     >One of my 1990 V8s (135 000 miles) is slowly losing ATF at about
>     the rate of about one quart every 2000 miles. It eventually finds
>     it way down to the right side of the exhaust system which produces
>     some smoke which is much more evident after the transmission has
>     had to work harder, such as after going up a long incline.
>     >
>     >Upon first inspection, and before cleaning up the area, it looked
>     as though the source of the leak was the seal of the front input
>     shaft as it entered the front differential. After I cleaned things
>     up, the most likely culprit became the hose/vent coming off of the
>     transmission on the right side above the front differential. This
>     seems to be a very difficult area to access unfortunately.
>     >
>     >I have never seen one of these transmissions out of the
>     car...dealing with that hose would be a cinch in that case.
>     >
>     >I am writing the list because I wanted to find out if this is a
>     common leak. I also wanted to find out the function of this hose
>     and where the other end goes to (can't see it myself). Last, I
>     wanted to know if there were any short curts that others on the
>     list were aware in tackling this job, and for any other tips on
>     this issue.
>     >
>     >Thanks.........otherwise the machine is running remarkably
>     well........I really enjoy driving it....it is amazing in the wet
>     at 100mph around a sweeping bend.....other cars may now have more
>     power (15 years later) but few can put the power to the pavement
>     like this car in adverse conditions.
>     >
>     >Gunter
>     >(2) 1990 Canadian V8s
>     >
>     >_______________________________________________
>     >Audifans V8 mailing list
>     >Send posts to: mailto:V8 at audifans.com
>     >Manage your list connection:
>     http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/v8
>     >Have an Audi V8 question? Check the Audifans Knowledgebase!
>     >http://www.audi-quattro.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Audi/V8
>     >Have a V8 answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB ...
>     all contributions welcome!
>     >
>     >
>     >
>