When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 91 LS400 with 119k miles. I noticed transmission fluid from the circled area at the front of the transmission. What's strange is that sometimes it leaks, and other times it doesn't. It looks like a big job to repair. This started after the car sat around for 3-4 weeks while I was replacing the timing belt. I've only done some local driving since then and am wondering if it'll go away on its own once I make some long trips. Anyone ever experience an intermittent leak here before, or have any advice? Thanks.
Could that be some spillage from your TB change? Looks like you keep the underside of the engine nice and clean. I would suggest a highway trip of at least a couple of hours each way, keeping an eye on it... then decide.
Thanks for the tips. I was hoping it was just some spillage, but it doesn't seem so. Just an update - I took it for a long drive, came back - and no leaks. However, I notice that if I just move it without letting it warm up, it will drip - for example, just moving it out of the garage and into the driveway.
Are you sure it's tranny fluid? Or is your steering rack leaking and spraying back to there? I hope, for your sake, that it's not tranny fluid leaking there, b/c it wont stop, it will keep getting worse. That area would be the front seal on the tranny, which would mean taking the tranny out to fix it. It might be to where it leaks when cold but when it warms up the seal swells up to fit tighter. If you do end up taking it out make sure you also change the rear main seal on the engine while you're there. Personally I don't like any "stop leak" products but everyone has an opinion.
When you did the T-belt did you take off that plate to hold the flywheel from spinning to get the bolt loose on the harmonic balancer? If so, did you notice any fluid in there?
Are you sure it's tranny fluid? Or is your steering rack leaking and spraying back to there? I hope, for your sake, that it's not tranny fluid leaking there, b/c it wont stop, it will keep getting worse. That area would be the front seal on the tranny, which would mean taking the tranny out to fix it. It might be to where it leaks when cold but when it warms up the seal swells up to fit tighter. If you do end up taking it out make sure you also change the rear main seal on the engine while you're there. Personally I don't like any "stop leak" products but everyone has an opinion.
When you did the T-belt did you take off that plate to hold the flywheel from spinning to get the bolt loose on the harmonic balancer? If so, did you notice any fluid in there?
Hey dean,
It's definitely not from the power steering. I checked the p/s reservoir and it's max as usual, plus there hasn't been any spraying around - it's all isolated right in the area I circled. I'm not looking forward to this repair, if I eventually end up doing it. I'm not sure how practical it would be for me to do it with only a pair of jack stands or drive up ramps. As far as when I did the T-belt, I used the schley 64300 tool to hold the hb in place, so I didn't peek in there.
Hey dean,
It's definitely not from the power steering. I checked the p/s reservoir and it's max as usual, plus there hasn't been any spraying around - it's all isolated right in the area I circled. I'm not looking forward to this repair, if I eventually end up doing it. I'm not sure how practical it would be for me to do it with only a pair of jack stands or drive up ramps. As far as when I did the T-belt, I used the schley 64300 tool to hold the hb in place, so I didn't peek in there.
Yea it is alot easier to do it on a lift with a tranny jack but, gotta do what ya gotta do. Once I did one in a friends back yard in the middle of a blizzard. We just put plywood all around the car to stop the wind. Man, those were the days. I'm not sure how high the car would need to be to pull the tranny but, if you do end up doing it, I'm thinking you could use ramps in front and stands in the rear. I've pulled out many that way. Never did one in an LS400 though. Two people makes it alot easier.
I have a 1993 ls400(non trac) and the other day i took it to work and on my lunch started my car it ran for a few minutes(maybe 5) and started puking transmission fluid from where the bell housing meets the transmission. i have bought a new used transmission but i’m afraid that just throwing a new transmission in won’t fix the leak and i’ll have to take the transmission back out and re explore to find the issue. i was wondering if anyone has had similar problems or experiences with their first gen transmissions like this, if so what all was wrong. also, ik it could be torque converter, rear main seal, or an o ring. also when i drained the current transmission in my ls it had zero metal shaving or metal build up at all, could it still be torque converter? My ls motor and transmission has 169k on it.
I have a 1993 ls400(non trac) and the other day i took it to work and on my lunch started my car it ran for a few minutes(maybe 5) and started puking transmission fluid from where the bell housing meets the transmission. i have bought a new used transmission but i’m afraid that just throwing a new transmission in won’t fix the leak and i’ll have to take the transmission back out and re explore to find the issue. i was wondering if anyone has had similar problems or experiences with their first gen transmissions like this, if so what all was wrong. also, ik it could be torque converter, rear main seal, or an o ring. also when i drained the current transmission in my ls it had zero metal shaving or metal build up at all, could it still be torque converter? My ls motor and transmission has 169k on it.
Please excuse me for this Capt. Obvious question- are you sure it’s transmission fluid and not motor oil?
If it’s the latter there’s a very good chance the rear main seal has failed. Not a transmission problem at all but you will have to remove the trans to replace the $9 seal.
Please excuse me for this Capt. Obvious question- are you sure it’s transmission fluid and not motor oil?
If it’s the latter there’s a very good chance the rear main seal has failed. Not a transmission problem at all but you will have to remove the trans to replace the $9 seal.
i’m pretty sure it wasn’t oil because it was red. i may be wrong tho
other than the rear main seal (which is the engine side), the seal on the trans input shaft may have failed. remove the inspection cover and see which side of the bell housing the leak is originating from.
03-18-11, 10:44 AM
Transmission fluid leak - 91 ls400
We just put plywood all around the car to stop the wind. Man, those were the days. I'm not sure how high the car would need to be to pull the tranny but, if you do end up doing it, I'm thinking you could use ramps in front and stands in the rear. I've pulled out many that way. Never did one in an LS400 though. Two people makes it alot easier.
