Transmission pan leak

[Jackson Ellis]

Noticed a pretty good leak under my ST on Saturday. Looked like oil, but it was transmission fluid. It's at the local Ford dealer for a new transmission pan gasket, flush, and filter. Any one else had a look at their 6 speed auto tranny fluid? Mine had no red color in it at all. It didn't smell burnt, and it had a good feel to it (oily), but it was dark grey. 65K miles.

 

[Oldtimer]

Mine's an early '07 but the tranny fluid in it is a clear "red". I'm not a tranny person, but unless Ford changed fluid types and I doubt it as the replacement OEM fluid is also clear "red" then sounds like somethings amiss. Have you had your transmission worked on before?



Jim

 

[Mike S 3]

Might be the wiring bulkhead connector on the passenger side of the trans.



Here is the TSB:

TSB 11-3-25



03/31/11



6R80 TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD CONNECTOR

SLEEVE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID



FORD:

2009-2010 Expedition, Explorer Sport Trac,

Explorer, F-150



LINCOLN:

2009-2010 Navigator



MERCURY:

2009-2010 Mountaineer



ISSUE

Some 2009-2010 F-150, Expedition, Explorer Sport Trac, Explorer, Mountaineer and Navigator vehicles equipped with a 6R80 transmission may show signs of transmission fluid leakage around the transmission bulkhead connector sleeve.



ACTION

Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.



SERVICE PROCEDURE



Verify the leak is present at the transmission bulkhead connector sleeve. With the vehicle in neutral, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 100-02.



1. Disconnect the transmission vehicle harness connector by twisting the outer shell and pulling back on the connector.



2. Remove the transmission fluid pan and allow the transmission fluid to drain.



3. Pull the release tab and pull down on the transmission bulkhead electrical connector retainer.



4. With the release tab down, pull the connector sleeve out of the case/mechatronic assembly.



5. Lube new connector sleeve 0-rings with clean transmission fluid, then install connector sleeve into case/mechantronic assembly.



6. Press up on the tab and lock the outer shell of the transmission bulkhead electrical connector sleeve in place. Make sure that the locking tab is securely locked.



7. Install the transmission fluid pan/gasket and refill transmission fluid refer to WSM, Section 307-01 for refill procedure.



NOTE DO NOT TOUCH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PINS OR THE EXPOSED SOLENOID TABS ON THE TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE MAY OCCUR AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM).



NOTE BULKHEAD CONNECTOR SLEEVES MAY COME WITH RED OR BLACK 0-RING SEALS. USE ONLY BULKHEAD CONNECTOR SLEEVE THAT HAS BLACK 0-RING SEAL FOR THIS PROCEDURE.















Parts Block



WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

IMPORTANT : Warranty coverage limits/policies are not altered by a TSB. Warranty coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part.



OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME



110325A 2009-2010 Explorer, 1.7 Hrs.

Mountaineer, Explorer

Sport Trac, And F-150:

Replace Connector Sleeve

Includes Time To Remove

And Install Transmission

Fluid Pan (Do Not Use

With Any Other Labor

Operations)



110325A 2009-2010 Expedition And 1.8 Hrs.

Navigator: Replace

Connector Sleeve Includes

Time To Remove And

Install Transmission Fluid

Pan (Do Not Use With Any

Other Labor Operations)



DEALER CODING

CONDITION

BASIC PART NO. CODE

7G276 D8

 

[Richard L]

Have you had your tranny fluid changed recently? I suspect that is the cause since transmission pan gaskets rarely leak on their own. One of the reasons I prefer a transmission fluid flush with replaces bout 98% of the old fluid with fresh, rather than the usual drop-the-pan fluid change that only changes about half the fluid.



...Rich

 

[Jackson Ellis]

Sorry I disappeared on you guys; thanks for the responses. It's not been my week so far. The dealer kept the truck until yesterday, waiting on the gasket. But when the technician started working on it, he noticed the leak was from a "bolt" above the transmission, and not the gasket. The bolt was loose (didn't get the torque or how much turn was needed), and he tightened it to spec. They added a die and sent it home with me last night.



All of this came from the service adviser, and I didn't get to talk to the tech since they'd all gone home. The cleaning job he did was immaculate, there was no evidence a leak was ever there. I just checked, and there is no sign of a leak now with about 25 miles since picking it up. The leak was on the corner of the pan where the bulkhead connector is that Mike mentioned, so that could be the source of the leak. The adviser called it a "bolt" but he couldn't answer any questions I had about it, so the connector could be the source. He also had no answers for the condition of the fluid, but said it wasn't uncommon to see fluid look bad when they do transmission fluid changes. Like I said before, it didn't smell burnt, and there's no problems with shifting.



Best part, no $$ spent. Big whew, not having to outlay $500 this time of the year. On a sidenote, though, I think my dog needs surgery and it'll probably be $500!



I'll update if anything pops up, or drips down.

 

[Wade Abnett]

My pan gasket was leaking recently, dropped the pan and found the reusable gasket had rusted to the pan. Fluid was leaking through it. Replaced gasket with a felpro gasket and sealer. Also put in a drain plug for the future.