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

 

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 ...

 

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')

 

....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')

 

you would not believe how many cars we tow from cottman to other trans
shops because they do not bac up the work

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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