Fluid Leakage In Torque Converter Area

Use the following procedures to locate the exact source of leakage in the torque converter area. Leakage at the front of transaxle, as evidenced by fluid around the converter housing, may have several sources. By careful observation, it is possible in many instances to pinpoint the source of the leak before removing the transaxle from the vehicle. The paths which the fluid can take to reach the bottom of the converter housing are as follows (numbers on illustration relate to items below):





Leakage Points

1. Fluid leaking by the converter impeller hub seal lip will tend to move along the drive hub and onto the back of the impeller housing. Except in the case of a total seal failure, fluid leakage by the lip of the seal will be deposited on the inside of the converter housing only, near the outside diameter of the housing.
2. Fluid leakage by the outside diameter of the converter impeller hub seal and the case will follow the same path as leaks by the inside diameter of the seal.
3. Fluid leakage from the converter-to-flexplate stud weld will appear at outside diameter of the torque converter, on back face of flexplate, and in the converter housing only near the flexplate. If a converter-to-flexplate stud leak is suspected, remove converter and pressure check.
4. Fluid leakage from the pump will flow down the back of the converter housing. Leakage may be from loose or missing pump bolts, a torn or damaged pump-to-case gasket or a worn pump bushing.
5. Engine oil leaks are sometimes improperly diagnosed as transaxle pump seal leaks. The following areas of possible leakage should be checked to determine if engine oil leakage is causing the concern.
- Leakage at the valve cover may allow oil to flow over the converter housing or seep down between the converter housing and cylinder block causing oil to be present in or at the bottom of the converter housing.
- Oil plug leaks will allow oil to flow down the rear face of the cylinder block to the converter housing.
- Leakage at the crankshaft seal will work back to the flexplate and then into the converter housing.