odd transmission leak on my '95wagon

[greg donovan]

on friday i was traveling on I-94 going about 80mph in my 95 L wagon. had to get onto an exit quickly and slow down VERY rapidly. as i stopped there was a large cloud of smoke out of the underside. not coolant. and quickly dissapated. i thought it may have been the brakes.

when i checked the passenger side of the trans was covered in trans fluid w/a small drop (about 2") on the ground.

moved the car. no more drips. checked the fluid in park while it was idling. it was full and had good color.

cant tell where it came from. possibly one of the two hoses up there on the pass side of the trans?

the last time the trans was filled was at least 1 1/2 years ago. so if it was overfilled you would think it would have blown something ouyt along time ago.

the AT temp light never came on. and after the initial leak none has leaked since. and i have driven about 300 miles since the initial leak and what did leak out has been cooked dry. and the car drives and shifts up and down just fine.

help.

[evolutionmovement]

Could it have come from the driver's side? I don't recall seeing anything on the pass side while I was pulling the engine. The transmission cooler lines would be a prime suspect in the likely-to-leak department but they're on the driver's side.

Steve

[greg donovan]

the drivers side was totally dry. there is a little plug looking thing just behind the front differential dipstick on the pass side. that recessed area was full of fluid. when i wiped it up it stayed empty.

has anyone heard of the trans case flexing enough under hard braking to allow some fluid to leak out?

[greg donovan]

well.

the power steering uses ATF and mine was low.

is there as P/S line on the pass side of the trans?

[ej22t]

Have you also check your front LSD oil too?
I had a 99 Legacy GT with the tranny oil pan leak now.
I called the dealer and they told me just seal with silicon will be fine and no need to buy any gasket kit for the repair.

Ben

[greg donovan]

yep checked that too.

it appears that there are a couple vent hoses in that area and when it gets hot and the car is driven hard it will push some fluid out. it was 95 on friday. and i had been driving around 80 for about 2 hours.

i should put a trans cooler on it.

[Project_Legacy]

is there as P/S line on the pass side of the trans?

yea there is 2 power steering lines on the passenger side. they go into the front crossmember.

[professor]

if your tranny lock-up is not working correctly that will cause the fluid to get too hot, expand and throw up out the vent holes, this trashes the fluid badly

the lock-up is supposed to cut in at cruising speeds to eliminate the shearing in the torque converter, and increase efficiency.

my dad had a ford truck that would do exactly this, a change of fluids did not help so he dumped it. not sure how the lock-up is controlled but I'd first confirm that the TCU is sending the signal, not sure where to go from there