we have a 1997 F150 4x4


it has had a leaking transmission problem for a while now

156k miles

about 3/4 of a quart a week

replaced the pan gasket with a new factory rubber one

did no good

went and got MoPar dealer ATF RTV

did no good either it stil leaks


but i noticed now that it only leaks at the rear at the crossmember and transmission mount and T case gasket area

what are the odds that its actually a leak from between the case and trans/adaper ?


is such a leak a well known one on these trucks ?

its really aggravating

we are getting rod of the truck soon

trying to fix these things beforehand

it has alot of issues with suspension and brakes and so on

as do alot of these apparently


thanks for anything

 

I had an Aerostar that started leaking at the front of the transmission where the starter is, it was the pump.

 

hello there thank you

but this one is leaking only at the very rear
in the center region
in the middle three rear pan bolts area
at the trany mount width region
and no where else
and its coming from above the pan rail somewhere there


does anyone here know anything to check and how ?? i tried feeling all up around in there and cant actually find anything noticeably wet above the trans mount area


need to figure out something ASAP on this truck

is the transmission case to transfer case adapter gasket known or prone to leakage on these trucks ?


at this mileage and in 97 ?

with borg warner case, the lighter duty auto trans(4r70w?), and the smaller of the two v-8 engines engine


please

thanks!!


if so what does it take to pull the transfer case back in these

i cant see any way to pull it back with this kind of torsion bar crossmember setup that these trucks have incorporated in them

no way to remove any of these parts successfully so the case can come back

OMG ?!

and is there a gasket?
or is it a seal?
or are there one of each ?



really need help badly here

i thought alot of ppl would know about this problem on here with all the mechanics and ford owners that are here


but there arent ?

is there another site where i can find info about this ?

and ASAP ?


thanks!!!!!

 

if you have some time on your hands, you should buy a haynes manual, which will go through instructions on how to remove the transfer case etc. but generally you will have to remove both drive shafts, any kind of bolts that mount to the tranny, or some kind of other mount. yes, there should be a gasket between the two. I would take them apart and inspect where the leak is coming from. it is really hard to guess where it is coming from without taking it apart. almost sounds to me like it is a seal inside the tranny which that can be an expensive fix if you do not know what you are doing

 

ok awesome thanks man i appreciate




we do and have done wayyyy bigger jobs than this in the past, and often,

and have a fully decked out garage and including a big Weaver twin post heavy duty four-arm hydraulic chain vehicle lift, and two stand up pneumatic post style transmission jacks

we have done transfer cases on chevies and older fords but they arent set up like these 97 up fords are underneath, this one looks alot more involved with the design,

the bars look to be pressed into the knuckles and into the part that sits in the crossmember

its crazy...

it doesnt look like anything we would want to get involved with


even with everything we have available both within and outside of our garage




i jut dont see how the case can come back with the torsion bar crossmember where it is,

nothing but about an inch of room between the case and the crossmember, and the top of the case and the cab under floor


thats crazy

i dont understand


if anyone can help on this last thing it would be AWESOME

how to make the room under there to slide the transfer case itself back, by itself

or any other pertinent info in RE of this leak, etc ?


thanks again !!

 

It sounds to me like the extension housing gasket, not to be confused with the transfer case gasket.

 

oh yes, well the forward-most one, at the very rear end of the tranmission case, flat surface

is there a rubber seal of some sort as well,

or only a flat gasket here, at the front most sealing surface ?

also how long would the output shaft of the transmission be

is it short enough to not even need to worry about pulling the torsion bar crossmember to replace the gasket and/or seal in question?(front most one)


thanks more!

 

It will be a "paper" gasket, similar material to the transfer case gasket. I would not suggest removing the cross member with the torsion arms, you will be opening a whole new can of worms. If I remember correctly the exhaust runs under the t-case also. If this is the case then you should be able to remove the t-case and let it sit on the cross member and exhaust. As for the output shaft, it will be longer than the extension housing. This is not going to be a five minute project, you will lose fluid out of the tranny and your work area under the truck will be cramped. You will need an extension housing gasket as well as a transfer case gasket.

 

awesome man

i appreciate

sorry to be frustrated in my above replies

i was really concerned we were going to have to completely tear this truck apart to do this

yeah the exhaust runs across and under the drivetrain yep along with everything else

its crazy

i jut hope the input shaftis realyl short so that the case only needs to come back a couple inches to replace this gasket

hmm

so its only a paper gasket?

wow..

hmm

that has to be whats leaking

cant find anything else that it could be under there

this repair just got pushed back until after we replace the blown up(overheated due to busted radiator)3.0L in the stupid 95 taurus in which we already replaced the AXOD trans in last year,


thanks!!

 

I seem to have the same leak on my 98 Expedition??? What was your outcome on your repair? Thanks in advance Dave.

 

well its been leaking less, slowly but surely


still driving it regardless


this truck needs everything

balljoints, brakes, and so on

its a clean nice loking truck but everything is worn out

at 150k


im not sure what he is going to want to do

he wants to sell/trade the truck in but theres no way he can without repairing/replacing what it needs



dont know

maybe we will still end up pulling the case back in the spring after the snow is gone and fixing whatever, if it really is the gasket or something

he seems ot think it is the vent in the top of the rear of the tranny

but i dont tihnk so

but if it is then thats not a good thing at all

i would think that it means high internal tranny pressures


or maybe not ?


anyone know anything ?


we have a really nice heavy 9,000lb weaver vehicle liff and we have replaced billions of trannies over the years so its not like we cant get it done, but this oen still looks like no fun at all compared to most others

hmm

stupid crossmember and torsion bar design


damn

all i really would need to know at this point is what unbolts first ? the adapter from the tranny, or the trans case from the adapter ?

which way are the bolts threaded and into what, at both ends of the adapter on these trucks ? 470W or whatever tranny



thanks!


happy new year

 

Can you actually SEE the fluid leaking? Or is it just dissapearing? I know there was a problem with crossflow between the Transmission and T-case. The input shaft seal on the t-case fails and allows the fluid to go in and overfill the T-case. Just for giggles, pull the fill plug on your T-case and see if anything comes out....cause it shouldn't. Maybe it is overfilled and the fluid is coming out the vent for the T-case.

Rich

 

Actually, the input seal problem is mostly a GM issue. I have yet to replace one on a Ford.

 

I had to replace mine on my 96 and I think I may have to do it on my 01 now, as, I took the fill plug out the other day and about a half quart came out at me. If I'm not mistaken, there was a TSB out on it. I will have to look

 

Rich hmm yeah that is a very goood point there and VERy possible in this case


yes is a bad leak it is all over the exhaust and crossmember and everything

bad mess lots of leaking

only when driving, not sitting and running


like a quart every few days or less time that sometimes/more fluid


input seal on gm trannies is common yes,

does happen

sometimes they puke the seal, when the trans dies as well


if you could find the info/tsb on this issue that would be great! or a page with the details on what goes wrong and needs replaced exactly

i appreciate the info and help thus far !!!!

rep time !


happy new year

R