Phantom ATF Leak

[twisted-pixel]

2006 4.0 Auto

Was driving home in the dark last night, all going well...until I passed some lights and noticed that the rear of my jeep was smoking. Pulled over and found ATF fluid all over the place (the smoke was it hitting the exhaust. Towed home by AAA. Couldn't get the car on the drive because I had lost enough fluid that wasn't enough pressure to find a gear. Topped it up this morning, drove it into my garage. Cleaned everything off, fluid level correct when cold...started the car and let it warm up...not a drip in sight.....nothing.

I will admit that it was slightly over-filled when I was driving last night.

Seems odd that I lost enough fluid to mean I had no gears (2-3 quarts maybe, it was on the rear shocks, the oil pan, the exhaust etc) but now I have no leak at all.
I need to check fluid levels again when cold (topping up and then letting it pump around has probably filled up a few places). It was spot on when cold, but when hot..nothing showing on the dipstick. Waiting for it to cool down so I can check again.

Could the overfill have caused anything?

 

[macleanflood]

You sure it was the transmission and not the transfer case?

-Mac

 

[twisted-pixel]

pretty sure since once I topped it up with ATF I was able to get a gear again, plus CEL code showed incorrect value for 2nd gear etc, which is indicative of low fluid

 

[Chris]

UV dye might come in handy for a situation like this, seriously.

 

[twisted-pixel]

so, best I can figure is that when the ATF got really hot from 30 mins of stop-start traffic, it blew through the front pump seal (torque converter seal/input shaft seal/transmission front seal whatever you want to call it). Nothing else could really account for losing 2 quarts of ATF and having it cover everything from the front oil pan to the rear shocks and diff.

Since I have been having transmission issues anyway that a valve body, TCC solenoid, sensors, ATF change didn't fix...I think I'm going to have to suck it up and replace the transmission. Replacing main seal means separating engine and transmission anyway, and to hell with it...just get a new tranny...and fit the cooler at the same time.

I'll just push retirement back a few more years (currently estimated at age 104)