Blackxj51

I have a 1999 cherokee sport 4.0l auto 4wd, I have developed a transmission fluid leak and when I pulled the pan I discovered The o ring that is in the two parts of the dipstick was useless so I believe that was the leak, I just refilled it and havent tested it yet but while I was under there I was looking for my breather vent and cannot find it, when I search online some say it's on the left, some show pictures and it says on the right, I need someone to help me find this thing because there should be a hose with a breather cap running up by my transmission dipstick and there isn't one so I'm concerned about water getting in the vent, if someone can help me out I appreciate it

ehall

It comes right out the top in the center

Blackxj51

How hard is it to access while Trans is still under the jeep? And what's the best way to try and get to it passenger side or driver side?

ehall

I've never been able to reach it when the trans is installed, somebody who is lanky might be able

CCKen

Try hard.

Blackxj51

I tried and I can't get it, and as far as I can tell there's no vent hose for it anywhere, but I don't think that's my leak issue because the top of the trans is dry, but I can't figure out where my leak is coming from, it's a small slow leak that runs down the bell housing I can't tell if it's oil or trans fluid, I just changed oil pan gasket and new motor only has 80k on it so it shouldn't be the rear main plus when I look up where the motor meets the bell housing it's not wet, my bottom of my dipstick tube was wet though even though I put rtv in between where the two parts of the dipstick tube meet, could the fluid still get out that way?

Turbo X_J

Amber to black = motor oil
Red to brown = transmission fluid

Blackxj51

I just got under it and it runs from where the motor meets the bell housing all the way to the back of the trans pan, the whole bottom of the pan was dripping it had oil all over it, the top of the motor is clean, I checked oil filter adapter, distributor seal, oil filter itself, those are all dry, valve cover is new and dry, it is definitely motor oil, the only thing i can think of is i didn't get the rear of the oil pan gasket to sit right on the block when i reinstalled it, I didn't change the RMS because it has a replacement motor that was installed 80k miles ago, is there anything else I should be checking, the leak is driving me nuts

Turbo X_J

You removed all of the old dried up-baked on gasket from the main cap?

cruiser54

The vent tube attaches to the bell housing kinda near the trans dipstick tube.

Use this:




I'd be looking up ABOVE first, and VERIFYING the source of the oil leak YOURSELF.

Everybody, who doesn't own or have to pay for or perform your vehicle repairs, loves to poke their noggin UNDER the Jeep and come out bearing the false bad news that your RMS is leaking.

Many mechanics, friends, people on Jeep forums who can’t see your Jeep from where they’re at, and good old Uncle Bob seem to enjoy telling you it’s the rear main seal. Has a catastrophic ring to it, doesn’t it?

A simple leak at the back of the valve cover or other source could produce the same symptoms. You don’t need to be a mechanic to figure this out. If you have good eyesight and a dim flashlight, you’re good to go on your own. Don't jump on the RMS/oil pan gasket bandwagon right off the bat.

Almost any oil leak on your 4.0 is gonna drip from the RMS area for two simple reasons.

First off, the engine sits nose-up and any oil will run back to the RMS area. Secondly, the RMS area is also the lowest point on the engine. Simple physics and the old plumber's adage apply here. "$hit flows downhill".

Valve cover gasket, oil pressure sending unit, oil filter adapter seals and distributor gasket, in that order, have to be eliminated as possibilities first.

Revised 02-26-2013

Blackxj51

The old gasket came off in one solid piece it all had some rubbery feeling to it it wasn't falling apart or cracking

Turbo X_J

Did you remove the old oil pan to bearing cap seal?

Blackxj51

The one I took off looked exactly like the one I put on which was one solid rubber gasket, it wasn't 4 separate pieces like that picture

Turbo X_J

If the old seal is stuck to the bearing cap with a new gasket it will leak like a sieve.