michaeldamann

My cherokee has developed a leak. Its smells and tastes like tranny fluid. Why is there that big hole? and what is that up in there? Help is apprieciated.

Demonoid369

Well son, Cherokees just leak. It's their way of showing appreciation towards us. To hamper that leak would be to offend the Cherokees. And that would cease all leaking. You wouldn't want that now would you?!?

Lol that's is the inspection plate over the flex plate/wheel. Don't know if there is gaskets in that area but someone who knows more could tell ya

highmileage

If it is coming from the inspection plate area and "is" tranny fluid worst case is a front seal, or leaking torque converter

belvedere

Better than mustard, but not as good as BBQ sauce...

cruiser54

Well, that fluid looks like it's coming from OUTSIDE the inspection plate, not inside where RED trans fluid would come from.
Perhaps using the info below you could find the actual source of this "trans" leak.




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

michaeldamann

The bottom of the tranny pan is wet with tranny fluid. And the outside of the oil pan is dry as a bone. If the outside of the inspection plate is wet does that mean it's the RMS? And im researching the transmission front and rear seal replacement. Is there a reason my TCase looks like it's wet? Do I need to check my t case fluid?

cruiser54

Always check ALL your fluids first.

Read post 5 on diagnosing engine oil leaks. Easy to do yourself.

One thing at a time. You're there and we're not.

Determine the cause of the OIL leak. Check your fluids first.

michaeldamann

Okay. My oil is fine. Its tranny fluid that is leaking. My oil was in the same spot as last week. My tranny fluid however isn't. The bottom of my tranny is wet with transmission fluid. It looks like it has a new gasket on it. I see permatex around the edges of the tranny pan. So. Im assuming its a front main seal, Or a pump bushing

cruiser54

Or, some bozo did a crappy job of sealing the pan?

michaeldamann

Yeah the guy wasn't the brightest of the bunch. He told me that I need a transfer case. He didnt know about the vacuum disconnect.... Lol

michaeldamann

But im sure he did right. He workes at carmax as a mech. Real nice guy. Im gonna drop the pan eventually. And take a look up there. It'll be when it's warm though I know that.