Hey guys,

My friend's 5spd transmission on her '96 DX went out, so I swapped it with a JDM import. No sport swap, just a normal S40. I also replaced both axles, the clutch, rear main seal, and flywheel.

She complained about it leaking a week after, and I saw it was both axle seals. Fine, swapped them for new ones from honda. I drove it around for a week with no leaks, I ran my hand under it on delivery - dry as can be.

She comes to me yesterday (a week and a half later) saying it's leaking again. I check under it, and sure enough, it's dripping from the center. I thought maybe it was her oil pan gasket, but it looks like new oil so it's got to be the trans.

I'm very confused, I've replaced everything and didn't overfill it. I'm worried it's the seam at the two halves, maybe the importer opened it up and forgot to reseal it, but then why didn't it drip the whole week that I had it?

Has this happened to any of you? I've swapped dozens and dozens of transmissions on all types of vehicles, and I've never had anything leak this bad before.

Any suggestions?

 

Maybe your rear main seal job didn't hold...

 

had this problem b4. it ended when i got a new tranny. after taking my old tranny out. the input shaft had way to much play in it. i could wiggle it. so prolly the input shaft seal was bad. im pretty sure u have to split the tranny to fix it.

 

calling out bense

 

It looks like clean oil, so I don't think it's the rear main, otherwise it'd be dark (matching the oil on the dipstick).

I thought about the input shaft seal on the trans, but I checked it for play when I got it and it seemed fine. Besides if either of those two were leaking I should feel clutch slippage or at least smell burning oil on the flywheel, etc.. which is not the case here.

Is it normal for JDM importers to open up engines and transmissions? My engine was still sealed when I got it.

I made sure I drove it hard that whole week I had it, and nothing! She says it only leaks after she's driven it, so the transmission must be spinning for this to happen.

This is what get for doing people favors.

 

okay its either the axel seals or its coming from the seal in the casing itself.. Like it was rebuilt and not sealed properly..

 

did you put axles seals in it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B16B_coupe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did you put axles seals in it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
She complained about it leaking a week after, and I saw it was both axle seals. Fine, swapped them for new ones from honda.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think he already tried that.

While its not common for importers to open a tranny, you are buying used goods and it is entirely possible. If you cant determine where it is leaking from, either being wet around the axle seals or wet around the flywheel cover plate, then drop the tranny and look at the seal around the input shaft, if it is dry, then it may just be the casing. If it's a slow leak, it could have taken a week and a half to make it from the input shaft seal to the bottom of the case. The only real way is to drop it out and see whats going on. The fix may be as simple as opening the case and using a little honda bond to make a gasket (clean the magnet if you do open the case).

 

That's my worst fear. Though it's easy to do, I rarely have 4 hours to R&R the trans, especially when it's a favor and I'm not getting paid.

The trans should still be under warranty. If it is the casing seal, can I go after the importer for compensation of my labor?

Do any of you fill transmissions with oil to check for leaks before installation? Figured after this, I might start.

 

Understandable.

I doubt it. I think at most you're going to get is reimbursed for the parts, if that.

I put tranny fluid in them up to the fill hole, but even if a seal is iffy, it probably wont start leaking under it's spinning anyways.

Good Luck