Transmission - maybe problem

[helen&tony]

Hi
To add to one or two woes, I drove out of the yard this morning, and Tony noticed a small patch of fluid...5" x3"....he said pinkish...I checked when we got home...mmm not sure on colour as it was dirty. It appears to be under the transmission pan....Oh dear..i don't think Bongos cope well with the winters here...snow is not cleared well..."Bongoinbulgaria" had his transmission blow up 2 winters ago...I think it's still here...they left Bulgaria for Germany.
If the worse happens, I expect I'll have to look out for another vehicle,
Any ideas on where to start looking, as I am no expert on autoboxes
Cheers
Helen

[Alacrity]

The first thing to do is check the transmission oil level. Remember the engine must be running with it in park, preferably with it hot. Top up if needed with Dexron 3 or equivilent. It could be something as simple as a weeping cooler pipe (they are steel but with 'rubber' ends that connect to the gearbox & oil cooler respectively) which is easy to check & make good. If it is running out of the bellhousing then it has to come out to be looked at. Then you could be looking at pump bush & seal plus outer seal (O ring) at the very least. DO NOT let someone convince you to just change the pump seal, it is an awful lot of work to only do half a job. You may need a torque converter as well if the seal/bush running surface is damaged. The converter can be reconditioned &, whilst not pennies, are not as pricey as some say. If it is the trans that is leaking then get it sorted as soon as whilst you are still looking at a leak repair. Leave it & you could be looking at a box & converter rebuild.

I am not sure what colour power steering fluid you have - but we get quite a few cars in here for supposed transmission oil leaks that turn out to be power steering, they often use the same or similar fluid.

[helen&tony]

Hi Alacrity
I had forgotten the cooler pipes...i've only dealt with the radiator end of those....I am praying that is the answer...or anything else simple, as there are simply no experts in the whole of Bulgaria....that's why "Bongoinbulgaria" left his here...he pulled his transmission out, and after combing the whole of the country, found only 2 firms in Bulgaria...both in Sofia....and most English find to their cost that a Bulgarian Expert is someone who's cousin in America knows someone who's next door neighbour has whatever it is in the way of expertise you require. I only use mechanics trained up to chimpanzee level where possible
Anyway...is there any kind of relief valve that may vent fluid when stressed?, as I've never seen the Bongo drop any fluid
Cheers
Helen

[Alacrity]

No relief valve but it does have a breather which can burp out fluid - but only if it is a) seriously overfilled or b) seriously in trouble (i.e. VERY hot). I am not sure wher on the trans it is on the R4A box but it will be up the top somewhere. If it is way overfull & looks like strawberry milkshake, then the cooler has failed & is filling up the trans with coolant which is then mixed with the oil. Never heard of a Bongo doing it but anything is theoretically possible. Night night tranny if that is the case I am afraid.

[helen&tony]

Hi Alacrity
I fitted a new radiator last year, so it should be O.K. I have a sheet of cardboard under the Bongo at the moment, so I'll look at it over the next 2 days, to see what it is....it's definitely oily..and under the pan region.
I'll post over the next 2 days, and see what turns up on the card
Cheers
Helen

[missfixit70]

I reckon it could well be power steering fluid, should be DIII in there, common issue on the bongos, most seem to be curable (or at least slowed down) with a decent bottle of power steering leak stop. Must check mine again
Hope it's easily sorted

[helen&tony]

Hi Kirsty
Ta...but it's definitely under the transmission pan....there's no steering components in the vicinity of the drip...too far towards the rear....A power steering fix would be a breeze...I've done rebuilds on those racks, but a transmission problem would be terminal...
Cheers
Helen

[You've Been Bongod]

Helen is it a 2wd or 4wd ?

[helen&tony]

Hi Carl
4x4....the box sticks down a way on the Bongo, so I'm worried that it may have been struck by a lump of ice....it's like stone here when the temperature drops
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Carl
4x4....the box sticks down a way on the Bongo, so I'm worried that it may have been struck by a lump of ice....it's like stone here when the temperature drops
Cheers
Helen

Dont tell me - you'll be wanting a Delica next

[helen&tony]

Hi Mike
Now, would i ever want a Delica.......YOU BETCHA!!!!!
Cheers
Helen

[missfixit70]

Hi Kirsty
Ta...but it's definitely under the transmission pan....there's no steering components in the vicinity of the drip...too far towards the rear....A power steering fix would be a breeze...I've done rebuilds on those racks, but a transmission problem would be terminal...
Cheers
Helen

Lets hope it's just a hose then, fairly likely I reckon, I've seen a few with replacement hoses & different hose clips on, showing they've had issues/been messed with.

[helen&tony]

Hi Kirsty

Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi
Alacrity /Kirsty
Aha...cardboard drip catcher producing results. The drip (about 2- 3 cc at a guess) in a neat semi viscous mess sitting 2 1/2- 3 cm across and 5 mm high is at the front nearside corner....I couldn't hang around on hands and knees on the snow/ ice any longer, as my hands were starting to burn...any ideas so far???...I may venture down there later today or tomorrow to see if I can locate it from the passenger seat, and a mirror on a stick.....but it's really cold out there to kneel in the snice...I may make a bin-bag jacket to wear tomorrow, so I don't get too wet. It appears the leak may be in front of the pan???
Thanks in advance
Cheers
Helen

[Alacrity]

Pan gasket could be leaking - cheap as chips PM if you want one sent out. If it does appear to be leaking from the pan gasket BE CAREFULL as the leak could well be from above the pan, running down & dripping off the pan which is the lowest point of course. Many a pan gasket has been changed only to find the leak is the same. Above the pan you have the oil cooler pipe connections, the manual selector shaft, breather etc. So look carefully to be certain where it is coming from.