Anyone have trans leaks?

[chorky]

So the auto ATF in these is green. That’s likely the bad transfer case seal that uses regular red ATF. Do a search on here, there was something about the trans and transfer cases getting assembled incorrectly and the tail shaft was damaging the transfer case seal where the trans tail shaft mated… if my old memory recalls correctly.

Green transmission fluid? What they want it to look like old school antifreeze? kidding. but thats a weird color...

Thanks for the link. I will add this to the list of things to tell them and research on. Not happy about a brand new vehicle having to get torn apart.

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[WK2JT]

Green transmission fluid? What they want it to look like old school antifreeze? kidding. but thats a weird color...

Thanks for the link. I will add this to the list of things to tell them and research on. Not happy about a brand new vehicle having to get torn apart.

New on the left.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

I thought we weren't supposed to get political...

 

[calipoontappa]

So the auto ATF in these is green. That’s likely the bad transfer case seal that uses regular red ATF. Do a search on here, there was something about the trans and transfer cases getting assembled incorrectly and the tail shaft was damaging the transfer case seal where the trans tail shaft mated… if my old memory recalls correctly.

Just got a call from the dealership…you are correct. Transfer case seal is bad. They said they can’t just put a new seal that they replace the entire transfer case… will be shipped in a week. Glad it wasn’t the transmission and pretty happy I’m getting a new transfer case too.

 

[WK2JT]

Just got a call from the dealership…you are correct. Transfer case seal is bad. They said they can’t just put a new seal that they replace the entire transfer case… will be shipped in a week. Glad it wasn’t the transmission and pretty happy I’m getting a new transfer case too.

Please tell wife that… although she still wouldn’t believe I was right about something.

Glad it’s getting taken care of for you. Surprised they can’t just replace the seal, but replacing the transfer case is easy.

 

[chorky]

Please tell wife that… although she still wouldn’t believe I was right about something.

Glad it’s getting taken care of for you. Surprised they can’t just replace the seal, but replacing the transfer case is easy.

with the folks ai have seen at most places these days…i would prefer just a factory replacement. Last time a delaer did a seal for me it was a rear main on my TJ and they botched it so bad they actually gouged the block enough that it will forever leak.

 

[chorky]

Reviving this thread.

So some months ago, after returning from the second surgery - maybe novemberish?? the dealer replaced the transmission pan and gasket stating that was the source of the leak. I forgot to post an update here it seems.

The following week I went for a drive and inspected when I got home. Guess what. Still leaking. So I did what anyone would do, made another appointment, and went 4 hours out of my way to get it checked. Dealer said they found no leak and it was probably residual fluid. So I asked them to check the fluid levels - all fine they said. I knew They were wrong about the leak because I physically saw it, but went home anyway loosing work time. So when I got home, i crawled under it and cleaned everything REALLY good. The dealer already cleaned it themselves probably with brake clean like everyone does. So it was near spotless. Said to come back if there was fluid on the driveway. Funny because my driver driveway is grass.

The last few months I have been trying to just ignore it being snowy and cold and all. And the last few weeks it has not really been driven much as I am trying to get it ready for summer. But today I decided to go on a nice little 90 mile drive since it was a bluebird day and roads are bone dry. Well after a few hours being home it was eating at me to know what I already knew. So. I went to check and guess what.

The EXACT same leak since day one. My JT is a 2022 Year. Currently about 6,750 miles. Owned for about 11 months now. Made sometime in Jan of ‘22 I think. I know there was a period of time where the transfer case seal was going bad on these things due to poor install at the factory since plenty of others have discussed it here.

So my question is, has anyone else with a 2022 been experiencing the same issue??? Is this transfer case seal issue related to 2022 years or was that only a 2020/2021 thing?

If this isnt a textbook example of a transfer case input shaft seal leak then Im stumped. Maybe transmission output shaft I suppose is possible.

Anyway looking for input before I contact the dealer for a third time of the same issue. From the last time it sounded like they didnt really want it back unless I could see fluid dripping - which another forum member has said the same thing about their case. But my concern with that is I wont ever know because I dont have concrete to park on. So what, just wait till its out of fluid and blows up? I understand its hard to diagnose when a tech cant see the leak and where it is coming from - been there. So would it be ok for the dealer to put dye in the transfer And check it in a few months with a black light To confirm the source? I did that plenty of times as a tech for Ford for cracked blocks but not sure if Jeep has a ATF stable dye…..


@JeepCares - any suggestions? I only have one dealer within reasonable range and dont need to be making them mad by being ‘temperamental’ but this is an issue - and its not even a year old and hasnt been in any true off road situations. My dealer has been ok thus far but this has me concerned for reliability if I did a long camping trip to a place hours away from signal and in my area there are LOTS of places where getting a tow truck simply is not possible unless you fork out 5K or more…. And I know warranty work does not pay well, and am concerned with keeping good repor with this dealer for the lifetime (20 years?) of this vehicle.


Actually true story, when I had to get my ‘06 TJ towed back to town last year (only 10 miles away) because a local shop forgot, yes forgot, to put axle fluid back in the rear diff and it blew up on the interstate 10 miles outside of town, my insurance wanted to charge me $3,000 to dispatch a tow because the closest option was 200 miles away - they claim to offer free towing lol. Idk how many times I gotta tell people I live in a rural area, and am single with no family near by, so it is a major and significant inconvenience to “just drop it off”. Its crazy that, in Montana of all places, people dont understand this! Asking a coworker to go 4 hours out of their way and take vacation time, for a 3rd time of the same issue, is kinda a big deal - because rentals arent available despite having paid for the premium warranty which is supposed to cover rentals, which I bought specifically for this very reason.


Anyway, frustrations vented, looking for input before calling my dealer.


Also - for Jeep to make the transfer case non-serviceable (very bad design) does anyone have long term reliability concerns? I have a hard time believing it will be easy to just buy a transfer case in another 15 years because its leaking.

 

[WK2JT]

This might be moot since it’s in the same spot, but the pan bolts are either 10Nm or 10Ft lbs, can’t recall. Might be worth just checking the torque. However, considering it’s the same spot as last time, probably a higher likelihood torquing won’t fix it.

 

[chorky]

This might be moot since it’s in the same spot, but the pan bolts are either 10Nm or 10Ft lbs, can’t recall. Might be worth just checking the torque. However, considering it’s the same spot as last time, probably a higher likelihood torquing won’t fix it.

Yeah I never did re-check them from that other post a while back because the dealer went straight to replacing the pan. So I would assume they would have torqued the bolts to spec on a brand new pan and gasket. But I might see if I can borrow my neighbors torque wrench just to double check.... I'm sure they're ok though.

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but based on others threads I am 90% confident it is the rear input seal of the transfer case. I doubt it would be the transmission. And to be right on that spot directly below the weep hole - I can't imagine it's just traveling there from the pan or elsewhere because it is physically higher than other areas and gravity and all.... Well see though.

I appreciate the spec for the bolts ?

 

[WK2JT]

The fluid looks a tad green. The auto trans fluid in these is green and the transfer case is standard red ATF. Best of luck getting it sorted.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The fluid looks a tad green. The auto trans fluid in these is green and the transfer case is standard red ATF. Best of luck getting it sorted.

I'm not near my books or pdf files now but question: is the same fluid used in Selec-Trac as in the non-full time transfer cases? All red atf?

 

[Maximus Gladius]

The fluid looks a tad green. The auto trans fluid in these is green and the transfer case is standard red ATF. Best of luck getting it sorted.

I was about to say the same thing. Colour is a good indicator of what’s leaking.
OP, if you’re a single guy with no family around and you live in the sticks and cell signal is not a luxury…..etc. Get one of these and stay connected.
https://www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/561269

 

[WK2JT]

I'm not near my books or pdf files now but question: is the same fluid used in Selec-Trac as in the non-full time transfer cases? All red atf?

That is a good question.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I was about to say the same thing. Colour is a good indicator of what’s leaking.
OP, if you’re a single guy with no family around and you live in the sticks and cell signal is not a luxury…..etc. Get one of these and stay connected.
https://www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/561269

That is a good question.

OP, what does your book say for the type of fluid to put in the transfer case?

 

[chorky]

I'm not near my books or pdf files now but question: is the same fluid used in Selec-Trac as in the non-full time transfer cases? All red atf?

The color of my leak is absolutely red. Looking at the bottle of fluid posted by @WK2JT, that green fluid does not match at all what is coming out of my trans/transfer area. So if the transmission is in fact green, then I can be sure that the transfer is leaking.

Not that I dont want to believe you but it boggles my mind the transmission fluid is green. However, I did mention that to the dealer a while ago and they looked at me crazy and said its just normal ATF. So that makes me concerned what they put back into the transmission after replacing the pan. Is there a way to check the fluid without dropping the pan????

I was about to say the same thing. Colour is a good indicator of what’s leaking.
OP, if you’re a single guy with no family around and you live in the sticks and cell signal is not a luxury…..etc. Get one of these and stay connected.
https://www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/561269

I have an in-reach. And CB, and GMRS, and usually carry my federal VHF radio just in case I spot a fire or something 'work' related, and a backup for emergencies. The problem is if I did break down in the middle of nowhere, getting out would be very difficult, and/or very expensive, and/or take a very long time. Which is why I always stress the importance of being prepared and 'overbuilding' since most my trips are solo. It's no different when working out in the same areas, but when working our radios are monitored more frequently.

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