MC Transmission leak

[Ad1210]

Gday all,



I have a 2013 MC Zetec Petrol thats unfortunately just failed its rego due to a leak on the transmission. Its a steady drip-drip-drip so fairly serious and the guys doing the inspection suggest that its either the seal or theres a crack in the transmission somewhere. I suspect the latter as the car was involved in a minor front end bingle about 8 months ago. In either scenario, its a pull it out to diagnose job so Im thinking that for a 10 year old car with 170,000 on the clock and a value of around $9,000, any repair is unfortunately going to be uneconomical.


Just wondering whether people agree with that opinion or whether im writing the car off prematurely?


Cheers
Andrew

[cobrin]

You don't even know where it is leaking from other than there's a transmission leak. Have a diagnosis done and then make up your mind. For all we know it might be an input shaft seal, which okay the gbox needs to come out, but that's not a showstopper.


I also reckon in this climate, 1300-2000 dollars (or what ever it ends up costing) is still cheaper than a replacement vehicle.

[click]

Doubt it’s a crack, it would take major impact.
Get it up on some jack stands and have a nosey. Could be axle seals, pretty obvious. Input shaft seal, will be dripping from where the trans meets the engine, there’s a cut out in the trans casing right underneath. Oil cooler and pipes at the front, likely culprit if you had a prang. Sealant between the casing halves but pretty unlikely. This all assuming it’s auto?

[Mondaveo]

OP specified MC Zetec, so that means it will have the 6DCT450 PowerShift dual-clutch transmission, which yes operates as an auto.

I don't think the 6DCT450 has any external oil lines or cooler. There is a large chamber which houses the dual clutches bathed in the special DCT transmission fluid. Changing the fluid is a scheduled service item so you can get a good look all around the transmission and access its drain and fill plugs by removing the air box, passenger side wheel and wheel arch lining.

It might be as simple as a drain plug is loosened so you'll definitely want to look at those before you write off the car.

[rondeo]

Cooler can be seen from under bonnet directly beneath windscreen washer fluid filler cap. The connections to the tranny are the shiny black tubes. Radiator coolant is used to cool the oil. They do leak sometimes, but probably not much. I did replace one of mine for leaking, but was not dripping.

[Ad1210]

Update guys.


Unfortunately, shes a goner. Took it in, had it explored thoroughly and all the above suspects checked out. Old mates opinion (trusted tranny mechanic) was likely a hairline somewhere in the casing for the rate at which it was leaking. Said hed drop it out for $500 to confirm but the numbers would go up from there so I cut my losses.



On the plus side, my Diesel Zetec isnt missing a beat after 253,000 klicks.

[AlanM]

Originally Posted by Ad1210

Update guys.


Unfortunately, shes a goner. Took it in, had it explored thoroughly and all the above suspects checked out. Old mates opinion (trusted tranny mechanic) was likely a hairline somewhere in the casing for the rate at which it was leaking. Said hed drop it out for $500 to confirm but the numbers would go up from there so I cut my losses.



On the plus side, my Diesel Zetec isnt missing a beat after 253,000 klicks.

"Likely"?
A mechanic really should be able to say for certain where the leak is from. The transmissions is very accessible once the air cleaner box and the undertrays are removed. A quick degrease, a short run, and a leak that serious would be very visible.