Transmission fluid leak at radiator
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Amber waves of grain.
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet
Transmission fluid leak at radiator
What, where, how do I tighten, seal, etc. to stop this leak? A little history...
Hit a deer a while back. I replaced hood; hood insulator; both fenders; one auxiliary fan w/ Alum. housing and shroud; main fan shroud; inner grill; outer grill; both head lamps; front bumper cover; fog lamp; and other stuff from parts.com, $1,909. Bought OEM sheet metal, had it painted with proper water base black at Carstar, $1,380, and hung the parts myself.
Radiator seemed OK, was not leaking anything, so I used a plastic welder to weld and fabricate new upper plastic tabs that secure the radiator to the cross member and the main fan shroud. Everything was OK for about 2 weeks, then noticed transmission fluid on garage floor. I had made a road trip of about 1,200 for Thanksgiving, and figured that vehicle must have been leaking all along. Was in a hurry to get to work, so I put in half a quart and drove it that day. When I got home, I used the dipstick, and it showed overfull, so I drew out a little less than half a quart and got the level to normal. Apparently, transmission must not have been leaking for two weeks, and leak must be only a few days old.
Can't see exactly where leak is coming from, but, removed undercarriage shrouds and fluid pools on garage floor under the passenger side of the radiator. I doused everything with brake cleaner and wiped it down. I will try to pinpoint the leak.
Is this something I can put a wrench on and tighten, or are these some sort of exotic fittings. ?
Thanks.
Hit a deer a while back. I replaced hood; hood insulator; both fenders; one auxiliary fan w/ Alum. housing and shroud; main fan shroud; inner grill; outer grill; both head lamps; front bumper cover; fog lamp; and other stuff from parts.com, $1,909. Bought OEM sheet metal, had it painted with proper water base black at Carstar, $1,380, and hung the parts myself.
Radiator seemed OK, was not leaking anything, so I used a plastic welder to weld and fabricate new upper plastic tabs that secure the radiator to the cross member and the main fan shroud. Everything was OK for about 2 weeks, then noticed transmission fluid on garage floor. I had made a road trip of about 1,200 for Thanksgiving, and figured that vehicle must have been leaking all along. Was in a hurry to get to work, so I put in half a quart and drove it that day. When I got home, I used the dipstick, and it showed overfull, so I drew out a little less than half a quart and got the level to normal. Apparently, transmission must not have been leaking for two weeks, and leak must be only a few days old.
Can't see exactly where leak is coming from, but, removed undercarriage shrouds and fluid pools on garage floor under the passenger side of the radiator. I doused everything with brake cleaner and wiped it down. I will try to pinpoint the leak.
Is this something I can put a wrench on and tighten, or are these some sort of exotic fittings. ?
Thanks.
Last edited by Pancho; Dec 7, 2010 at 01:52 PM. Reason: clarity
