Automatic Transmission Fluid Leaking from Cap itself

Tiny
HENRYNJO
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
I recently changed Transmission Fluid and Filter and and all of a sudden Trans Fluid started leaking from top of Transmission itself where you fill the Fluid, at first it was just a small leak and I thought it was an O-ring from the Cap itself but after replacing the O-ring multiple times because I purchased a package O-ring gasket from Home Depot, the Trans Fluid still leaks and now it is really gushing out as soon as you start the engine. I even went to junk yard this weekend and pick up 5 of this Trans Fluid Cap and replaced them and still No luck, the fluid still leaking a lot, our local Chevy Dealer Part dept is closed on weekends and really need to use the car by Monday and thats the reason I had to go to Junk yard, Do I really need to buy a brand new Trans Fluid Cap for this car, I'm having doubt now that I got 5 used one's from the junk yard, is there some kind of pressure mechanism inside this Cap, by the way the Cap itself has some kind of Air vent hole in the middle of Tread when you screw in the Cap and a small hole at the side of the Cap and I guess for Air to come out, but instead that's where the Trans Fluid comes out from the Cap. Any input is appreciated, thank you.
Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 AT 4:24 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
NO DIPSTICK ON YOUR RIG?

IF SO, YOU CHECK YOUR AUTO TRANNY LEVEL JUST LIKE I CHECK THE FLUID IN MY "MANUAL TRANNY" JEEPS

WHEN THE FLUID STARTS COMING OUT OF THE HOLE, IT IS FULL!

CHECK THIS FELLER OUT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3xhae7MjjA

MY GUESS IS YOU ARE OVERFILLED!

GET IT LEVEL, PULL THE PLUG (THE HIGHER FILL PLUG) SEE THE VIDEO!

LET IT DRAIN UNTIL IT'S BARELY "LIPPING" OVER THE HOLE, PUT THE PLUG BACK IN!

BELOW IS A PIC OF MY 3 SPEED JEEP MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHILE I WAS REBUILDING IT,

YOU CAN SEE THE FILL HOLE ON THE SIDE, BEINGS THAT IT IS A MANUAL TRANNY THERE IS NO FILTER, ON MINE, THERE IS A DRAIN PLUG ON THE BOTTOM.

WHEN MY TRANNY JUICE STARTS TO COME OUT OF THE HOLE, IT IS MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF FULL IN THE CASE. THIS IS NORMAL! MY TRANNY SLINGS THE TRANNY JUICE ALL OVER THE INSIDE WHILE IT IS MOVING.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THE "PROCEDURE" IS

I CAN SIMPLY CRAWL UNDER MINE TO CHECK OR FILL IT!

OTHER PIC IS A $5 PUMP FROM AN AUTO PARTS STORE THAT I FILL WITH (NOTE: MY FLUID IS NOT THE SAME AS YOURS!)

KEEP US POSTED

THE MEDIC
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Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 AT 5:14 PM
Tiny
HENRYNJO
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
I guess maybe I should have specify the exact time of my Transmission fluid and filter changed, I did the changed back maybe 3 months ago and I don't really use the car much I was only very recent that I had to but after a few days of putting a new auto trans fluid I started getting small drip leak on my garage floor and when I checked, it looks like it was coming around from around the trans mission pan and so I thought since I put about 7 quarts of trans fluid per requirements I would have more left since it was only a drip that I was seeing under the car, but recently I drove it at about 200 miles going to and coming back home, the oil indicator light on my dashboard started blinking, so when I got home I added 1 quart of trans fluid then the light went away and I had to drive it again for another 200 miles and the oil indicator light on the dash started blinking again so I kept adding another fluid only this time I added 2 quarts, I didn't start noticing that the leak was now coming from the auto trans fluid cap, I didn't thinks that I was over filling the fluid because of the light indicator blinking and my first assumption was it was the trans fluid censing being low, every time I added trans fluid the light indicator on my dash goes away and that's the only reason I was adding more like right now prior to this question I just added 1 and half quarts of trans fluid and the light is Not blinking but the fluid is still gushing out of the cap after starting the engine and waiting for about 1-2 minutes, is there some kind of electronic that maybe is NOT working inside transmission to make that trans fluid over flow, I get what you are saying that maybe instead I was over filling, I just thought it was low on trans fluid because I was seeing trans fluid leak drip on my garage floor, if you still think that i'm over filling the fluid, what is that oil light indicator that keeps blinking on my dashboard and every time I added the trans fluid it goes away and I also check my regular oil level and its at a normal level and the color of the leak is pink just like the trans fluid that I kept adding. I would like to hear if there is any other thoughts.
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Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 AT 6:07 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
DID YOU SEE THE VIDEO?

IF THIS CAR IS LIKE YOURS

DID YOU PULL THE PLUG TO SEE IF FLOWED OUT ALL OF THE OVERFILL?

THE MEDIC
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Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
HENRYNJO
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Yes, I have seen that video on youtube many times a while back when I was looking to find the dipstick on that same car that I have, so are you saying that the reason my transmission fluid is leaking or over flowing is really just over fill, even after I explain how this happen from my previous post? This is just an assumption because you didn't exactly response to my second post.
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Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 AT 9:23 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
You must have an O ring issue that is causing the leak or a cracked case, can you inspect the sealing surface for the O ring itself, we really want to get this fixed for you.
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Wednesday, April 13th, 2016 AT 11:28 AM
Tiny
HENRYNJO
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Thank you for all the tips, the same day from my last post, I found the trans fluid drain plug and I let the fluid drain until it stops and put back the plug and closed it tight, then I drove it around, at first the oil indicator was still blinking but after awhile it stops and never came back and the also the trans fluid stop gushing out of the fill plug, As mention from my first post above, I did changed the O-ring on the Trans Fluid Fill Plug Cap a few times cause I thought I had the wrong size fit that I pick up from The Home Depot store but that didn't fix the fluid gushing, so right now it is no longer leaking from the fill plug cap and No Oil indicator light on my dashboard either and seems to be working fine, I guess CJ MEDEVAC above was right all a long that It was just over fill, thank you again, also just fyi. After draining some of that over fill trans fluid the engine sound seems to be much quieter than before and I think that's a good thing.
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Wednesday, April 13th, 2016 AT 1:02 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Thanks good to hear, glad we could help please use us again and tell a friend.
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Wednesday, April 13th, 2016 AT 1:05 PM

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