Transmission is leaking from the bell housing

When you had the transmission out did you inspect the input shaft seal and the torque converter snout that seats into the transmission? A lot of times the torque converter will cut the seal or the converter has an issue where it is causing the leak.

When you pull the transmission out, did you locate where the fluid was coming from? Was it coming from around the pump or from the input shaft seal?

Hi,

Is it coming from the front pump seal or the front pump gasket? If it's the seal, did you check the torque converter where it goes through the seal for damage or wear?

Pic 1 is the seal I'm referring to and pic 2 shows the where the pump seal is. Also, I found a technical service bulletin related to leaks in that area. Take a look through it and see if it helps.

___________________________

1997 Ford Truck F 150 4WD Pickup V8-281 4.6L VIN W EFI
Fluid Leakage In Torque Converter Area
Vehicle Transmission and Drivetrain Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Testing and Inspection Component Tests and General Diagnostics 4R70W Special Testing Procedures Leakage Inspection Fluid Leakage In Torque Converter Area
FLUID LEAKAGE IN TORQUE CONVERTER AREA
CAUTION: Whenever a transmission has been disassembled to replace worn or damaged parts or because the main control valve body sticks from foreign material, the main control valve body, transmission fluid cooler and fluid cooler tubes must be cleaned and flushed using Torque Converter/Oil Cooler Cleaner 014-00028 or equivalent. Under no circumstances should an attempt be made to clean the torque converter by hand agitation with solvent.

When internal wear or damage has occurred in the transmission, metal particles, clutch plate material, or band material may have been carried into the torque converter and transmission fluid cooler. These contaminants are a major cause of recurring transmission troubles and must be removed from the system before the transmission is put back into use.

In diagnosing and correcting fluid leaks in the front pump and torque converter area, use the following procedures to locate the exact cause of the leakage. Leakage at the front of transmission, as evidenced by fluid around the torque converter housing, may have several sources. By careful observation it is possible, in many instances, to pinpoint the source of leak before removing the transmission from the vehicle. The paths which the fluid takes to reach the bottom of the torque converter housing are shown in the illustration. The five steps following correspond with the numbers in the illustration.

Pic 3

1. Fluid leaking by the front pump seal lip will tend to move along the impeller hub and onto the back of the impeller housing. Except in the case of a total seal failure, fluid leakage by the lip of the seal will be deposited on the inside of the torque converter housing only, near the outside diameter of the housing.
2. Fluid leakage by the outside diameter of the front pump seal and front pump body will follow the same path that leaks by the inside diameter of the front pump seal follow.
3. Fluid that leaks by a front pump to case bolt or pump gasket will be deposited on the inside of the torque converter housing only. Fluid will not be deposited on the back of the torque converter.
4. Fluid leakage from the converter drain plug, converter seal weld or converter to flywheel stud weld will appear at the outside diameter of the torque converter on the back face of the flywheel, and in the converter housing only near the flywheel. Fluid leaks from the torque converter will leave a ring of fluid around the inside of the torque converter housing.
5. Engine oil leaks are sometimes improperly diagnosed as transmission pump gasket leaks. The following areas of possible leakage should also be checked to determine if engine oil leakage is causing the concern.
A. Leakage at the valve cover gasket may allow oil to flow over the torque converter housing or seep down between the torque converter housing and cylinder blocks causing oil to be present in or at the bottom of the torque converter housing.
B. Oil galley plug leaks will allow oil to flow down the rear face of the cylinder blocks to the bottom of the torque converter housing.
C. Leakage at the crankshaft rear oil seal will work back to the flywheel, and then into the torque converter housing.
D. Leakage at oil pressure sensor.

NOTE: White facial tissue paper may aid in determining the color (red is transmission fluid) and source of the leaking fluid.

___________________

Let me know.
Joe

Hello,

That's a bummer I'm sorry to hear that.
There is only two seals up in there the engine rear main seal and the transmissions front main seal. If you are leaking there then the seal must not have seated properly. Did you shake the transmission shaft when you had it out? The only other thing that would done this would be if the main transmission shaft had play in it. It should have had no up and down play in it at all. If it did then they transmission is worn on the inside and will need a rebuild.
Tom

Hello,

I don't know about this valve cover gasket thing you mentioned but I'm saying that if the transmissions main shaft having movement other than spinning could be it but your saying that this leak goes away after it warms up as well?
Tom

Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what's going on? That would be great. You can upload it here with your response.