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#1
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Driveable? Tow? Tranny? P/S?
Hi all,
Just got in late from a movie when the car started smoking right in my parking lot and dumping clear fluid out from the front. Instead of going into the underground lot, I parked it outside in case I need a tow. I *think* it is Dex 3 either coming from a transmission line or P/S - couldn't get the flashlight working well enough to figure out where the leak was coming from. The liquid was clear, not red or green, and had a minor burnt smell. I didn't notice loss in steering for the 10 seconds I drove it to park, and although it was smoking madly, it did not affect the temp gauge - meaning its hopefully not the rad... Anyways - question for the light of day tomorrow - where should I look for a tranny line leak - I have no jack, etc. If I can't locate it, is it driveable if I add a quart of ATF, or should I just take the towing hit? Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ben
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Ben 92 Graphite LS-L Touring (136k miles) #4143 5 speed, ACT clutch, Sparco R-Speed shortshifter, Ecutune v1, Stebro exhaust, PWR rad, 18" Motegi Racing FF15 wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis, Alpine 9833 MP3/CD with Alpine 3ways in front, MSW G-lateral drop springs, ss braided brake lines, d/s rotors, 9005 headlight mod, Celcius mod 92 Ebony LS-L Touring (125k miles) #7328 smallcar shift kit, Panasonic MP3/CD, Remote starter with security For Sale: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...370#post501370 92 Claret LS-L Touring (Sold - 1998) The first car I ever drove. |
#2
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The fluid was clear? That's confusing. Tranny fluid is (or should be) red. Power steering fluid in out cars is actually trans fluid, so also red. Coolant should be green. Brake fluid should be clear.
Check your power steering resevoir. Someone may have filled it with regular power steering fluid instead of ATF. If clear fluid IS coming out of your trans, I would be very worried.
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Chris 92 Ebony Mica LS-L "A Rolling Restoration": 223,250 KM - Sleeping 2007 STi 6MT, Stance GR+ coilovers, PWR Rad, JDM hood badge, svxfiles 6000K HIDs, JDM Clear Corners, $15/15 min mod, $20/20 min mod, Energy Swaybar Bushings, Hella Supertones horns, Gold STi BBS rims, Group A lightweight crank pulley, A/C system removed, Custom header-back exhaust, Hybrid carbon/metal rear sway bar, restored headlights with CCFL halos 2008 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Diamond Grey Metallic - Sold 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn - Red Pearl |
#3
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what about the front diff. leaking?
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Seth 94' Barcelona Red w/ Tricoat black 2-tone AWD Ls -Sold Mods:AWD conversion/4.44 swap by Budfreak, Custom red interior lights, Custom Satin black dash, Power mode switch, Cold air intake, Permecool tranny filter,Sony xplode 10" sub, Sony xplode 1000w amp, Blitz in-line driver, DDM Tuning 6000k HID's, New paint job/body work by me, 97' Grill, QC shift kit, 17'' MB Motoring rims, 15&20 min mod, front & rear urethane swaybar bushings, Custom fiberglass sub box, Custom red led a/c control unit, perrin lightweight crank pulley, Black wrinkle finish powdercoated intake manifold w/ clear hoses , 02' outback heated/power black leather seats Soon to come:Fiberglass hood, upholster ALL suede to black leather Past subies: 92' Pearl White/black top LS-L-SOLD 96' Legacy Outback-TOTALED 99' Legacy Outback Limited 30th anniversary edition-TOTALED 98' Forester L -Totaled Other toys: 99' Forester S -WRX brake upgrade, soon an 04 wrx motor swap 06' B9 Tribeca-Stock 1982' Yamaha xj650 Maxim Mods: work in progress |
#4
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That's what I was thinking. I went through this last week. It sounds like differential fluid to me.
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bLAh
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#5
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Ah yes, forgot we have on of those
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Chris 92 Ebony Mica LS-L "A Rolling Restoration": 223,250 KM - Sleeping 2007 STi 6MT, Stance GR+ coilovers, PWR Rad, JDM hood badge, svxfiles 6000K HIDs, JDM Clear Corners, $15/15 min mod, $20/20 min mod, Energy Swaybar Bushings, Hella Supertones horns, Gold STi BBS rims, Group A lightweight crank pulley, A/C system removed, Custom header-back exhaust, Hybrid carbon/metal rear sway bar, restored headlights with CCFL halos 2008 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Diamond Grey Metallic - Sold 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn - Red Pearl |
#6
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the front diff. fluid is clear and seems like you have blown it up
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Seth 94' Barcelona Red w/ Tricoat black 2-tone AWD Ls -Sold Mods:AWD conversion/4.44 swap by Budfreak, Custom red interior lights, Custom Satin black dash, Power mode switch, Cold air intake, Permecool tranny filter,Sony xplode 10" sub, Sony xplode 1000w amp, Blitz in-line driver, DDM Tuning 6000k HID's, New paint job/body work by me, 97' Grill, QC shift kit, 17'' MB Motoring rims, 15&20 min mod, front & rear urethane swaybar bushings, Custom fiberglass sub box, Custom red led a/c control unit, perrin lightweight crank pulley, Black wrinkle finish powdercoated intake manifold w/ clear hoses , 02' outback heated/power black leather seats Soon to come:Fiberglass hood, upholster ALL suede to black leather Past subies: 92' Pearl White/black top LS-L-SOLD 96' Legacy Outback-TOTALED 99' Legacy Outback Limited 30th anniversary edition-TOTALED 98' Forester L -Totaled Other toys: 99' Forester S -WRX brake upgrade, soon an 04 wrx motor swap 06' B9 Tribeca-Stock 1982' Yamaha xj650 Maxim Mods: work in progress |
#7
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If you get it up on stands and see this....
You're in trouble like I am.
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bLAh
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#8
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"for the 10 seconds I drove it to park"
So in the 10 sec of parking lot driving the front diff spewed gear oil onto the cats and caused smoke as well as the clear liquid he is seeing? Or did the car drive home and then these things were noticed? Clear and burnt smell... Must be brake fluid or diff oil hitting exhaust to make these things line up.
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin blk 92' LSL w/ average mods pics here http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/yourconfused/ Cash68: "Hmm, I wouldn't brag about beating Escorts. That's like saying you tricked a retarded person." |
#9
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It only started leaking and smoking right when I got into the parking lot for some reason. There was a good amount of spillage, could it still be front diff fluid? I assume its not driveable and will have to tow if this is the case? Anyway I can tell if it is front diff without putting it up? The leak seems to be more prevalent on the passenger side.
Thanks, Ben
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Ben 92 Graphite LS-L Touring (136k miles) #4143 5 speed, ACT clutch, Sparco R-Speed shortshifter, Ecutune v1, Stebro exhaust, PWR rad, 18" Motegi Racing FF15 wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis, Alpine 9833 MP3/CD with Alpine 3ways in front, MSW G-lateral drop springs, ss braided brake lines, d/s rotors, 9005 headlight mod, Celcius mod 92 Ebony LS-L Touring (125k miles) #7328 smallcar shift kit, Panasonic MP3/CD, Remote starter with security For Sale: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...370#post501370 92 Claret LS-L Touring (Sold - 1998) The first car I ever drove. |
#10
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Check all of your fluids. If it lost that much, one of them will be low.
Has the car been making any noises or acting strange in any way??
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
#11
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Going to check the levels right now. Will let you know. Thanks for the responses thus far.
If it is a cracked/blown front diff, is it driveable? Or unadvisable? Will report back. Ben
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Ben 92 Graphite LS-L Touring (136k miles) #4143 5 speed, ACT clutch, Sparco R-Speed shortshifter, Ecutune v1, Stebro exhaust, PWR rad, 18" Motegi Racing FF15 wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis, Alpine 9833 MP3/CD with Alpine 3ways in front, MSW G-lateral drop springs, ss braided brake lines, d/s rotors, 9005 headlight mod, Celcius mod 92 Ebony LS-L Touring (125k miles) #7328 smallcar shift kit, Panasonic MP3/CD, Remote starter with security For Sale: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...370#post501370 92 Claret LS-L Touring (Sold - 1998) The first car I ever drove. |
#12
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If it is a cracked front diff case, driving without gear oil will kill the front diff gears. But, the front diff is going to need to be replaced anyway...
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
#13
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Okay.
Soooo I checked everything and the coolant reservoir was dry and the oil is low. I found out the upper rad hose has a leak, burned through no doubt. I guess the p/o (I've had it for only 3 weeks) "forgot" to add antifreeze to the water he must have put in the radiator, hence the clear, but somewhat oily liquid. Another question - might be a stupid one - The car started fine, I added water to the coolant reservoir (need to pick up antifreeze and oil somehow today) and it was almost as if the rad was not working - the fan was not going and it didn't seem to be picking the water out of the reservoir. I squeezed the hose just to verify an it was still dry. Could this be a larger problem than a mere puncture in the rad hose? Thanks Ben
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Ben 92 Graphite LS-L Touring (136k miles) #4143 5 speed, ACT clutch, Sparco R-Speed shortshifter, Ecutune v1, Stebro exhaust, PWR rad, 18" Motegi Racing FF15 wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis, Alpine 9833 MP3/CD with Alpine 3ways in front, MSW G-lateral drop springs, ss braided brake lines, d/s rotors, 9005 headlight mod, Celcius mod 92 Ebony LS-L Touring (125k miles) #7328 smallcar shift kit, Panasonic MP3/CD, Remote starter with security For Sale: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...370#post501370 92 Claret LS-L Touring (Sold - 1998) The first car I ever drove. |
#14
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But of course, if the front diff siezes while you're doing 40 down the road, the results could be interesting to watch...
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
#15
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Quote:
When the car is that low, your better off removing the top rad hose from the radiator and dumping coolant into the engine through there till full, then reattach and top off the radiator. If the coolant was that oily, I'd watch it very closely for other signs of a bad head gasket.
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
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