Auto Transmissions Sump Gasket

[jcev39]

I've just had my transmissions serviced (new fluid, filter, gasket etc) by a supposedly reputable independent. I managed to drive the car about 15 miles before there was a strong smell of hot / burning transmission fluid and quite a lot of smoke!

I got the car recovered to said independent who replaced the sump gasket as the previous one had split quit badly. This time I managed about 80 miles before exactly the same thing happened.

I've now replaced the seal myself and managed over 200 miles without a similar occurence...

Has anyone had a similar problem i.e. could it be a faulty batch of seals or mechanics error? Also is there any likely damage to the transmission?

Cheers

John

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Most likely over tightened, its onlt about 19nm to torque up the sump pan bolts, anymore its prone to misshaping and leaking.

Thats why you pay £100 an hour at the dealer.

 

[star]

Most likely over tightened, its onlt about 19nm to torque up the sump pan bolts, anymore its prone to misshaping and leaking.

Thats why you pay £100 an hour at the dealer.

The sump pan stops have bent, so allowing the sump to cut the gasket when tightened. could have been caused by over tightening. But i hasten to add, even dealers get this wrong, how ??? mad would you be paying £100+ an hour. techi's dont see that much.

 

[MotardMan]

Don't use the gasket from GSF or similar, buy the MB one. It is not that much more than the pattern part and seals everytime. It is also worth checking the pan is flat before refitting it. Any high or low spots on its rim or dishing around the bolt holes will make it more prone to leak. I flattend mine round the rim using a dolly and light engineers hammer. It never leaked in 40k miles...

I doubt you have damaged the tranny, it sounds like you were sensible enough to stop when you noticed the leak! At least it has a really good flush out now, and the ATF will rustproof the chassis. ;o)


Jim

 

[BlackC55]

Most likely over tightened, its onlt about 19nm to torque up the sump pan bolts, anymore its prone to misshaping and leaking.

Thats why you pay £100 an hour at the dealer.

8NM only!

19 is far too much.

 

[BlackC55]

The sump pan stops have bent, so allowing the sump to cut the gasket when tightened. could have been caused by over tightening. But i hasten to add, even dealers get this wrong, how ??? mad would you be paying £100+ an hour. techi's dont see that much.

TP at Guilford has just gone to £110+VAT (£129.25) per hour!!!

 

[jcev39]

Thanks for the replies. They were MB gaskets and they weren't just leaking, the gaskets had split! I now have a GSF part in the boot in case of a repeat performance, purely because no-one could supply an MB part (when I repaired it myself I had to go from Bristol to Swindon to get the part!).

When I did the job myself I did notice that there is a slot that a tab on the sump pan should obviously go into and wasn't which was bending the sump pan. I had assumed that the "specialist" would have checked this - obviously not.

As for spending £100/hr + on a dealer, I think in future I'm much more likely to do the servicing myself as then at least I have the satisfaction of knowing its a)been done (I'd had to send the car back after the initial service as the gearbox oil had clearly not been changed) and b) it'll be done correctly! In any case, why should you get better service at a dealer than at a specialist?

Finally, should I get the money back from the specialist (especially as I'm now concerned about the other work done!)?

Cheers

John

 

[carabind]

It is a hard fact of life that once you have paid them, it is very hard to negioiate any refund - it is far easier when you haven't paid as they will be more inclined to move a little to secure some payment promptly. Though this didn't apply in your case, they have been paid, so are in a better position than you.

If you want all your money back - if they have done the work (albiet badly in the case), how strong is your case?

You did give them the opportunity to rectify the fault, which they didn't. In your shoes I would push hard for the cost of "your" gasket, if you have a receipt so much the better as they can claim for that back within their accounts. They shouldn't quibble too much about this, but a full refund for all the bill will be akin to pushing water uphill with a rake.
Also, payment for your time is hard to quantify and get repaid for, but ask for a good will gesture in terms of a refund, donlt accept a credit to be used in the future at some time
Thar's not to say you're in the wrong, just the way the system works. Others may suggest a better approach

 

[Richard Moakes]

Regrettably I believe carabind is correct and a refund is unlikely.

Making sure no-one else on this forum uses them for work will damage them far more than any refund, sadly it won't benefit your pocket.