Water Leak Under Transmission

[Dantheman-2003]

While working on my suspension leveling kit this weekend, I noticed a pool of water underneath the tranny. After a closer look, it appears to be coming from above and draining down alongside the tranny dipstick, hence the pinkish water in the photo. It seems to be intermittent, but today is seems steady. After reading a few threads, sounds like it could be heater core hoses at the quick connect or pump. I checked, but don’t see water coming from there. Any thoughts? It’s not coolant because that is orange color. This seems like water coming from above and running down transmission pan.

 

[Sam Harris]

A/C drain?

 

[Dantheman-2003]

A/C drain?

I ruled that out. A/C currently not working due Freon leak somewhere. Weird thing is I’m not losing coolant anywhere. I’ll take a closer look this weekend.

 

[OR VietVet]

If the heater core is seeping, it can leak out of the a/c drain, whether the a/c is working or not. I would suspect the heater hose tee's at the firewall. run you DRY hands under and around them to feel for moisture.

 

[Dantheman-2003]

If the heater core is seeping, it can leak out of the a/c drain, whether the a/c is working or not. I would suspect the heater hose tee's at the firewall. run you DRY hands under and around them to feel for moisture.

Yep. Bingo

 

[Dantheman-2003]

Found it. The heater hose Tee. Dripping right down the transmission dip stick.

 

[MassHoe04]

Found it. The heater hose Tee. Dripping right down the transmission dip stick.

Odds were in favor of the heater T's.
Much easier fix than a heater core! Pretty cheap too.

Members have said that rotating the T while pressing in on the lock tabs will hold the tabs in and allow you to slip the T off.

I did not know that when mine snapped at the hose.
I snipped at the the strip of plastic behind the tabs with small wire snips and busted the plastic with a flat screwdriver to release the fitting. Made removal easy-peasy.
If you do that...Just make sure you are busting the right fitting, if you are not replacing both at the same time.
I crawled out to get tools and when I got back under the hood, I found myself with hands on the wrong fitting! Glad I did not bust the wrong one by mistake!!

 

[89Suburban]

Odds were in favor of the heater T's.
Much easier fix than a heater core! Pretty cheap too.

Members have said that rotating the T while pressing in on the lock tabs will hold the tabs in and allow you to slip the T off.

I did not know that when mine snapped at the hose.
I snipped at the the strip of plastic behind the tabs with small wire snips and busted the plastic with a flat screwdriver to release the fitting. Made removal easy-peasy.
If you do that...Just make sure you are busting the right fitting, if you are not replacing both at the same time.
I crawled out to get tools and when I got back under the hood, I found myself with hands on the wrong fitting! Glad I did not bust the wrong one by mistake!!

Everyone here recommends Delco replacements over the Dorman for longevity fyi.

Also this black piece that attaches to the Tee on the inboard hose is also know to get brittle and snap off, leaving you stranded. I would look into replacing that as well for insurance.

 

[rockola1971]

Everyone here recommends Delco replacements over the Dorman for longevity fyi.

Also this black piece that attaches to the Tee on the inboard hose is also know to get brittle and snap off, leaving you stranded. I would look into replacing that as well for insurance.


View attachment 394484

Yup! Most auto parts stores carry a fix for this problem. You just cut off the molded plast portion of the hose and stick a barbed nipple with hose clamp. On the opposite side it is female that slides over the factory Tee nipple and locks like the original.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Yup! Most auto parts stores carry a fix for this problem. You just cut off the molded plast portion of the hose and stick a barbed nipple with hose clamp. On the opposite side it is female that slides over the factory Tee nipple and locks like the original.

That's how my 2001 came from the factory. My brothers 2002 Tahoe was the same way. The "T" fitting pops onto the heater core pipe, and then a barbed quick connect clips onto each "T" fitting, and the hose connects to that barb with a hose clamp. I don't think they started with the quick connect actually molded into the hose until 2003 or 2004.