[Ginger67]

Howdy!

Two things are going on and I'm feeling like they're connected. Can someone help?

First of all coolant is dripping steady from just rear of the passenger side front wheel well. Directly off the body mount bolt down there. I can't find the source, or even a coolant line nearby. I should add that the leak doesn't seem to happen at idle, but flows once I turn off the engine.

Secondly, since I noticed the leak I've also noticed the transmission beginning to make a whirring noise at idle in Drive. Shifts seem to be off, or slow and clunking into gear when I manually shift from L to D. Checked trans fluid, it's full/okay and clean.

My suspicion is that coolant is not getting to the tranny and the old Powerglide is overheating. I've check the fittings at the trans and radiatior, they are dry and snug. I've inspected the lines and all looks good / dry.

Any thoughts?

Daily driver, 67 Malibu / 327 /2bbl Rochester / Powerglide / AC.

 

[Mike]

Borrow a cooling system pressure checker from your local auto parts store and start there.
When's the last time the trans filter/fluid were changed?

 

[charbilly2001]

Take a close look at your heater core where the hoses are attached at the firewall. A leak there will drip in the location you refer to.

If the interface between your transmission and your cooling system is breached the transmission fluid would enter the coolant system due to the transmissions higher operating pressure. The transmission cooler is in the radiator tank so look in the radiator to check for leakage there.

If your transmission is overheating you will be able to smell burnt fluid on your transmission dipstick. Burnt fluid smells noticibly different than new fluid.

Hope that answers your issues.

Best of luck,

Bill

 

[Ginger67]

Thanks Mike, she was at the shop a month ago, added Trans fluid but didn't change filter. Mechanic warned against changing / flushing trans… "prematurely kill an old transmission". Can't recall last filter/fluid change.

 

[Mike]

Didn't say flush but a partially clogged filter will/can cause slippage.
The cooling system pressure test will also check the heater core.