About 2 weeks ago, I noticed a tranny leak on my 88 4 cyl auto coupe. I got under the car, and the seals on the tranny are dry (thankfully). I haven't been able to pinpoint the leak exactly, but I found the highest point with tranny fluid on it.. The spot is on the left side of the engine bay, and it is where a rubber hose and a metal line meet. Is this the tranny cooler line? The hose appears to come from the tranny (I think), and the metal line disappears before I can find where it goes (looking from the top).

Yes, that is where the lines are and it could be as simple as tightening the clamp that holds it. Even replacing the hose is not terribly difficult and if done quickly you shouldn't loose a significant amount of fluid.

------------------

You may also find a pinhole leak in the steel line near the hose, in which case you may be able to slide the hose further onto the pipe to cover the hole before retightening the clamp. If the hose is too short, use replacement fuel line hose from an autoparts store. You might want to replace the clamps too. Brake parts cleaner (in a spray can) is great for cleaning the area up to pinpoint the leak and for final cleanup. Don't use it near a hot exhaust manifold or while smoking or near a gas waterheater or anything that might ignite it though and make sure you have plenty of ventilation.

There's supposed to be a clamp there? I think I may have just found my problem..

I just replaced the ones on my sons 86 1/2 GT. Both of them run up the drivers side of the car. I hope you get your problem fixed . THey are a pain to replace....snaking them through everything. John

Did this about 6 months ago on Jane's 84 auto. There should be 2 lines. One is under pressure, going to the cooler, and the other is the return line from cooler back to the transmission. What I found, was the flex line had become pourous. It didn't leak in just one pinhole, it just 'wept' fluid out all along the length of it. I went ahead and changed both hoses, as i suspect they were both 20 yrs old. I don't remember the ID of the hoses, but 3/8" is close. They had the dinky squeeze clamps on them, which I re-installed, but also added a worm clamp at each juncture.

I had one of the hoses rub through on a bracket while I was driving the car, all of a sudden I saw white smoke pouring out the decklid vent, I slammed on the brakes, and turned the car off, only to find a large red puddle under the driver's side of the car (tranny fluid). So I pushed it off to the side of the road, and walked two miles home. As soon as I saw the smoke I thought for sure the car was going to burn down right there.

------------------

1984 Fiero SE

Does anyone have any pics of which one is under pressure and which one isn't? Also, where do the lines attach to the tranny?

The lines on the tranny on my 84 th125 are one above the other-sorta. They are on the front left side of the transmission case. Hard to get to because of the cradle and exhaust. The lower one is the one carrying fluid to the cooler and it connects on the top of the cooler.

Well, it appears that the leak isn't where I thought it was. I don't think it's the cooler line itself though.. I have fluid on both cooler lines once they exit the engine bay area, and there is also some on the coolant hose where it connects to the metal pipe on the driver side. Should that lead me to believe that the fluid is running down from somewhere prior to the coolant hose?

both the lines connect to rubber hoses above the drivers side rear wheel well cover. just remove that cover and look up.... you will see them. If your metal lines are good, then Id check the rubber hoses for wear and the clamps that hold them on. John