[Jasper]

Arrgh....

2006 300C, build date 3-31-05, bought new in April. ZERO problems until this morning....

I pulled it out of the garage, preparing to hang the Christmas lights, and there was a dark pink puddle of fluid on the garage floor under the front middle area.

Is the transmission fluid red in this car? Or could this be power steering fluid?

My local One-Star Dealer's service is not open today.... anyone else have tranny fluid leaks?

Thanks.....

 

[jcsganga34]

It's most likely tranny fluid

Arrgh....

2006 300C, build date 3-31-05, bought new in April. ZERO problems until this morning....

I pulled it out of the garage, preparing to hang the Christmas lights, and there was a dark pink puddle of fluid on the garage floor under the front middle area.

Is the transmission fluid red in this car? Or could this be power steering fluid?

My local One-Star Dealer's service is not open today.... anyone else have tranny fluid leaks?

Thanks.....

It is most likely a leak from a defective tranny O-ring. I had the work done per a TSB. That is most likely the cause of your leak, but just to confuse the situation, I believe the the power steering fluid is the same as the tranny fluid. I am not a 100% sure of this, but I think I read that somewhere.

 

[C-Man]

It's the radiator fluid that is also red. TSB 21-002-05 is the O-Ring fix. Do a search on transmission leak for much info on it.

 

[jimhild]

If the leak is on the passenger side, about 1/2 way between front tire and passenger area it will be the O-ring mentioned. If you can see where the A/C drips it will be just in front of that area. BTW- the color is red.

TSB and a one day trip to the dealer got it taken care for us.

 

[bruno]

Joining the Ranks!

Dangit. I was dreading this problem and hoping it would somehow skip over me. But, no! Like many of you, I noticed quite a good side puddle of the thick, pink stuff this morning on my garage floor, just as my car turned 11,500 miles. I'm taking the car to the dealership this Wednesday and hope it falls under the TSB mentioned in several posts.

bruno

 

[Jasper]

Dangit. I was dreading this problem and hoping it would somehow skip over me...

bruno

It turns out mine was definitely the two O rings on the electrical connector as per the TSB. No big deal (other than my lousy onestar dealer decided to wait until closing time after having my car since 8AM to tell me that they didn't have the parts, and no, they wouldn't give me a loaner since I drive a 2006... Darn I ***HATE*** that place...)

 

[bruno]

It turns out mine was definitely the two O rings on the electrical connector as per the TSB. No big deal (other than my lousy onestar dealer decided to wait until closing time after having my car since 8AM to tell me that they didn't have the parts, and no, they wouldn't give me a loaner since I drive a 2006... Darn I ***HATE*** that place...)

That stinks about the overnight wait. I'll get into the 8:00 a.m. opening line tomorrow around 7:30 a.m. My 5-Star Dodge dealership doesn't take appointments. I will definitely make sure to ask if they have those O-rings in stock since I plan to wait for the service. I need to be on the road to So. Cal. Thursday. If they don't have the O-rings, then I'll just tell them to fill up the lost fluid and get it serviced from the So. Cal. dealership where I purchased it. If that's the case, I hope my 325 mile trip won't be an issue.

Thanks for your help and I'll let you know the outcome.

bruno

 

[BobCav]

Me too! Talk about ironic!

Hey, just this morning while getting on the highway, my trans shuddered between shifts and I got a CEL! The light stayed on solid and was still on at lunchtime, but was off at 3 pm.

When I brought it in to my dealer, they said I was about 1.5 qts low due to those same leaking o-rings and that caused the CEL. They have to order the kit and it'll be in on Thursday but I'm on the road at 3 AM, so I'll have to wait until I get back. They assured me it was a very slow leak and wouldn't affect my trip.

Sorry, but 900 miles each way, you can be damn sure I'll be having it checked in DC and again in Jersey and back again. If it fails, they're paying for it and a tow and a rental all the way home!!

I'll prob call tomorrow just to ask. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[bruno]

Just curious...Can a TSB ever become a 'Recall'? This O-ring issue seems to be more common and discussed on other forums, too. Who wants transmission issues with new cars anyway!

bruno

 

[jeepgrady]

They'll only turn into a recall if the problem is deemed to be a safety factor. I agree with you, though. I ould hate to be going for a long trip away from home only to find my tranny leaking. IMO, both the leak and water entry problem should be addressed by DC for everyones vehicle.

One thing that makes mecurious. The Grand Cherokee witht the water entry into the tranny was turned into a recall as supposedly there could be a chance of a fire. I can't understand why the Lx's weren't also included.

 

[bruno]

They'll only turn into a recall if the problem is deemed to be a safety factor. I agree with you, though. I ould hate to be going for a long trip away from home only to find my tranny leaking. IMO, both the leak and water entry problem should be addressed by DC for everyones vehicle.

One thing that makes mecurious. The Grand Cherokee witht the water entry into the tranny was turned into a recall as supposedly there could be a chance of a fire. I can't understand why the Lx's weren't also included.

....what water entry problem??


I just returned from the Dodge dealership regarding the repair for the transmission leak (TSB/warranty). Just like everyone has stated in many other posts, the fluid was leaking, sometimes in large puddles, from the right side electrical connector O-rings. They were replaced with 2 new O-rings and the fluid was topped off. This part of the service took about an hour. Anyway, I will definitely be checking in the future to make sure everything remains sealed.

bruno

 

[jeepgrady]

....what water entry problem??


I just returned from the Dodge dealership regarding the repair for the transmission leak (TSB/warranty). Just like everyone has stated in many other posts, the fluid was leaking, sometimes in large puddles, from the right side electrical connector O-rings. They were replaced with 2 new O-rings and the fluid was topped off. This part of the service took about an hour. Anyway, I will definitely be checking in the future to make sure everything remains sealed.

bruno

You mean you haven't heard about the water dripping from the A/C condensate tube entering the tranny? There is a tsb for this as well as numerous other discussions on the topic. Do a search.

 

[kevenj]

You mean you haven't heard about the water dripping from the A/C condensate tube entering the tranny? There is a tsb for this as well as numerous other discussions on the topic. Do a search.

I made a simple "drain" extension to prevent this from happening; get a piece of 5/16 O.D. tubing (I used plastic, but you could use copper) that is about 6" long; then slide a piece of 5/16" ID rubber hose, about 18" long, over the tubing. the hard plastic or copper tubing will just slide into the opening on the A/C condensation drain boot (right above the tranny) then you can run the hose down around the side of the tranny and secure it to the crossmember with a zip tie. Nobody will ever see it, and condensation from the A/C can't get in past the fill tube seal. I also applied the RTV sealant around the filler tube (as specified in the TSB) but it's hard to tell if you get it in the right place when you are laying on your back on a creeper. I have had no tranny issues but i figured a little preventative measure couldn't hurt.