Transmission leak?

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Drw814

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Ok, turns out I don't have a good video of under the car, and it will be at least a few days until there isn't snow everywhere so I can get under it again. On the way home from work today, the transmission started making a whining noise similar to a power steering pump noise. I'm assuming that it has leaked enough to be low on fluid at this point. I have decided to stop driving it until I figure out what's going on.
 

07GtS197

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Op do you have headers or stock manifolds? And are you sure its not coming from the rear of the trans? My 02 has a leak in that same spot.
 
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Drw814

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Dumb answer, but I don't know. I haven't been looking at the manifolds at all actually. I know it has a pypes x pipe, but don't know about forward of that. Here are two pics I have of under the car, first being drivers side, second is passenger side. I also just had a possibly stupid idea, could it be a power steering leak? Thinking about what happened yesterday I am realizing it very well could have been the power steering pump making that noise, and the power steering fluid is red as well. The whine was present in neutral, and in gear as well as the clutch in or out, and it started after some harsh steering. Is there any way a power steering leak could travel down/back the transmission? I am at work with my ranger right now so I'm gonna check the mustang when I get home, but I'm occupied with thought right now. The fluid on the transmission appears to be too high and too far forward for it to be the output shaft seal. It seems like it's originating from the top front of the transmission.

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%5BURL=http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/drw814/media/2E3859D5-CD6A-40EB-A041-CEEDB5320A29_zpsihmiy2qv.jpg.html%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a613/drw814/2E3859D5-CD6A-40EB-A041-CEEDB5320A29_zpsihmiy2qv.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D
 

07GtS197

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Well then let me ask you this, which o2 sensors have trans fluid on them, front or rear? Thats why I ask which o2 sensors because trans fluid has no way of getting to the top of the bellhousing.

The links dont work.

I dont see how power steering fluid would get to the top of the motor but maybe someone else can think of a source.
 
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Drw814

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I didn't think it was either, but I thought it could possibly happen. Just got home, power steering fluid level is fine, car barely whined at idle and a little bit when moving from driveway to driveway. It pretty much sounds like the tranny is low on fluid (power steering whine is similar) I am going to get in contact with another mechanic I trust and go from there. The car was at full operating temp yesterday when the whine randomly started. I didn't let it get to temp today but I assume it would get louder as temp increases.
 
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Drw814

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Status update: Car no longer leaks, I simply needed a new transmission lol.

Brought the car to another shop, they cleaned the fluid off and test drove it. Brought it back on the lift and pinpointed where the fluid was coming from. Turns out there was a hairline crack on the top of the tranny, just in front of the shifter. So I went on Craigslist and found another 3650 in great shape. Bought that, had the shop swap it in (got a new clutch while it was out), and now it's all good.
 

kb1982

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I was just reading through this thread and was going to suggest looking for a hairline crack. Scrolled down to reply and seen your last post. Just for future reference, if the crack is small, a little jb weld usually takes care of it.
 
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Drw814

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I actually forgot to mention that part. When they initially found the crack, they sealed it. It was good for about 2 days, then started leaking again. Needless to say, I was disappointed when it started to leak again.
 

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