Backed in the garage last night, smelled something burning, found MTF DRAINING from the bottom of the engine/trans! Any ideas on the most likely place it would be coming from (plug, axles, etc.)?

 

Flashlight

 

It's coming from my flashlight??

I can't get under it to look around.

 

You need to get it on a lift ASAP have you had any work done?

 

I'm having it towed to a shop on Monday. Hopefully it won't be too serious. Has anyone had this happen before? Are there any logical places that it could be coming from?

 

I know for the 5spd it usually comes from the axle seals or the belhousing due to the input shaft bearing failing. Hope its just the axle seals

 

How come you cant look under your car with a flashlight?

 

I looked under it as best I could with a flashlight, from the front and side behind the wheel. But can't actually get under the car to ge a GOOD look. It's being towed to the shop on Monday (today) so I'll know more in about 12 hours.

 

My mechanic says it's the input shaft seal. He had to order the part from Nissan and it won't be in until Thursday. The estimate on the job is 5.5 hours.

 

UPDATE: Crazy s**t here! A little background first - before buying the car (with 58,xxx miles), I spoke to the previous owner. He informed me that the clutch had been replaced. I thought that strange for that mileage but didn't question it.

My mechanic informed me that after removing the trans from the car he noticed that a bolt was missing from the pressure plate. He then found the bolt lying in the trans housing along with a hole in the trans housing the size of the bolt. There were also a lot of nicks where the bolt had bounced around.

Apparently the bolt wasn't tightened properly when the clutch was replaced and it worked it's way out. Then somehow it was "shot" through the trans housing allowing my MTF to leak out.

He's using some JB Weld to plug the hole and get me back on the road.

 

Proof to always inspect a used car and ask many questions. Some sellers are just trying to sell a car (actually most) and will hide Crap like that. I would not buy a car used if something was fishy but its good you will be back on the road and it will be fixed!

 

I bought it from a dealer. I spoke with the previous owner and he told me that the clutch had been replaced. I took it to Sears before I bought it and had them do a "multi-point inspection" but I don't think there's any way ANY inspection could have told me that a pressure plate bolt was loose. But yes, glad I'm back on the road.

 

Glad you got it fixed and are back on the road. When I bought my car 1.5 years ago the transmission had been taken out and a new 3rd gear synchro put in. I bought it and a couple months later I drained the tranny fluid and put in the nissan stuff because it was hard to shift when it was cold out. Ever since I changed fluids mine has been leaking between the case halves. Only way to fix this is to remove the trans, take it apart and reseal it. I'm really not looking forward to doing that.