Is there anyway I can specifically pinpoint a leak on my 727?

[WH23G3G]

I need to look into a few problems that has been keeping me from driving my 73 Charger for pretty much the last year or two. One main reason is a transmission leak but from exactly where I don't know. It's a remanufactured 727 but now many years old but maybe 100 miles or less on it since I've installed it. If it gets low you can tell because it doesn't want to shift. When I fill it up properly and drive it 10-15 miles and come back home everything looks good. Then I wait a week or two and decide to go and I look under the car and there's a decent sized puddle of transmission fluid but not major. I look all over the transmission and I always go back to thinking it's the pan gasket. I don't know how many times I've changed the pan gasket because I kept thinking that's what it was because I couldn't pinpoint the leakage. It definitely doesn't appear to be anywhere on the driver side where all the linkages are. That all appear to be dry. The rear seal isn't leaking and it's not leaking in the middle where the front pump would drip. It's on the passenger side corner down the flange of the pan. I even bought a new pan with the new plastic pan gasket hoping it would stop but still having the problem. Where's all the leak sources on a 727 column shift? I could take it to a transmission shop but if it's something I can at least identify first it will save some money in the diagnosis if I can't fix it.

[Chargen69]

dont know if this will help or not, but an easy thing to check is to make sure your dip stick is sealed good. 

[WH23G3G]

I'm not sure it is the right stick or tube. When I had it at the shop. The mechanic said he checked it and it showed way over full in neutral but it was shifting like it was low. He had to put four quarts of fluid in and then it shifted like it should but still showed the same on the stick. There was definitely a 727 in the car when I got back 2004 but don't know what it came out of. The motor was a 76 so maybe something from 76. So I don't know if the stick ever changed. But according to my parts manual at least in 1973 the dipstick was the same no matter what engine. The tube was different from a 727 and 904. I might need a new tube but where do I get one. I actually haven't been able to find a replacement.

[A383Wing]

shifter shaft seals would be my guess....those will leak down the case and make it look like the pan gasket is leaking

[Mopar Nut]

shifter shaft seals would be my guess....those will leak down the case and make it look like the pan gasket is leaking

It flows to the pass. side making look like it's leaking on that side. The shifter seal is easy to replace with the right tool, takes about 15 mins.

[Chargen69]

 

[BSB67]

My money is on the dipstick tube. Clean everything up real good.  Make sure the fluid is full.  Let it sit and keep an eye on it. You'll find it.

[stripedelete]

I have the same issue.  Mine also mimics a pan gasket.  It takes a while for the fluid in the torque converter to drain back into the trans.  That's why it takes a while for it to present itself after driving.

I'm going to pull trans and replace all seals and gaskets short of rebuilding it.

Try the search function.  There are several threads on this.

[ACUDANUT]

 I can assure you it's not likely from the dipstick tube.  These older 727's and 904's leak everywhere.  I have been fighting this problem for almost 30 years.  When you have a Transmission rebuilt, they do not replace every seal.  Good luck finding a cure.....I haven't. 

[BSB67]

I can assure you it's not likely from the dipstick tube.  These older 727's and 904's leak everywhere. 

Really.  I've experienced it, twice.   Heard of others that have too.   

And, I have not experienced the " These older 727s....leak everywhere"   

[WH23G3G]

This and other problems are really convincing me to just sell it. I don't have to and it was always a dream of mine to have a Charger but all it does is sit because of these problems. I try to find shops to work on it and no one knows how or wants to fool with. I've had since 2004 and got it on the road in 2008. I bet I haven't driven a total of 100 miles. It's got this never ending transmission leak, a power steering leak, a driveshaft vibration at 80, and excessive underhood temps causing fuel problems. I'm going to try and find this leak.

[John_Kunkel]

All of the above leak sources are common but the most insidious leak source is the rear band pivot pin O ring...hard to spot because it's just above the pan rail.

[flyinlow]

I measured the dipstick on one Charger from full to the stop where the dipstick rests against the tube is about 17" if that helps determine if you have the correct one.

Trans fluid drains back into the pan after shut down and the converter can sometimes partially drain back into the pan raising the level to where shift lever seal and dipstick leaks appear. A stock TF. will not recharge the converter in park. That is why you check the fluid level warmed up idling in neutral.

[John_Kunkel]

Even without drainback, both the dipstick O ring and the shift shaft seal are below the FULL level.

[ACUDANUT]

There are endless hours, if not maybe thousands of hours debating this issue.  But, nobody around here will promise and warranty a solution. 

[scratchinfotraction]

clean with brake clean and throw baby powder on it, it will slow the leak and show where it is leaking and where the windage  moves it.

[flyinlow]

Even without drainback, both the dipstick O ring and the shift shaft seal are below the FULL level.

Good to know. I have pulled the filler tube out on a car that had run an hour before and a qt. or more overflowed from the casting hole. Thought the shifter might be above the fluid level.

[BSB67]

There are endless hours, if not maybe thousands of hours debating this issue.  But, nobody around here will promise and warranty a solution. 

Debate what?

Promise and warranty from whom?  Just find it and fix it.   

[Kern Dog]

Many auto parts stores sell a dye that you add to the fluid. You run the dye awhile then take the supplied ultraviolet light and point it to the leaks. If you wiped the trans clean and see a wet area, the UV light will show the source.

[Chargen69]

Even without drainback, both the dipstick O ring and the shift shaft seal are below the FULL level.

i did not know that, thanks!

[375instroke]

Gunk Engine Brite it, and hose it off.  Try hooking a garden hose to the drain on the hot water tank if you can't hook up to hot water another way.  Try it on a warm trans that's cooled off a bit after driving it.  The heat will clean better, and dry off faster.  Then just get under there and keep looking, and feeling for oil.  The sooner you find some, the easier it is to see the source.  The converter can drain back into the pan, and even if the dipstick tube and shifter seals are under fluid normally, the fluid will be under greater pressure trying to leak out.  I see people at work use baby powder to locate fuel or hydraulic leaks.

[ACUDANUT]

There are endless hours, if not maybe thousands of hours debating this issue.  But, nobody around here will promise and warranty a solution. 

Debate what?

Promise and warranty from whom?  Just find it and fix it.   

I have given up.  I am willing to pay someone to fix my leaks. I just want more than a 7 day warranty on it.

[A383Wing]

I have had a leak on my trans in the Daytona for some time now....so I went to Schucks and got a spray can of carb clean and brake clean....I started up the car, ran until warm, checked and filled fluid to the full mark. Shut everything down and sprayed the trans with the carb & brake clean.....then blow dried everything off with my air hose

Went out a couple days later with my flashlight and a mirror to look for leaks.....

My shifter shaft seals are leaking and that rear band pivot pin on the rear of the trans housing is leaking....called my local trans shop that rebuilt the trans in the wife's PT Cruiser....he quoted me $200 to do the job on the 727.....think I'll take the car to him when the weather gets a bit better here