My trans has developed a slow drip, occasionally leaves a drop on the garage floor. From what I can tell it's leaking from the little 2-wire box/harness that's on the right rear corner (behind the fill plug). Is this the infamous leaking harness?

What part do I need to get to replace this?

Figure it will be time for a fluid and filter change (67k miles) so timing is good for this problem (if there could be such a thing). I've bookmarked some other threads on the trans fluid change. Am I correct that some folks have used Valvoline or some other brand synthetic ATF with no issues on this ZF box?

Thanks,
-Michael

 

The connector is a common source of the leak and I replace them often.

http://www.thectsc.com/images/pdf/th...eplacement.pdf

I use ZF Lifeguard 6 Transmission Fluid but people use whatever they want.
If after contaminating the system with different fluid you experience the 'bark/squeak' or other shift anomalies, you will know what caused it.

On the other hand, you will save maybe a hundred dollars using alternate fluids.

All sorts of opinions but that is what makes a forum.

bob gauff

 

Thank you! That's very helpful info.

I'll have to look again, that 15 pin round connector is not what I saw on the back of my trans. What I was looking at was 2 wires and a square connector. But definitely on the rear right of the trans, in the spot that round connector is supposed to be. Or maybe I need to look up higher. Is there a smaller harness under the big round one?

So the sleeve is what I need to replace, the rest of the valve body/harness connector is kept?

I'll probably stay with the OE fluid just because I don't want to do this job again.

 

It's very tight in that area and even on a lift it's hard to see.


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Yep, that's it! So can that sleeve be replaced with the trans in the car?

 

Yes but only with the pan removed. So do it with the fluid/pan change.

As Bob's pictures show there is a white plastic tab on the valve body (Mechatronic is what ZF calls it). This allow the sleeve to be pulled out from the outside once the wire harness is unscrewed. I have found just unscrewing the harness is pretty hard too and it's plastic.
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Ah, I see now. I missed that when I looked over the PDF in Bob's reply. Well, I'll add all of that to my to-do list. Thank you all for the help!

 

The sleeve comes with the outside o-ring that seals the sleeve to the housing. There is also an inside o-ring that seals the wire bundle to the sleeve. You must purchase that one separately.

 

That's a good point and the outside one can be reused as it is not known for leaking.
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