AC is out due to a huge leak, so I haven't driven the XJR in about 2 weeks. Decided I've waited long enough and needed to start it to drive it onto the ramps. Was hard to start, almost sounded low on compression or maybe like it was flooded...cranked it with my foot on the floor and it eventually started, doesn't seem like a low battery. Took it for a ride to warm it fully and boil off any condensation on the engine oil, exhaust, etc., drove great, no issues. Got home, put it up on the ramps and shut it down, noticed a clearing-ish fluid dripping underneath and climbed under to investigate, it looks like the trans is leaking. The fluid looks clear on the floor, but you can see in the photo its got a reddish hue to it, so it might be my imagination. Looks like its coming from a weird spot though and I'm wondering if I'm in for some trouble here. Photo attached, any thoughts or suggestions? Its not a great photo, its a screengrab from a video I took at arm's length because it was very hot under there. Looks like its well above the pan gasket to me. I have a trans service kit from Eeuroparts, new pan gasket, filter, etc sitting on the shelf so I'm fine with doing a basic service, but I'm wondering if this is something that might be more problematic. I've never serviced the trans, I've put about 60k miles on it since I bought it a few years ago, usually daily driven, around 184,000 miles now. I have checked the trans fluid in the past and it was good, haven't checked it lately. I need to poke around some more now that its cooled off and see where its seeping out, maybe I'll be lucky and it'll be the electrical connector at the front blew its seal.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Please find and read ALL TSBs related to your car.
You will likely find answers to questions you have not even asked yet.

Gearbox TSB has info on a common leak.

I even gave this to a RAM truck buddy that had a problem. (same basic gearbox)

 

Are you sure that’s not coolant? It looks very similar to coolant in your picture.

it may also be worth checking your power steering lines as some PAS fluids are red in colour.

 

It was the marginal battery that caused it to try and flood itself. You counteracted the flooding by putting your foot to the floor.

 

Thanks Bob for that TSB, that connector was what I was thinking (or hoping). I'll get back under there probably on the weekend to inspect it more carefully.

Stu, I think I'm way too far aft for it to be coolant, but its a good guess. I need to get a sample and see if its oily or watery. I can't see it being a PS leak though, its way too far away from that system...if it leaked enough PS fluid to get to the trans oil pan, the PS would be nearly dry.

Addicted, thanks. Thats about what I was thinking. Might be getting near time for a battery, I haven't replaced it before and I've had the car for 3 years now, I want to say the battery was less than a year old when i bought it, so probably closing in on 4 years old now.

 

Further from Stu's coolant hypothesis - the octopus hose can have leaks that manifest on top of the trans, have a peep with a flashlight.

More likely the seal and loom connection to the trans though if it's red tinted.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the octopus hose since its right there and looks like a pain in the fanny to change. I did peek under last night and saw that the very bottom of the bellhousing is damp as well, so I bet it is coolant.

Time, as always, is the limiting factor, but I'll get to it.

 

I thought it might be coolant. Whilst being quite far back at the transmission the momentum of the car will have helped the fluid find its way there and the shape of the bell housing will have guided it too! But the dreaded octopus hose could likely be the culprit! Always troublesome items!

 

I can't recall if I said, my recent coolant leak was an O-ring on the thin hard bleed hoses. Depending on how I'd parked (there's a hole in my drive) if the nose was slightly high I'd find the occasional drip at the back of the block as it'd trickled down the middle of the Vee.

 

Hooli, where was that exactly?

Definitely seems to be a coolant leak. Not sure if its the octpus though, the norma connector by the right side of the throttle body seems dry, but theres a bit of a pool of coolant (i think) in the little indentation in the front of the intake elbow. With the hood closed and i drive the car, i get a bit of steam out of the right headlight area, open the hood i cant find the steam, so it seems like a small leak, but probably shouldn't drive it.

Got a pic with my endoscope, this is down towards the intake elbow on the right side, near the throttle body. Valley coolant leak maybe? The ick on the paper towel does not have an odor so i don't think its oil.

Thoughts?

 

You can remove the supercharger with the charge coolers in place to access those hoses - there's a company here in the UK, I think Swallow Racing, that produce a silicone replacement, but only one side! You will probably have better luck USA side for an upgrade - there was a few XJR/KR's sporting full silicone hose kits on here, I always hankered after but never got around to getting because the OE hoses are 20 year good. I need to do mine too if that's any consolation.

 

From memory, as a garage found it not me.... I just couldn't see it, but they pressure tested it to 2bar & said it was an obvious leak then.

About halfway forward on the LH side of the engine (when sat in the car) and between the charge cooler & supercharger the bleed hose on mine has a join & that was leaking. Further forward it then curves around the LH side of the rad and plugs in behind the grill to something I've not worked out as never needed to get in there.

 

So, assuming I'm looking at a leaky valley coolant line, it stands to reason there are a number of "while you're in there" things to do. Anyone keep a handy list?

- Valley coolant line(s).
- Knock sensors.
- Part load breather line.
- Cleaning.
- Supercharger coupler and oil change while its on the bench.
- Think the coolant has to be drained and the hoses on the charge air coolers need to come off for the supercharger to come out, right? Replace those hoses too?

What else? If I'm going to pull it all apart, might as well do it once and do it right.