Hey all, got a question 04 cavalier Ls sedan 2.2 eco 4 speed auto approximately 136k on it got a tranny pan gasket leak. My question is is it pretty common on our cars for those gaskets to start leaking, and the other is does it have the potential to be a major problem or is it simply a matter of grabbing the gasket replacing it and hola leak is now history. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

With that many miles, it is not uncommon to have a leaky pan gasket. Sometimes you can just tighten the bolts up a little, but again with the miles you have, I would drop the pan, clean it and change the fluid and filter while you're in there. A filter and gasket kit is less than $20 so it is cheap insurance.

Perfect, thanks so much for the help Chris that's exactly what i needed to know. I was hoping a relatively cheap fix, i'm overdue for a tranny flush anyway though some people on here don't recommend flushing the transmission on our cars. But i may go ahead and have that done while the gaskets being done, Can you get the gasket/filter kit through places like autozone etc or is it a dealer only part.

Make sure to clean the contact surfaces really good unless you want to do the job twice, tighten the bolts evenly and do a criss cross type method.

If just go around the pan and dont criss cross, you will end up with a leak as well


- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Resist the urge to really TIGHTEN those pan bolts, you can and will distort the pan and it will always leak! Use a torque wrench on them. The sealing flange on the bolt should also not be deformed or it won't seal properly.

Dave

David Keevil has given important advice, and if someone previously over-tightened those pan bolts

and warped the edges anywhere around the pan flange, you'll need to take the pan off to

use a wide flat punch, a flat surface, and a hammer to pound and straighten the damage.


Also, whatever you do please try to save and re-use the original GM pan gasket. That

gasket can be re-used and is much superior to replacements available at most auto supply

stores. If I remember correctly, the GM dealership price for the gasket is around $52.00.

It's the best gasket, bar none.

Ok Leland, well if the original gm pan gasket is leaking you can't really re-use a leaking gasket so i'm gonna wind up with a new gasket anyway. You say Gm dealership price for the gasket is around $52, so say theoretically i go that route can anyone give me a ballpark figure of what it might cost labor included if i had them do it. Plus i heard someone say once, if you buy the part yourself your out of luck as far as warranty goes vs if the dealer gets their own part you have a warranty in case something goes bad. Is that true would i save a little more on the price if i bought the part myself.

Bill, let me emphasize, that GM neoprene gasket is super thick. Please try to re-use it if you can.

If it's leaking it could be the warpage of the pan.


No, I wouldn't go to the dealer. There are plenty of transmission repair shops that can handle a

simple fluid change and know how to fix leaks without running up a high bill.


There's a square magnet placed by the factory at the bottom of the transmission pan. If you

ask politely, the transmission shop may have a couple of extra of those magnets. Ask if they'll

put them in. This will help trap more wear particles to give longivity to the transmission.

there's a place here in Phoenix Leland, it's called super discount transmissions i wonder if there somebody that would be willing to do it. Thing of it is, i'm out of work right now having been laid off last week so however i do this i need to find someone willing to do it for super cheap. Because my unemployment is only $145 a week which isn't much, and i'm envisioning a repair bill of close to $200 if not more if i don't do this right. That kind of work is not something i would trust my judgment on, worst case scenario if i do nothing about how long would i have approximately before the tranny goes away entirely. I wasn't too thrilled when i talked to the guy and he couldn't give me a price estimate without taking it apart, someone said a gasket and filter kit is about $20 or so wonder if that would be the better route to go since i am strapped for cash. I'm at a loss on this one, i'm probably fast running out of time the longer i wait but need a reasonable price too.

Now granted, if i can find someone that can fix the leak without having to replace the gasket but that is probably gonna be a huge long shot.

Bill, I can understand ... please give me a little "listen" and I'll tell you what I'd do ...(and I've been unemployed, too).


If you don't have a pair of ramps to raise the car so that you can crawl under there, see if you can rent or borrow some.

This is a "oily-dirty job" because you have to unbolt and lift an oil pan fill of fluid, and I guarantee there'll be lots

of spillage.


If you're willing to get dirty, get back. You and "I" will fix your problem, It's messy, that's all.

Bill, this is NOT a discussion about gaskets. Those auto supply gaskets will work very well if

someone knows how to get fluid pan flanges flat and into good mating surfaces. They are

simple cork-type, but I'm saying you're better off with something better.


If you know someone who could help you, ask for a favor.

I see what your saying Leland, i think that's the route i'm gonna wind up going with this make a phone call and see about getting this done. Because i don't have ramps and if i knew someone particularly someone from the org, that lived near me that knew about this stuff i could probably get it done for nothing. But since that's not the case, although Alex currington i believe it was was coming to town he was staying in avondale which isn't but about 20 minutes from me but that was like a few years back. He was gonna try and do my timing chain, but he dissappeared and i haven't heard from him since so i'm gonna wind up calling that super discount transmission shop and hopefully they can get it done and salvage the original gasket. I'm thinking too that that may cut the cost considerably if they can salvage the original gasket.

Bill, I'm saddened that you're unable to do more....that transmission shop works by the hour....

Do you actually believe they're trained to save pan gaskets ?


No, they'll just zip in a new one, and if there's no leaks, o'boy, they're done.


I wish you well, and may the gods of lucky car owners give you their blessing.

Thanks Leland i'll figure this out, may take some doing may have to put it off for a little while btw and i doubt this makes a difference or not but i'm pretty sure it's an internal leak since i haven't seen any puddles on the ground under the car.

"it's an internal leak" - Congratulations...you've just discovered the only automatic transmission

that's had "internal leaks"... Hurray ! !


(This may get me banned from J-Body maintenance forum. So be it.)

i doubt it, i'm sure there are probably thousands of others out there.

How bad is it leaking!

If it is just a few drips or seepage, it will be a LOT cheaper to check the trans fluid level once a week or so and add a qt of oil as needed until you get a job. Sure, you'll have a small puddle or a few drips here an there.

Just keep an eye on it.

Dave

From what i can tell dave, the leak doesn't appear to be massive so i'm just gonna continue to keep an eye on it and baby the transmission as much as i can till circumstances change

Bill wrote:From what i can tell dave, the leak doesn't appear to be massive so i'm just gonna continue to keep an eye on it and baby the transmission as much as i can till circumstances change

Well if chance brings you to NJ, let me know, I'll fix it up for ya!!! Always room for one more car to fix.

Dave

I'll Keep that in mind Dave Likewise for you if you ever come to town hit me up.