fhorta

Noticed coolant leak right where tranny and engine meet. Everything seems to indicate rear freeze plug? Ideas, suggestions, how to guides please..

RedRoadRunner

Maybe, maybe not. I have seen mine leak on the drivers side between the trans and motor. I was concerned.
Turned out to be the water pump. Jeep engines sit lower in the back, fluids flow down...

cruiser54

Pressure test the cooling system and find the leak.

fhorta

Ok. Sounds good. I hate to ask how to pressure test ? I have the haynes manual, air compressor...a pressure gauge. Hoses, adapters, manifold gauge for AC servicing. Hopefully i have what i need. Also, what would i be looking for on this test to indicate where leak is at? Thanks and sorry.

MrTodd

Go to a big box parts store in your area. The loaner or rental is free. Pick up a coolant system pressure test kit. Be wary, though, as the pump in the kit I was loaned had a small leak of it's own. I could hear air escaping through the attached hose! You can read the procedure in the FSM or online for your specific needs.

MrTodd

BlueRidgeMark

Throw it out. It has just enough good info to suck you in, and then it leaves you high and dry without that last piece of critical information you need, OR, worse, it gives you WRONG information. Chilton is just as bad. Both are trash.

fhorta

Good to know. So I got the pressure test kit at autozone. Rented it. So when I pressurize system, what would indicate to me which plug is the one leaking of the ones in the rear?

Looking into it closer, the leak is coming from the oil pan joint. Kind of like where the oil pan gasket would set. Then from there the coolant trickles down to the bell housing so makes it appear as if leaking from bell housing. Would this still indicate bad freeze plugs in the rear? Just want to be sure before pulling tranny. I got the extension magnet tool with mirror attached. How exactly would I use that to find leak with LED light?

cruiser54

It's gotta be the freeze plugs in the block, or MAYBE the one in the back of the head....

fhorta

If the one in back of the head is the upper most one of the rear ones, it's not that one. I can see that one from where i lay and it's not leaking.Did pressure test and leak still coming from same place. The leak is coming from somewhere inside where the tranny and engine meet. Of course, can't see in there without removing tranny. I guess off the tranny goes

cruiser54

Get your work clothes on.......

BlueRidgeMark

Noggin pokin time, Cruiser?


And maybe an inspection mirror, or a USB bore scope. Mine cost a whopping twenty bucks.

cruiser54

Yup!!

The only way you're gonna find what you're looking for is to GO LOOK!

Around the Jeep that is. In these parts, we call it "noggin pokin".

That's where you use your God given senses to inspect YOUR Jeep for problems. We can only provide you with guidance as to where to poke your noggin.

There's no Silver Bullet cure you're gonna find from a keyboard, mouse and monitor.

fhorta

Thanks. I'm now at the point of prepping to lower tranny. The first main snagg is removing the exhaust pipe which happens to be right underneath tranny. The bolts that attach front section of exhaust with rear are like welded on or soo rusted that seems to be welded on. Any ideas suggestions? It seems viable options here are to grind bolts off and drill out. Or saw off then weld back on together or clamp them together. Does that sound about right? Or might there be other way to get that exhast out of the way?

BlueRidgeMark

C4, det cord, or cut and drill the bolts.

fhorta

So looks like this exhaust tail pipe stays together. I was thinking it's supposed to split halfway. I see a pair of bolts holding the hanger, which is holding pipe towards the back of tail pipe. Gone loosen those and hopefully pull it out from behind as a whole unit.