So I'm in a bit of a dilemma, there is a pretty obvious leak in the ascona b (1.2 S) by where the transmission (4-speed) and driveshaft meet up. I touched a thing where it looks like where the shifter goes and had red liquid residue on my finger. My guess is trans fluid.
Also the bottom half of the engine bay is disgustingly dirty. Normally I wouldn't care and I'd just drive it but because the inspections here are berkeleying retarded I need to clean it to pass. That and I'm sure it's probably leaking too, should fix it anyways.
So my question is, should I pull the engine and trans out to clean it? If so where should I lift it from?
Would it be easier to just buy a new to me motor and trans and swap it in?
Do I pull up my skirt and just work with what I've got?
If I work with what I got, I'll need some transmission experts to help figure out why the shift stalk has a bunch of liquid on it and where to look for leaks.
(Pics incoming)
First thing, is to be sure you can source gaskets and seals. I have exactly no experience with that particular engine and trans, but I would be money that every single thing that is supposed to retain fluid is hard as a rock, and is merely slowing the loss of fluid, not preventing it.
When its that dirty, you need to look for the clean spots. Those places are likely the source of the leak. remember to account for gravity and airflow. I can't tell you how many times people have told me they need a rear seal, because that's where the oil ends up. What they actually need may be a valve cover gasket... Start at the top, and work your way down
I'd wash they hell out of it, and then take it for a drive and recheck. You will probably find the most critical ones that way, but really, you likely need to reseal the whole damn thing.
The trans leak from the shift tower is probably from the vent. ATF might not be the designated fluid for that one, and being really thin, may fling around more than intended.
EDIT: Looking at the pics again, is the fluid on the shift tower in line with the rear seal on the trans? The mess on the floor looks like oil flinging off the trans output seal.
clean spots... no E36 M3, lol never thought of that but it makes perfect sense.
sourcing this stuff is a little difficult but thankfully y'all have given me enough pointers to figure it out eventually. supposedly all the 4 pots of this era are cih motors and very interchangeable in typical GM fashion.
as far as air flow and gravity im sure the drive shaft has been flinging fluid around the local area, ill be forced to borrow a pressure washer from someone locally since i dont want to but my own only to not have it work back home. (some strange reason only cheap ones i find are electrically powered much to my dismay)
unfortunately i could give you a confident answer on where the vent is etc, but the trans output part is IVO the shift tower. this link wont be up permanently but it has a good pic of the whole thing out of the car (2nd pic)
Red would typically indicate it takes (or at least is currently filled with) auto trans fluid, if that's the case maybe try changing the fluid to a "high mileage" ATF with seal conditions and whatnot in it and see if that stops/slows it down to an acceptable rate, Valvoline Maxlife is generally considered to be the good stuff. If it's actually supposed to be full of much thicker gear oil that alone might fix it.
You can change the output seal with the trans in the car if that's the problem, drop the driveshaft, carefully pry/hammer the old one out, carefully hammer the new one in, reinstall driveshaft, done.
What it sounds like I should do is figure out what oil/fluid should go in the car and fill it with that.
I'm gonna Google fu that, if it fails I'll be translating French. Or buying an English manual.
Oh and figuring out we the leaks are coming from as well.
I have found leaky seals and gaskets by building a few pounds of pressure in the motor(or in your case transmission) with a compressor, and going over the whole thing with a spray bottle of soapy water. Leaks will quickly show up as bubbles.
borrowed pressure washer. its 10pm over here so ill start tomorrow when i get out of work
Be careful with the pressure washer, avoid directly blasting seals and gaskets so you don't accidentally drive water into the engine or trans.
Try opelgt.com. I know not an Opel GT but the site has sub-forums for different models of Opels. Also the site is now plagued with lots of advertising now that it was bought out by a web company but still has a large database of maintenance manuals and info. There is an international Opel club now, an American website for it has classic opel in the address. Don't have a link to it at work now.
i check in there fairly often when i have issues. i usually get a response similar to, 'i dont have a 1.2 but here is a similar response to GRM'
classic opels has much slower responses but better/more knowledgeable people, from my personal experience.
i ended up finding a pressure washer and cleaned the ever living poo out of the bottom of it. from the french manual i have i saw SAE 10w-40 and a couple other number i dont quite recognize under motor 'lubrifrants.'
tomorrow im off to buy the oil and diff fluid, then to wait and watch for leaks.
wlkelley3/BrokenYugo/and i think Streetwiseguy y'all are consistently helping me with my opel project. i'll buy ya a beer if we ever cross pathes
