G/box: 4T65AWD: xc90 2.4ltr, 2005 year. Semi-auto gearbox leak

[Mike1979]

bought xc90 two weeks ago, 1/2 way through first week, TRANSMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED message on dashboard. Noticed oil stain on driveway, checked underneath, yes oil dripping, gearbox oil.
Took car to local garage, remove engine / sump guard, cloth rags balled up between engine and guard. All pressure washed, run engine, no sign of oil leaking / dripping.
Take car out for a run, still no sign of leaking oil, then silicone spied acting as a plug in bell housing weep hole, remove plug, oil pouring out of weep hole.

Thats as far as we have gotten. Obviously a leak from somewhere inside the bell housing area, anyone got any suggestions?

Plan would be to remove gearbox / bell housing and investigate further. Was also noted that all sealing faces have sealant on them as in this box has been looked at before.
Replacement boxes are pricey and then theres the time aspect.

[colinbos]

Id be taking that back to the seller, unless it was a private deal ?

[Mike1979]

It was a private deal. Guy had only owned it for three weeks, said it was his wifes car and she did not like driving it. Me thinks he knew a bit more....................

[Simmy]

Originally Posted by Mike1979

It was a private deal. Guy had only owned it for three weeks, said it was his wifes car and she did not like driving it. Me thinks he knew a bit more....................

might be a core plug in engine oil galery d5 well known for this problem

[Mike1979]

Simmy,
Thank you muchly for the advise. I suppose by nature this leak would be hard to find?

[Mike1979]

Simmy,
Thank you for the advise, i take it a leak of this nature would be hard to trace?

[JamesG1980]

I've just gone through this pain myself, with my core plug having popped out due to it being the original rubber coated one.

to get to it, its a subframe out, gearbox off job (this is what i did), or you can take the engine minus the gearbox out the top. either way its a lot of work.

do you know if it is gearbox or engine oil? gearbox oil will be red in colour or if its old and dark in colour, it should have a red hue to it when you dab some on a paper towel.

if its gearbox oil its likely the seal between the gearbox and torque converter.

if its engine oil, i'd put money on the core plug, though could be the rear main seal.

either way, if oil is pouring out of the weep hole at the bottom, between the gearbox and block it will almost certainly be one of those 3 things.

[Mike1979]

James,
Thank you for the information, the garage say its redish oil, i was underneath it too and can confirm this. So gearbox oil it is. If its the seal between the gearbox and T/C then can this work be carried out easily enough as opposed to going down the route of finding a autogearbox specialist or a volvo garage and their costs.

[Mike1979]

Thank you for your reply, its definitely gear box oil as has a red colouring to it. It's been suggested it could be the seal between the grearbox and the torque converter.
Is this a easy replacement if its this seal thats leaking? As in dont need to go to an auto gearbox specialist to have the work done. The auto gear box is working well apart from the TRANMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED warning light coming on on the dash. Which will indicate low oil level.
Was quoted £2500 to recondition the gearbox but its the leak that needs addressing not a recon.

[bg27lp]

Hi just wondered if you ever got to the bottom of this.
I am supposed to pick my 17 plate D5 up next week. The garage (not Volvo)have just informed me they have found an oil leak from the bell housing.

I know nothing about cars. Should I be worried/give it a miss. Or is it a Fairly routine job to fix that’s shouldn’t give me any future worries?

Thanks In advance