Sean Nugent

Hey all 1983 280 zx automatic. I seem to have a transmission fluid leak in my transmission line underneath the passenger seat. I have a question.

In the 1983 was there a line that would cool the transmission as well from radiator? i see a cut house in the engine bay . The previous owner put an aluminum radiator in behind the original and i am (guessing) this is what the line was for.

Any options out there about the replacement line to the transmission?


New to this Z thing and working to get jack stands and tools ASAP!

Thanks all

Sean

ken99

First of all, go to XenonS130 - S130 Reference and download the '83 factory service manual. Yes, you need to get the car up on jack stands and locate the leak. The cut line you speak of is likely one of the old lines connecting the cooling lines of the tranny to the old radiator. If the line was active, the entire fluid contents of the tranny would be pumped onto the ground within minutes.

Using the schematics in the FSM, locate the two cooling lines where they connect to the tranny. Trace them forward. You should find they are connected to the new radiator or the PO installed a dedicated oil cooler for the tranny. Under pressure, it doesn't take much of a pin hole to look like a big leak.

Sean Nugent

Hey Ken! Thanks so much for the reply. I will be getting jack stands this week. is there much to the install? where do you recommend i get replacement lines? IM not gunna drive the car till its fixed, don't want to keep putting atf in it just for it to leak.

Much appreciated,

Sean

ken99

You are welcome. I see you've sent out an inquiry regarding cooling line replacements. My advice is to diagnose the problem before ordering parts. There are plenty of other places an automatic can leak from besides the cooling lines. Could be a deformed lip or bad gasket on the oil pan. I think your tranny is an earlier version of the JATCO unit used in the Z31. The automatic in the Z31s (including my own) are notorious for leaking at the oil seal in pinion gear adapter where the speedometer cable attaches. Can actually bleed ATF to the speedometer (which usually ruins the unit), but the speedometer cable housing is exposed along the passenger side frame rail and often has holes in it from road wear and tear. Hence, the ATF leaks out on the passenger side of the car. If your cooling lines have actually been left open, I'd be more worried about the condition of the tranny but at this point it is what it is. You'll just have to fix the leaks and see how well it performs with the ATF topped off.