captcashew

No, I've mostly had your usual daily driver types of cars. Domestic and foreign. Unless you count a mid-70's Winnebago.

Yeah, we had a mild winter and I really did want to drive it at least a few times over the last few months. But I did the same as what the previous owner did for the 4 winters before and I'm pretty sure he kept it in an unheated garage. There probably wasn't much fluctuation in temperature where I keep it, but who knows. Live and learn, I guess.

Bill Ball

If most of the dripping is from the reservoir area, then either the reservoir cap came loose or the overflow hose split or came off the top of the reservoir. This would drip worse when sitting than when driving as the trans pump sucks fluid out of the reservoir when the motor is running. Anything else, like a loose hose fitting or bad seal, would be far worse when driving than when sitting in the garage. So, for example, a bad seal on the torque converter would not leak much at all with the car sitting overnight in the garage, but would leak like crazy when the motor is running.

captcashew

I finally got under it. Hard to get the light at the back of the reservoir right to see the level, but it sure looks like it is more or less empty. The cap is on just fine. Hard to see exactly where the leak is coming from, but the drip seems to be coming form the back of the reservoir area and even along the bottom of what I assume is the transmission. It's doing a drop about every 30 seconds or so. I cleaned up the mess as best I can while squeezing under there and put a paint pan down to make sure it catches any more. Not much more has fallen in there since a few hours ago.

So instead of risking it with filling up the reservoir again, I think I'll just play it safe and take it to the local porsche guy that was recommended to me. I could always take it to the local porsche dealer, but sounds like this guy is pretty good and active on message boards, etc.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I hope it's nothing serious but I'll update later if anyone wants.

GuardsRedHammerhead

Get under there and fix it!! LOL!! Just kidding. Hope you get it sorted out. Nothing worse than having a sick shark.

Bill Ball

With the engine off for any significant amount of time, the reservoir SHOULD be completely full. Of course, if the reservoir is cracked on the bottom, you could lose all the fluid. I doubt anything like that is the case, as the tranny will start to shift very poorly after only losing a small amount of fluid. Can you see a definite fluid line in the reservoir? It may be completely full, as it should be unless you just ran the motor beforehand.

There is an o-ring inside the connection between the reservoir and the tube coming out the back of the pan. It's famous for leaking, but just a small drip wetting that area.

captcashew

I am chicken. I admit it. I'll do smaller projects on it (I added 3 point seat belts to the rear so that I could let my kids drive around with me), but anything that risks breaking something like the transmission takes me a bit out of my comfort level.

I'm hoping it's just a seal or a cracked hose or something. I've seen the reservoir before full, so I have a good idea of what it should look like. But based on the amount on the floor and what the reservoir looks like now (although I never could get the flashlight at a great angle to show through it), I'm pretty sure it is almost empty now. And that is with the engine off. So, I'm going to play it safe and have a pro check it out. I'm wimping out, I know, but figure it is the safest call.

Bill Ball

VERY highly unlikely it is anywhere near empty. The total tranny fluid volume is 12 quarts. About 6-7 of that returns to the pan and reservoir when the engine if off. The rest stays in the torque converter and the cooler and cooler lines. You haven't lost 6-7 quarts. That's the only way the reservoir would be empty. The tranny wouldn't shift properly with even a quart loss. Regardless, take it to your pro mechanic and let him find and fix the problem. Also, the fluid and filter should be changed every 30K miles. So, that should be done if it's anywhere near that mileage.

NoVector

On a positive note, since the fluid hasn't been flushed since you've owned the car, you'll be able to check that off the "to do" list for the next 2 years as they will probably have to drain the system to fix the leak. You could have them drain the differential too if you don't know the last time that fluid was dumped. Preventive maintenance saves a lot of money in the long run. Good luck!

BTW - I didn't see in the thread where you live but was curious if you've had any big temperature swings lately.

captcashew

Yeah, pretty good temp swings. I'm in Iowa.

And I was already thinking that about the only fluid that the previous owner hadn't flushed I think was the ATF, so that takes care of one thing. Or maybe it was the differential, but I'm pretty sure it was the ATF. I still keep in touch with him so it can be handy to refresh my memory instead of going through the file of receipts, etc.

captcashew

OK, so here is an update from way back. What ended up happening was it was a leak from the ATF reservoir. I ended up having it taken up on a flatbed to a porsche mechanic about 25 miles away. He said it just seemed to be a hose or something that started leaking. All he needed to do was tighten it up. it's been a while, so I can't remember exactly what he said.

So everything was fine and I haven't had even a drip come out for the last 11 months. Until yesterday I noticed the leak again and I assume the exact same thing is happening. It was another cold snap over the last week and even though our garage is attached, it can still get pretty cold in there. I've even been driving it more this winter and left the insurance on it, but haven't had much chance in the last 4-6 weeks.

I've left a message with the mechanic to see if he remembers exactly what the issue was and I was thinking I'd order a replacement hose or seal if I can have him help me point out which one it was and I can find that part number. I can't see exactly what it would be just by looking in the parts catalog. So I just want to check with him.

But on the plus side, since last year, I've gotten my liftbars and have jacked up the car on lift stands, so I just need to move it a bit when the weather gets warmer (it can't be jacked up where it is now without having the nose hit a work bench it parks under in the front). I was planning on doing a coolant flush this spring anyway. Guess my list of items to work on is starting to grow already.

captcashew

OK, finally got to jack up the 928 and look under it and refill. Everything was looking good, I was just checking the fluid level, didn't seem to be leaking too much. i was just about done when I was lying under and looked up on the driver side of the transmission pan (more towards the front but on the driver side) when I saw the photo below. Is it just me or does that look like a split line? Seems to have some fluid coming out of it but it's not like it's gushing so I'm not sure if that could be leaking down from up above. Any ideas or suggestions? That line seems to go to the back and up to the top somewhere. I imagine it will be a pain to replace.

ammonman

If you are referring to the split in the piece held by the zip tie then no, that's not your leak. That is the wiring for the transmission protection switch. More likely is the pipe and hose immediately above the protection switch. In your picture it is at the top left visible just adjacent to the two bracket bolts and below the boot for the gear selector cable. That is the trans fluid supply to the cooler at the front of the car. The ferrule that is holding the hose onto the metal pipe appears wet with fluid. Looks like it's time to R&R all the flexible cooler line bits from front to back. Some use new hose and two hose clamps per connection to replace these hoses. Personally I'm not comfortable with this kind of repair so I found a local shop that could install new hose with crimped ferrules to basically rebuild the factory lines. Since trans fluid is flammable this needs to be addressed before the leak leads to a fire from fluid contacting the cats or other hot exhaust components.

Mike

pcar928fan

One of mine was doing that... Needed the TC O-ring seal! After it had already been done (perhaps incorrectly or with one that had a nick in it) and man that thing would just make a big damn mess all over my garage floor. Welcome to my world! Good luck with the repair. Hope it goes well.

captcashew

Thanks, that was another suspect since I did see some fluid on that too. How much of a pain is it to get to that? Do I need to pull a bunch out or is it just tricky but more or less something you can get to without removing a ton of crap?

Just to be sure, you are referring to the part of the pic that is circled in red below, right?

Bill Ball

The red circled item is a fluid supply line joint, so, yes, that could be a leak source, but it would be worse when driving than sitting. It appears that joint is leaking a bit, wetting the area, but I doubt it's the source of your puddle after sitting.

You mentioned the meachanic dealt with a hose near the reservoir. That was probably the overflow hose that attaches to the top of the reservoir. It's hard to see, although you might get a glimpse of it from the rear of the reservoir. It goes from the reservoir up to the side of the tranny about 4 or 5 inches. That hose should not have a clamp on it - it seems the mechanic may have put one on. The hose is may be split. That's just my guess from your update post. Is there fluid on the bottom of the reservoir?