My 06 just started leaking but I'm not 100% sure if it's oil or transmission fluid. Does anyone know what color the trans fluid will be? Used to almost always be red, but these days I'm not sure. My leak seems to be all around the transmission pan gasket. Has anyone had mass failure of gasket at once? Or maybe it's leaking in one spot and wrapping around. Another question, would it continue to leak while parked are just when running under pressure? Thanks.

 

Question #1 = Red

 

Yeah, reddish.

If the pan has ever been dropped, there is a good chance that it will leak forever.
If somebody took a wrench and started tightening the bolts, there is a good chance it will leak forever. The bolts MUST be torqued properly, if they are too tight the pan will been trashed.

Yes, it could be one spot and wrapping around, could drip while parked.

 

Thanks for responses. Pan has never been off the car. I got under it last night and there is no sign of any damage to the pan. Taking it to a mechanic this morning. Expect the worse and pray for the best. Stay tuned.

 

Well it has been diagnosed as a rear seal gone bad. I have over 191,000 miles on it. This is my first major maintenance. I think I'm doing better then most. Hope to have it back in a few days. I have to see it get to 200,000.

 

So I'm back on the road again. Rear seal fixed to the tune of $675. No drips in the garage this morning.

 

Like SwaintaN I will be adding the spin on filter to my HHR. I did the same thing to my Explorer with great results. The extra filtration pulls out the fine particles that build up to gum up the solenoids. I changed the filter every third oil change. After my second 100K miles I dropped the pan (not my first time) to change the filter and the trany was spotless and the fluid looked like it was just poured out of the bottle.
It is on the To Do list for my HHR now. I got my setup from Summit Racing although there are probably others available as well.

 

I got a quote from a dealer yesterday for a tranny fluid change: $256.00
I would think that would be for full evacuation of the old fluid??

 

Why would you "think" that? Get it in writing, or at least ask the service adviser. How would we know what the estimate is for? If you don't ask what you are getting for your money, you won't know for sure. Never assUme anything in a garage.

 

and at best they can't drain the torque converter!