mwpayne

I have a small leak coming out of a hole on the tranny. It's definitely anti-freeze (green). If you're underneath the car, the hole is just to the right of the bottom starter bolt. The hole looks factory, but I can't understand why coolant is coming out there...perhaps a screw is missing?
I have pics, but of course can't upload them..damn forum.
I can email them if someone would be kind enough to diagnose my problem.
Thanks!

hanman

Are you sure it isn't a coolant hose leaking at the back of the engine and running down the bell housing to that point?

excitingleopard

Yeah, the coolant could have dripped from a hose onto/into the transmission. My advice would be to do a more thorough inspection.

LongDuck

If it's that far back, you're probably looking at a coolant leak from one of the heater hoses that enters the firewall just above the exhaust headers (pass side), or leaking down from the hot water inlet that leads to the carb (IIRC, my SE has lines from waterpump to the TB).

If these are leaking, they can leak down through the inspection port at the top of the transmission, down the INSIDE of the bell housing, and result as a leak at the bottom of the bell-housing.

You will NOT want to plug this at the bottom, however, as this will trap the coolant in the transmission housing (clutch, pressureplate, etc.) and lead to much larger problems.

Very cautiously, feel around the rubber hoses at the rear of the engine above the transmission and you should be able to find the wet hose pretty fast. Good luck,

mwpayne

I actually have ordered all new heater/radiator hoses from mazda today. I'll replace them, bet that'll take care of it.
Thanks everyone!
BTW, what's that hole for, anyway?

Swolbynos

i aws thinking the same thing when i was putting my starter back on the other day does anyone know?

poweRX-7

the hole in the bottom of the bellhousing is for inspecting the flywheel... if that is what you are talking about.

buzz

if it is coolant leaking out of the little hole in the bottom of the bellhousing it could be from a broken or loose through bolt. I just discovered one of mine is broken and it has been leaking a tiny amount of coolant into the flywheel / clutch area, and dripping from the little hole in the bottom of the bellhousing. The drain hole is like only 1/8 or 1/4" big.

mwpayne

Ok, what exactly and where is the 'through bolt'?

buzz

I mean the tension bolts / through bolts, ie: big ar$e suckers that hold the plates of the engine together.

The engine plates and housings are all sandwiched together and located by dowels, but a pile of 18 bolts run forwards through the full length of the engine holding it all together. Between the head of the bolt and the back of the rear side plate (aka end housing) are little rubber seals, they fit onto the bolt and get sandwiched when tightened to prevent any fluid leaks.

In addition to leaking water I found my broken bolt head had been sliding out and rubbing the flat surface of the head of the bolt onto the back of the flywheel.

Mark