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2012 Auto? MUST READ-Trans line rub causes leaks!

16K views 61 replies 38 participants last post by  flyfish29 
#1 ·
My 2012 JKU had a major transmission line leak at 5,000 miles.

The tech said it was due to power steering line rubbing against the transmission line behind the drivers side wheel well. When he installed the new trans line he bent it away from the power steering line and applied some foam to protect it. He said had he installed it stock it would have likely rubbed through again. (Service report is below)

Below are pictures of where the leak occurs (according to my internet search this is becoming all too common on the new 2012 autos)

One picture is of the differential cover paint which was taken off from the hot trans fluid leak. (picture is upside down)

I checked the four 2012 autos on the dealer lot and 2 out of 4 were touching and will likely rub together and in my opinion may leak as well! :doh:

So check your lines and make sure they are not touching. If they are, you might want to talk to a service tech to see i they can prevent a leak.:thumbsup:
 

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#6 · (Edited)
As I understand it my leak was at two places- at the entry into the radiator and on the line- so as long as they are not rubbing then I would think you should be good.
 
#10 ·
EVERYONE SHOULD SKIP LOOKING AT MY PICTURES AND JUST CHECK INSDE THEIR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL AND COMPARE TO THE ATTACHED PICTURE IN THIS POST WITH THE RED ARROW. (This pic is of another Jeep which is what yours will likely look like.)

(My service tech must have repositioned those two electrical conduits and tied them to the frame with a cable tie therefore blocking my view. Everyone else should have a clear view of the lines by pulling back the wheel well plastic shell and checking for clearance between ALL THREE LINES THERE.)
 

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#14 · (Edited)
Checked mine carefully. The lines are not even close to rubbing. I can get a full finger width or more in the space all the way along.

Must be the luck of the draw and who assembled what on which day......


Edit: I should add that I found it much easier to stick your hand in there and feel along each line. I couldn't see much of anything. It's really crowded in there. Those conduits are in the way!

...My service tech must have repositioned those two electrical conduits and tied them to the frame with a cable tie therefore blocking my view. ...
 
#17 ·
Went out and took a few photos of my Jeep to help out. Fortunately I don't have the rubbing issue, but I think I'm going to install a rubber wrap around the transmission line as a precaution. There's about a 1/2 inch gap between the two on my Jeep.

*edit* My jeep is a 2012 Unlimited Rubicon. It's lifted, but that shouldn't affect the issue at hand.



 
#18 ·
Metonymy said:
Went out and took a few photos of my Jeep to help out. Fortunately I don't have the rubbing issue, but I think I'm going to install a rubber wrap around the transmission line as a precaution. There's about a 1/2 inch gap between the two on my Jeep.

*edit* My jeep is a 2012 Unlimited Rubicon. It's lifted, but that shouldn't affect the issue at hand.
Thats what mine looks like too. Plenty of room. By the way i did have a trans line on my tj do this and spray on the exhaust. I caught it because of the smell and all the smoke in the rearview and grabbed a flatbed home. Guess i got lucky....
 
#24 ·
Took 5 minutes to go out and check mine.

They were touching but not rubbing (yet)

I fat-fingered it for a minute and now they aint touching. Looks like a dandy place to apply my first duct-tape mod on my 12 jku (probably not the last).

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and saving some of us several hours of misery. Yeah, its covered under warranty. But that dont matter much if your standing on the side of a road or trail trying to figure out how to scoop up that precious red fluid off the ground and get it back in the reservoir so you can make it another mile or two.

Love this forum.
 
#26 ·
Vroooom said:
Took 5 minutes to go out and check mine.

They were touching but not rubbing (yet)

I fat-fingered it for a minute and now they aint touching.

Love this forum.
I'm glad they're not touching anymore, but just make sure you didn't cause a leak at the end which enters or exits the radiator.
 
#27 ·
Thanks for the great information. I checked mine this weekend. I assume that you are talking about the silver part of the lines. The two lines on mine are very close together but not actually touching. I can pass a piece of paper or two between the two lines, but not too much else. What would be a good material to fix this with and where can I get it.

Great post. Thanks!
 
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