AE86 SR5 Issues

Swooki
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AE86 SR5 Issues

Postby Swooki » Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:13 pm

Hey guys, I have a couple of issues with my 4AC.

1) I noticed a small leak from transmission area and when I have the car jacked up in the front, it'll leak even faster.
Where are common leaks?

2) my brake pedal randomly just went soft?

3) Dash lights are not on?

4) When I press the button in for headlight to keep the headlights off but the headlight up, it goes down instead?

5) When i barely let go of clutch, car is already rolling?

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jondee86
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Re: AE86 SR5 Issues

Postby jondee86 » Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:15 pm

Swooki wrote:1) I noticed a small leak from transmission area and when I have the car jacked
up in the front, it'll leak even faster. Where are common leaks?

If oil is dripping from the front bottom edge of the bellhousing then it could come
from the rear crank seal or from the gearbox input shaft seal. If it leaks more with
the front of the car jacked up, that suggests the crank seal.

Replacing the crank seal entails splitting the box from the engine then removing the
clutch and flywheel. Replacing the input shaft seal means getting the box out and
removing the front bearing retainer.

As neither of these is a five minute job, I'd see if there is some way you can confirm
that the oil is actually coming from inside the bellhousing. Clean off the outside of
the engine and make sure that oil is not leaking from some place else (like the cam
cover for example) and running down the outside of the bell until it drips from the
bottom edge.

Cheers... jondee86
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress
depends on the unreasonable man.

Swooki
Club4AG Enthusiast
Posts: 115
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2016 1:48 pm

Re: AE86 SR5 Issues

Postby Swooki » Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:28 pm

jondee86 wrote:
Swooki wrote:1) I noticed a small leak from transmission area and when I have the car jacked
up in the front, it'll leak even faster. Where are common leaks?

If oil is dripping from the front bottom edge of the bellhousing then it could come
from the rear crank seal or from the gearbox input shaft seal. If it leaks more with
the front of the car jacked up, that suggests the crank seal.

Replacing the crank seal entails splitting the box from the engine then removing the
clutch and flywheel. Replacing the input shaft seal means getting the box out and
removing the front bearing retainer.

As neither of these is a five minute job, I'd see if there is some way you can confirm
that the oil is actually coming from inside the bellhousing. Clean off the outside of
the engine and make sure that oil is not leaking from some place else (like the cam
cover for example) and running down the outside of the bell until it drips from the
bottom edge.

Cheers... jondee86


My buddy told me that there is also a seal that is on the end of the driveshaft where it connects to the transmission, is that true? could it be that leaking??


also, what do you think of my other issues that I have currently?

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jondee86
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Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Re: AE86 SR5 Issues

Postby jondee86 » Mon Dec 14, 2020 10:50 pm

Swooki wrote:My buddy told me that there is also a seal that is on the end of the driveshaft where
it connects to the transmission, is that true? could it be that leaking??

That is quite correct... the gearbox output shaft. Seeing as that is at the other end of
the gearbox, if you clean and wipe down the underneath of the gearbox, it should be
quite easy to see which end of the gearbox the oil is coming from.

If it is the rear seal then it may be possible to replace the seal without taking the
gearbox out from the car. Once the driveshaft is removed your best move would be to
knock the sheetmetal dust shield off the back of the gearbox. Then you can access
the seal. I think that trying to replace the seal with the shield in place would be more
difficult, but I haven't tried it myself so ask around :)

Cheers... jondee86
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress
depends on the unreasonable man.

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jondee86
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Posts: 2910
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:21 pm
Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Re: AE86 SR5 Issues

Postby jondee86 » Mon Dec 14, 2020 11:19 pm

Swooki wrote:2) my brake pedal randomly just went soft?

If it goes soft and stays soft then you are likely low on fluid and have some air
in the system... check the reservoir, refill and bleed the brakes.

If it goes soft but you can get some braking back by "pumping the pedal", then
you likely have a leak and you should see fluid on the ground. Pump it up. hold
pressure on the pedal and see if the pedal slowly goes down to the floor.

If you have no pedal and can't get any pedal by pumping, you have a split in a
hose or a split in a seal. Check for fluid on the wheels or on the outside of the
brake master cylinder or booster.

Don't drive the car until you figure it out and get it fixed. Your emergency brake
will not save you in an emergency if you have no pedal !!!

Cheers... jondee86

PS: Dash lights is likely a blown fuse... can't help with the other thing.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress
depends on the unreasonable man.

Swooki
Club4AG Enthusiast
Posts: 115
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2016 1:48 pm

Re: AE86 SR5 Issues

Postby Swooki » Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:32 pm

jondee86 wrote:
Swooki wrote:My buddy told me that there is also a seal that is on the end of the driveshaft where
it connects to the transmission, is that true? could it be that leaking??

That is quite correct... the gearbox output shaft. Seeing as that is at the other end of
the gearbox, if you clean and wipe down the underneath of the gearbox, it should be
quite easy to see which end of the gearbox the oil is coming from.

If it is the rear seal then it may be possible to replace the seal without taking the
gearbox out from the car. Once the driveshaft is removed your best move would be to
knock the sheetmetal dust shield off the back of the gearbox. Then you can access
the seal. I think that trying to replace the seal with the shield in place would be more
difficult, but I haven't tried it myself so ask around :)

Cheers... jondee86


Cool! I didn't know there was a sheetmetal dust shield. Do you have a photo of how it looks? I looked under today and didn't see any dust shield you are referring to.
Also, where can i purchase the seal and what is the name of it?

jondee86 wrote:
Swooki wrote:2) my brake pedal randomly just went soft?

If it goes soft and stays soft then you are likely low on fluid and have some air
in the system... check the reservoir, refill and bleed the brakes.

If it goes soft but you can get some braking back by "pumping the pedal", then
you likely have a leak and you should see fluid on the ground. Pump it up. hold
pressure on the pedal and see if the pedal slowly goes down to the floor.

If you have no pedal and can't get any pedal by pumping, you have a split in a
hose or a split in a seal. Check for fluid on the wheels or on the outside of the
brake master cylinder or booster.

Don't drive the car until you figure it out and get it fixed. Your emergency brake
will not save you in an emergency if you have no pedal !!!

Cheers... jondee86

PS: Dash lights is likely a blown fuse... can't help with the other thing.


Dash lights: Ill try looking online for which fuse.

Okay i will try doing that for the brakes, from what i remember, when the car is running (brakes are soft to push)
when the car is off and i pump it, it gets hard.