I noticed my car had a small leak last week (because I was visiting my folks and therefore parked in the same spot, which I can’t do where I live – point being I don’t know when the leak started) and the day after a long distance drive home it started making a few unhappy noises. Off to the mechanic we went and they say it was almost empty of transmission fluid!
They refilled the fluid (and will repair the axle seal leak) and said first test drive seemed all good. Here’s the question: is it just time that will tell how much damage was done? The car is a '97 and could use some other maintenance, but is it worth sinking any money into it now? Or is it possible that it could be okay if the pressure of the long drive forced the fluid out and then I basically only drove it once actually that low??
Only time will tell, but it shouldn’t take too much time. If the transmission has been damaged, you’ll soon start having trouble with it. If you don’t start having transmission problems in the next month or two, you’re probably good to go.
As a general rule, it’s almost always less expensive to maintain a vehicle than to replace one. If the transmission is OK, I’d do the other required maintenance and keep driving.
If they fixed the leak then I’d drive the Civic for month or so as see if all is well with the transmission. Then if the transmission is OK you can get your other maintenance done.
You can’t really tell if any damage was done by the low fluid without taking the transmission out of the car, and tearing it down to examine the internal parts. There is no reason to go to that expense, so your only real choice is to drive the car awhile. If all is well then little to no damage. If the transmission shows problems with shifting, slipping, noises, etc. then you know there was some damage.
Thanks for the responses. The most pressing thing on my mind is the water pump and accessory belts, which were not replaced at the same time as the timing belt. The other belts do show some wear and the water pump is just plain OLD… so does it seem worth the risk to drive the car as is another month or two?
Leaking seals on the differential often appear soon after CV axles are replaced. The leaks are usually quite small. As is already advised, the damage from your leak may be inconsequential. “Almost empty” doesn’t translate well while “unhappy noises” is quite troubling. But I’ll jump in with the 2 previous posters to say if it runs well for now keep your fingers crossed and continue on carefully.
Unless the water pump is leaking don’t replace it until the next timing belt job. Let sleeping dogs lie.
If the pump starts leaking and has to be replaced, have a new timing belt and tensioner installed, too.
The accessory belts can be replaced any time, and they are not expensive.