Tranny dipstick

[Monk]

I was planning to fix a marker light ground today, but when I started my rig this am (top up tire air) move it close to my garage,after I shut off to fix light.

I hear a slight gurgle under truck and after few time I wonder wtf, I look under and see a black puddle of (after sniffing) tranny fluid, also I heard a hiss, so figured hiss is the fluid on exhaust , but couldn't see spill, so I check my dipstick for tranny fluid level and pulled it out (easy) to see 1/2 way down tub is broke , would fluid go that high? How hard is it to change a tube, as free space is sparse

[Roy]

I believe the rubber at the trany tube seal may be too hard and when tube became loose, fluid leaks out.Might even be the tube came out of the hole?   Go to scrap car yard and find a dipstick tube out of a truck or van body. Cut this tube down to what yours should be and install. This will get you going. 
Replace the seal at trany when doing this job. 
Or, get someone to braze a tube at the break to fasten both lenghts together. The inside edges must be straight so dip stick will slide past the break.
If not , truck is down till AMG is open Jan , 5 2015. Dave may have a tube at HPG, or Travis at Rubberduck.
 In all cases ,it is easier to install with doghouse off.

[Monk]

Thanks bud, your extremely helpful, I think when I saw that little puddle I stressed.

I partially took off doghouse, holy shit lots of wires under there, but plugging away,

Ya half the bottom part of tranny dip stick tube still in truck bolted to truck,,grrrr hehe

Hopefully will be semi visible from top after cover gone

[Roy]

You should be able to leave most wires on the left side together, Disconnect main plug at centre and a few others to get inner dog house to move. Slider it back onto the secondary heater cover. Block tires and put both shifters all the way back, first and.. slipped my mind. Remove inner dog house. Gently, they crack easily

[Monk]

Well,as per Roy's help , unbolted most items and,I semi removed doghouse lifted passenger side and then engine cover lifted passerger side, lifted a little and rested a cover on a 3" piece of wood. The tranny dipstick tube bolt was right in my face......beautiful ,and that bolt removed easy!!

I saw the tranny leak as well, ok I noticed "as I haven't changed my ctis seal" sometimes when I park I get a hiss when I pump up rear tires near top of tranny ,can't see it but defiantly hear air leaking and basicly I THINK it's pressurizing my tranny and gurgles a little, and it spitting fluid out of the dipstick tube , never notice when the tube was the full length but now since tube is like 12" long now it spits little bursts outta that top,

I got bottom dipstick tube out today....yay

[Roy]

Once tube is replaced, when airing up the tires, check for a hissing noise out of the air intake. If there is a noise--hiss, need to replace a seal or two on the inner CTIS at the hubs.

[Monk]

Will check for sure, I ended up brazing up the tube (NO ONE had anything local)

I guess that my only issue for living in the sticks,on van island, nothing performance close.

After crying a bit, I found the tranny hole from the top, tube went in, buttoned her all up.

Gonna start in am and see how I did in the dark, hehehe

[whitehumh2]

Just a note, while brazing the tube will fix it for now...you need to replace the tube as it will keep breaking in the same spot due to vibration.
 
When you get the new tube add a small rubber washer between the tube bracket and the cylinder head...this will help to absorb most of the vibrations that cause the tube to crack.
 
Hope this helps!
 
Kev

[Monk]

Hmm, never thought of that, great advise!

It's gonna be a week or two minimum for the new tube to show and I'll do that.

Ok all good,just started and topped fluids.

Funny how after one does a job, can stand back with pride when alls running good.