Tranny Fluid Leaking?
 

So these last couple of days I started noticing some oily fluid on the floor when the car's been sitting a while... Jacked up the car and took a look at it. Could I be leaking tranny fluid?

The fluid is yellowish and oily
Attachment 287406
Attachment 287407

It is most likely your reverse switch. The switch in the 6th picture. It's common for the epoxy casing to break and cause a leak. Just need to replace the switch.

Before you do anything especially before buying any parts, it needs to be cleaned first, used for a day or two, then inspected to determine exactly where it's leaking from.

Typical leak areas:

Reverse switch housing on RH side (bad gasket/not tightened/bad body leaking)
Rear tailhousing flange/seal where it bolts to the main trans body
Driveshaft/trans seal at very rear end of trans
Weep hole at the bottom rear of the trans bellhousing (front trans seal or rear engine oil seal leaking)
One or both of the two 24mm oil fill/drain hex bolts on the LH side (bad gasket/not tightened)

To clarify, the switch on the RH side of the tranny is the reverse switch. The neutral switch in a different location. I included part details here: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/reverse-switch-oil-leak-116145/#post4632293

Sorry, you are correct.

Just wiped it down today, and tightened up the reverse switch a bit, it was pretty loose and definitely didn't feel like 39lb-ft. Wish me luck! Also I just realized the reverse switch is like .5 inch from the midpipe... Maybe the heat's melting into the rubber gromet/stuff?

If you have a de-catted midpipe it shouldn't be getting nearly as hot as it would with the stock cat in place.

Well it's been 2 days and just checked on the car again... It's definitely leaking from the back-up switch... Ordered the part and 2 washers, never done a transmission fluid change before... wish me luck...

Also I just found out something else isn't normal in the car.


Attachment 287389
I would assume the metal piece that's touching the "ball" on the shifter isn't supposed to look like that right?

Is that 17-463 in the pic?
Attachment 287390

I don't understand what you think is wrong?

The metal looks broken off in person, and I think tranny fluid is spilling out from there too
Attachment 287388

that has nothing to do with oil leaking out, anything coming out of there simply stays inside the transmission with the rest of the oil.

The bottom really serves no purpose. That is the shift fork selector that the shifter moves to engage gears. The bushing on the end of the shifter is not anywhere near it until you press the shift knob down to shift into reverse. I can't tell much from the picture, but am thinking you're just mistaken ...

hmmmm... just concerned cuz the metal looks kinda weird.... but that's for your input teamrx8!

there are seals in the upper shifter housing area that could leak, but it wouldn't have anything to do with that part. Typically they rarely leak because while the area gets some oil splashing it's way back there, it isn't submerged in oil like the reverse switch. Hope you get it all resolved.

Attachment 287386
Did the back-up switch and fluid change the other day. No more leaking :D Surprisingly easy even for a noob like me