Got a leak, help!!

Right, noticed at work a little wet patch under my car, so just got home and put some white paper underneath. Its dripping around the gearbox area, looks to be redish so im guessing its gearbox fluid. I can see what looks to be fresh drips on the bottom of 2 pipes which run very close to the gearbox and seem to connect to it.

Anyone any ideas?

Rest of the gearbox seems generally ok, bit oily but doesn't appear to be fresh.

Can anyone please advise me on the best course of action.

Its a 1999 TD5 Auto, 95K, recently serviced (15000miles ago (96K service)) No warning lights on.

it sounds like its the auto box oil cooler pipes that are leaking but without seeing them i cant be sure can you get under there and clean/check the pipes, the fluid level is rather important on auto boxes as it not only lubricates them it runs them too (high pressure oil clamps the clutch and brake plates together giving you drive and gears also the torque converter relies on it) a leak can dammage an auto box if you let the fluid level drop too far

gearbox oil cooler pipes?

keep up daft!

so garage job then? I have had a wipe around but its not dripping at the mo, guessing it happens when it gets up to pressure then?

Is there anything else it could be, just to check for etc?

not deffo a garage job if you know one end of a spanner from t' other you should be able to do it, first up give the area a good clean i sugest using spray brake cleaner (mind your eyes when you do this as it stings like a bugger if you get it in them) then run the engine and put it in drive with your foot on the brake to stop it moving alow the 'box to take up drive but keep the car still with the brakes, next switch off the engine and take another look at the pipes and surrounding area and look for the leak

just cleaned the fresh oil off and tried it for few mins, couldn't see anything else coming out, but it did look dirty around the down pipe part of the pipe, (from gearbox). It also makes a sort of hissing/ blowing noise. Is that normal?

P.s its not abnormally loud, only when door open and listening etc

where abouts are you? (in the country) if your near me i will come and have a look for you

New Forest at the moment, just outside Fordingbridge

bit far away as i am in essex, it may only be doing it when the oil is hot (i.e. after a drive) i would say keep an eye on it and when you can get under and have a look after it has been driven but it sounds like a pipe is weeping which would require a new set of pipes paddock of ebay are your best bet there... keep us informed of your progress and if you need talking through replacing the pipes give us a shout

cool ok, thanks for your help anyway, much appreciated. Just out of interest, as im really busy with work and havent got a huge amount of time for DIY, how many hours/cost would your average LR specialist - not stealer charge?

Also any ideas on the hissing, its only just as u put your foot very slightly on the gas and then goes straight away. Is this normal??

not sure about costing the job as i do al myown work (i'm a mechanic) but a 'specialist' will be charging about £40-£50 per hour so it depends how long they think the job is gonna take!
as for the hissing without hearing the car i couldn't really say there are so many things it could be

ok, thanks alot, might pop it to the local LR specialist on the way to work, he has fitted a engine in my mates series 1, and he isn't a rip off apparently. He will probably tell me TD5's are crap, Oh well.

Thanks again

Update:

Just been to local LR specialist, didn;t think it was cooling pipes, but thought they were the last point of car before they dripped off. Thought it was the seal on the end of the Bell housing/gearbox. He had some spanners out and tightened everything and said it was ok.

Next step is to watch it and check levels regularly.

To change seal, its drop gear box etc and a days work +parts so big bucks .

He said we could try some additive to soften up the seal, anyone tried this??