I have owned my 02 WRX for about a year now. I have driven it back and forth from work and to the store only. I recently had a trip to the high country (Steamboat Springs) and this has been the longest trip that I have had. After going up a long hill and having to come to a stop do to traffice, I noticed that we had a lot of smoke coming out from under the car and hood which smelled like AT fluid. Once home I noticed that I had lost a lot of AT fluid from the dip stick and looking under the car. Not sure where it had came from, but it was on the driver’s side. I also noticed, from getting under the car, that it seems that someone tried to service the AT fluid before and could not remove the filter, and it was damages slightly. Any ideas on the leak, or does it sounds like the filter being damaged the culprit? The car has about 60000 miles and there was no apparent damage to the pan.

Thanks for your

 

check high on the transmission for leaks(fluid leaks down). if your car was smoking check the exhaust heat sheilds for fluid then track it up. also look anywhere that could heat the fluid up enough to have it burn off. also check by the downpipe on the passengers side on the lower part of the fire wall to see if the little rubber hose is getting melted(happened to me when i put on a dp.) cause that will put out all kinds of smoke.
since your transmission filter is damaged just get a new one. if it breaks/cracks and you loose all your A/T fluid, bye bye tranny. less than $100 to fix it or new transmission.

if you can get a picture of where its leaking it will be easier to diagnose the problem.

 

I'll try to get a photo, but none the less, I had changed the filter and it seems to still leak. I took your advice and looked a little higher. It may be leaking from the cooler lines. Not at the rubber hose, but the brass fitting into the transmission. How do you get a wrench on those?