With no signs or symptoms my transmission fluid began leaking last night and engine surging? what is causing this?

Surging, Lurching or Jumping - Along with the other common symptoms of a bad CVT transmission, surging can be a sign of contaminated transmission fluid. When your transmission becomes too polluted or filled with debris over time, your vehicle might begin to accelerate, jerk, lurch

To answer absolutely correctly I would need more information, but here are some distinct possibilities:
1) Transmission fluid may be low due to a very small leak, and once engine is running, the transmission pump is also running and it could take a few seconds for the transmission fluid to fill the lines and all the passages in the valve body;
2) Transmission filter could be old and partially stopped up with worn clutch face material (a normal occurrence with high vehicle mileage), and it takes a few seconds for the fluid to fill all the lines and valve body passages;
3) Transmission fluid pump may be failing; this is rare without causing other more serious symptoms and serious damage, but it is possible;
4) It is possible that it is very cold where you are and cold transmission fluid is thicker and takes longer to properly circulate throughout the transmission.
The sensors and switches in an automatic transmission are supposed to be submersed in transmission fluid at all times. If your fluid level is TOO low, serious transmission damage WILL occur. Check your fluid level by parking car on level surface with engine running at full normal operating temperature. With transmission in park, check fluid level (on almost every car made since 1990's, the transmission dispstick is identified by the red-colored handle (the yellow-colored handle is engine oil). The stick will have markings on it that indicate proper level. Transmissions should NOT leak causing low levels. If your fluid is low, you have a fluid leak somewhere. Identify it and have it fixed, or your transmission WILL die eventually.

Hi. How many miles are on this vehicle? Please check the maintenance history. Has the transmission fluid and filter been replaced on time? Is the engine light, are there any stored codes and if so what are they? Check for blown fuses. Check for leaks and check the fluid for proper level and color. If it is black and smells burned that could be a sign of internal failure. Inspect the wiring and main connector at the transmission, look for damage. Were there any signs or symptoms before this failure or did it occur suddenly? Good Luck.

The PCM has detected an low pressure or leakage malfunction in the hydraulic power unit which controls the transmission. The computer controlled automatic transmission uses varying degrees of hydraulic pressure to provide shift actuation and torque converter lockup.

Although code setting parameters vary greatly from one manufacturer (and model) to another, virtually every application utilizes calculations based upon throttle position, engine load, engine speed, and vehicle speed to determine the desired degree of pump pressure required for efficient operation. If the desired amount of fluid pressure fails to coincide with the actual amount detected, a code will be stored and a malfunction indicator lamp may be illuminated. Some applications require multiple failure cycles in order for a service engine soon lamp to be illuminated.

Symptoms may vary from no detectable symptoms at all to a failure of the torque converter clutch to engage/disengage and disabled shifting function. This symptom may also be accompanied by an engine stall when coming to a stop with the engine idling. Other symptoms may include harsh shifting, transmission slippage, transmission overheating, decreased fuel efficiency, a stored code, and possibly an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp. Other torque converter clutch, lock up, gear ratio, shift solenoid, or transmission slippage codes often accompany this code.

Common causes include internal hydraulic (transmission fluid) leaks, a faulty electronic pressure control solenoid, hydraulic blockages inside the internal transmission fluid passages, mechanical internal transmission failures, low transmission fluid, dirty or contaminated transmission fluid, a faulty PCM or transmission control module.

could be related to brake power booster, requieres a litle bit of troubleshoting, try to listen for an air/vacum leak.

Classic signs of transmission trouble. First I would inspect the transmission fluid. It should be pink or light red. If your transmisson fluid is ok, then its probably the transmisson control module. Dark fluid with a burned smell indicates worn clutches/overheated transmission. Changing the fluid and filter might help, but the transmission is already severly worn and will not last very much longer. Transmission replacement is definatly in order.

Clutch fluid, commonly referred to as transmission oil or break fluid, is one of the vital liquids required for a vehicle engine to function. Since the fluid level reduces with time during vehicle usage, it becomes necessary to top it off in the clutch reservoir as need arises. But a leak in the clutch reservoir will also result in declining levels. Leaks are more likely to occur at either the slave cylinder or master cylinder, and if left unattended, low fluid levels can cause serious damage to your vehicle. You can ascertain the level by inserting a dipstick in the reservoir; however, certain signs of insufficient fluid will be apparent while driving. Below are six signs of low transmission oil. 6 Symptoms of Low Clutch Fluid DoItYourself com

A blocked radiator will cause the symptoms you are describing. A completely failed water pump would also cause these symptoms, but you generally would have at least a small leak by the water pump and the noise would be distracting from the failing pump. So try to flush the radiator and replace if you are unable to get the liquid to circulate normally.

check level of transmission fluid,if its low that can cause slippage,if its low you need to find where its leaking from,if the level is fine,you may have the beginnings of a worn out trans,how many miles on the car,when was the trans last serviced?

If transmission fluid is dripping off the bellhousing your torque converter seal is leaking or your transmission pump seal is leaking. Chances are the torque converter seal is leaking since the torque converter is spinning on it any time the engine is turning, the pump seal dosen't move it just keeps fluid inside the transmission. Even though it leaks with or without the engine running I'm willing to bet if you got underneath it with the engine running you will see it leaks more with the engine running. Now if either seal is leaking it will require the engine to be removed from the transmission to get to the seal. Sorry but this isn't going to be a cheap quick fix.