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Oil leak

Tiny
96SATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 SATURN SC1
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 150,000 MILES
I have a 5 speed 1996 sc1 saturn that developed an oil leak on the passenger side between the half shaft and transaxle where they join together. We have replace the seal but the leak is as bad as ever. What should I look to do?
Monday, January 31st, 2011 AT 10:39 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So are you leaking oil or transmission fluid?Can you post a pic that would really help. Which seal did you replace?
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Monday, January 31st, 2011 AT 10:51 PM
Tiny
96SATURN
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  • 7 POSTS
Leaking transmission fluid, the car is still at the local mechanics shop. He replaced the seal where the passenger side half drive shaft come out of the transaxle. Is there more than one seal there? I can't supply a photo at this time unfortunately.
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Monday, January 31st, 2011 AT 11:15 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
There is only one seal there at the axle did he use a seal protector when he put the axle in the seal?The case gasket or the input shaft seal could be leaking in the clutch housing. Are they sure it's the seal?Have they added transmission dye to the fluid to trace the leak?
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Monday, January 31st, 2011 AT 11:49 PM
Tiny
96SATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Ok thank you I will ask him those questions. Can I ask for saturntech9 when I return with another question/response, or can you provide me with a link to get back to you. TIA. Peter
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 12:04 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
To respond to this question just reply back on this question like you have been. If you want to start another question other then the one your asking and want me to reply to it then just start it by saying this one is for saturntech9.
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 12:12 AM
Tiny
96SATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hi I spoke with the mechanic and he said he used a seal protector. He also believes that the input shaft seal in the clutch housing is not leaking, because he feals the leak would be apparent in a different area than where it is presently eminating from. He did not use a transmission fluid dye trace though. He will try again tomorrow to work on this problem. I would appreciate any further suggestions, thanks. Peter
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 1:22 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The best suggestion I have is to add transmission dye and follow the dye to the leak. Let me know what they find.
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 3:32 PM
Tiny
96SATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hi saturntech9, my mechanic tried putting in another seal and again it still is leaking. Well I believe in the three strike rule, three strikes and I'm outta there. I will pay for what he thinks not fixing the car is worth and try someone else. So what I want to ask you is it possible that the axle itself is the problem? He says it appears ok but appearance could be decieving. We have discussed the dye suggestion but he assures me that he knows where the leak is coming from. What other possible explantion could you offer as to why a new seal is not solving my leak. TIA. Peter
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Sunday, February 6th, 2011 AT 10:39 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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It could be the axle but usually you will see some nicks or unsmooth surface on the axle where it meet's the seal.I don't know why he wouldn't use dye especially since the multiple new seal's leaking. Hopefully the transmission case didn't get cracked. You could have a porus case cracked case damaged axle or axle moving around in the transmission too much damaging the seal. The dye would be your starting point that would lead you back to the seal being damaged by something or a transmission case issue. Let me know what you find.
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Monday, February 7th, 2011 AT 8:13 PM
Tiny
96SATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hi saturntech9, took the car home and after reading what you say could be occurring to make a new seal leak, if your correct then the transaxle would have to be removed and repaired or a rebuilt transaxle purchased and installed. This just may prove to be too costly to justify spending that kind of money on a car that is 14+ years old with 160000 miles on it. It just may be prudent to purchase another car and sell this one for whatever value is left as a parts vehicle. I would appreciate your opinion. TIA. Peter
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Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 AT 5:47 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I would first do the dye you could even clean the fluid off yourself add dye and see where the fluid led back too. You have a bad transmission case worn differential inside of transmission or a bad axle damaging the axle seal.I wish I could see what's going on but I can't. If it were my car and turned out to be in the transmission I would get a transmission at pick a part there pretty cheap there. Or even a axle can't be that much from pick a part. But you probably don't have the tools or know how to replace it yourself?Or do you?The labor to replace the transmission is 7.5 hr's time's there shop labor rate plus alignment fluid's and if you replaced the clutch at that time. It's up too you to decide if it's worth it I can't see the car to see the condition of the engine inside of the car etc. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 AT 7:12 PM
Tiny
96SATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hi saturntech9, well I just sold the car as is for $900 and told the buyer about the transaxle leak. The car is still a good running car and if you add transmission fluid it is driveable. So thanks for your all your help. Aloha Peter
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Thursday, February 10th, 2011 AT 9:33 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Your welcome too bad you had to sell the car.
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Thursday, February 10th, 2011 AT 10:41 PM

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