Thanks for the reply on the oil leak. After some research in my munual, your theory water pump seal makes sense. Is this seal the O-rings they refer to on 1992 and later? It shows one at the pump spline and one at the drive splines. It shows then using a tapered cap from a felt tipped marker to position the O-rings. This may be in place of the thimble like devise you said the dealer should use. Will I be able to see that this is where the leak is? I don't want to let the dealer find it, fix it, and then cover their tracks by telling me it was the timing cover gasket ($900!).

 

Looking in my Chiltons Generic 1984-1996 Corvette Repair Manual it states in sections 3-37 and 3-38 to re-install the timing chain cover on the VIN P (LT-1) engine that you need to use a J-39087 or equivalent shaft gear front cover seal protector when putting the timing chain cover back on. Sometimes improvising with other similar items can be effective. I'd rather have that exact part though.

I am telling you though this same thing happened on my car when I had my hot cam kit installed. 2 weeks later a leak started, that gradually got worse.

The shop admitted to not using that protector(they apparently did some reading in my Chiltons manual that they found in the car), and showed me the kinked water pump seal (hard to see the kink I might add, although they immediately recognized it). I would ask your dealer to give you the kinked water pump seal (looks like a metal donut), and point out to your service advisor that it had to have been damaged when you had your water pump replaced (hope you have your receipts).

If they fail to fix it for free (or nearly free), then I would ask to talk to the service manager. If that doesn't work, try the general dealer manager. If that doesn't work try small claims court.

The shop I had it done at wouldn't redo it for free, but only charged me $100. They said they wouldn't since it was past 90 days (my car sat those 90 days over the winter). I couldn't really scream and yell about it though

 

Do I assume they head the timing cover off when the replaced the water pump?

If you want, you can e-mail me at tomc@mchsi.com.

Apprecitae the help.

 

I don't think you have to take the timing cover off to replace the waterpump......But the reinstalling of that seal around the waterpump drive shaft could be your culprit.

Maybe the leaks from somewhere else unrelated to the repair, but it sounds too coincindental and too similar to what happened to me (of course I had the whole front of the engine off)