Diff. Leak??
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Diff. Leak??
I have a 2000 coupe and noticed a leak yesterday. I took it to the dealership this morning and they said it was a left side cover leak. They said that GM has a service bulletin out regarding the left cover gasket. Has anyone every heard of this? Is 3 hours labor resonable?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
I have the same condition, but it's a very minor leak. Funny they should call it a "Cover" leak because I'm almost positive that my car is leaking from the left axle seal.... the lube is spinning right out from the seal.....
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Re
My car is leaked about 1/2 ounce the Diff. fluid per stop yesterday! The dealer said it has been seeping out all the way around for a while (Dirty) but the level was still high? Tonight it doesn't look like it has leaked at all???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville AR
My 01 did that last summer. I noticed a small spot one-day after it sat for 2 weeks in the garage. I only drove it for just a few miles and then the next time I took it out the spot was bigger. I took a look at it myself and it was the left seal were the axle comes out. So i check the level and it was fine. It sat for another week and the spot was even bigger then I drove it the following weekend for 75 miles or so and it stopped leaking. Has not leaked since. The only thing im doing different is driving every weekend for 30 or 40 miles (lots of interstate). Has not leaked a drop in 8 months or more. I think it has something to do with the seal drying out, or not lube fully and heated up? Maybe that will help you if yours is just a small leak.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
This is a pretty simple problem to fix. You do not need to pull the diff out to change the output shaft seal. I did a how to here . They can work their way out a little and this will cause the fluid to spin out of the diff and coat the back of your rear fascia.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 20
From: FLORIDA
Originally Posted by Cajundude
This is a pretty simple problem to fix. You do not need to pull the diff out to change the output shaft seal. I did a how to here . They can work their way out a little and this will cause the fluid to spin out of the diff and coat the back of your rear fascia.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City UT
Lots of threads on this one. It's a very common problem. I'd get it fixed. I think there may be a new seal available that's supposed to work better than the original. I think the jury is still out on whether or not it works better.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 0
From: Grants Pass OR
Mine is dry as a bone for the past year and a half knock on wood. GM came up with part numbers to fix it. I'd have it done. Cars do a lot of things but leaking should not be one of them.
Dan
Dan
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
If its the left side cover thats a good price, the covers o-ring and the axle output shaft seal need to be replaced.If its just the output shaft seal, thats to much $$$. Do it as soon as you can, it will make a mess of everything under there and of course its not good for the rear end. Im pretty sure the rear has to come out for the left side cover but not for the right side, when I did mine theres no way of getting this cover off with it bolted to the trans one of the studs that mounts to the trans is in the left cover. Correct me if im wrong anybody. You can see it here in the pic.
Last edited by C54DAZ; May 10, 2005 at 01:13 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 9
From: Eddy Texas
Have an '04 with the rear diff leak. I wiped everything down and rechecked after a day of driving, and it is the COVER leaking not the seal. Fluid shows full after about 3 months of drips on the floor. Seems like if GM has known about this problem for a few years, the later models would be done right. NOT!!! I don't have a dealer local that I trust, so I'll just keep wiping it down and driving it till I just can't stand it any more.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 908
Likes: 0
From: Ponchatoula la.
Originally Posted by c5streak
Have an '04 with the rear diff leak. I wiped everything down and rechecked after a day of driving, and it is the COVER leaking not the seal. Fluid shows full after about 3 months of drips on the floor. Seems like if GM has known about this problem for a few years, the later models would be done right. NOT!!! I don't have a dealer local that I trust, so I'll just keep wiping it down and driving it till I just can't stand it any more.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Thanks
Thanks for the response guys. I had the seal and the cover casket replaced today. The tech told me that the GM service bulletin recommended a "casket sealant" in addition to the new casket. We’ll see! $170 parts/fluid and 3 hours at $98/per for a grand total of $540CND with the taxes. That’s around 5 bucks US for anyone interested in the conversion! 
