Front Center Diff seal Leak
 

I took it into Allison, They have been really great to me. So I get my oil changed and all my fluids done and I am informed that the seal is leaking. I keep trying to get the guy at the dealership to fix it, I really feel like I'm getting dicked around. Allison quoted me 174. I have been able to talk them down and they have been more than willing to work with me on pricing. Had an air filter raplaced today. Thing is I have to drive to Vegas tomorrow. The mech. said it wasn't a bad leak, to keep checking the diff fluids. They are good now. Should I go without getting it fixed? Should I wait for the dealership? Should I get it done at Allison. All replies welcome.
I think that when they replaced the clutch they may have jacked it up. needless to say I'm kind of upset about it and I would like input on the best course of action. Cody is calling me later too to calm me down!!!
Damn Dealerships. If it doesn't get fixed by them i'm posting mad trash!

You just bought this car from one of those small dealers right? It didn't come with any warranty?

FWIW, I wouldn't stress too much if it's just leaking a little bit. There's a dipstick behind your IC that you can keep an eye on the level with.

What seal are you talking about? The front and center diffs on a WRX are lubed by the standard gear oil in the gearbox, so there's no "diff fluid" to check like there is on the STi or 4EAT cars. Are you leaking gear oil?

If it's leaking from the front main on the gearbox, $174 isn't a bad price for the fix since they basically have to take the transmission out of the car to get to it... which has got to be over 4 hours of book time.

Yeah. It pisses me off tho. I just want it to be perfect ;[ I don't like my baby having shit wrong. What should I buy for it? There isn't a warranty, you would think there still would be. I ask him for the carfax, he is just dicking around!!! Taking forever. he keeps telling me he will call me, I have heard nothing.

It's the front center shaft diff. thing whatever. he said it's leaking and flying back onto the starter. I can kinda smell it sometimes.

Also there is fluid to check, he showed me.

....................

I don't doubt there's a fluid level to check, but it's not "diff fluid" it's the gear oil for the whole transmission. And I'm not sure what the "front center shaft diff. thing whatever" is, but I'm guessing you're talking about the main seal on the tranny's input shaft, which again is a labor intensive job that should cost $300 or $400 normally.

Let me put it this way: if it's leaking bad enough that a drive to Vegas could create a noticeable drop in the level of gear oil in the tranny, not only should you not be driving it to Vegas, you shouldn't be driving it at all. But if it's leaking just a few drops every now and again, I wouldn't even bother to fix it at all until the leak gets worse or you happen to have the motor or tranny out for some other reason.

Where's Cory when you need his opinion?

Edit: and what's with all the talking to yourself about unrelated stuff? Just edit your last post (like this!)... and try to keep the thread on topic.

If you're going to have the job done, they'll probably need to drain and refill it. Like Sperry said, the front and center diff share fluid with the transmission. The dipstick beind the intercooler is to check that fluid level. In a pinch, any 75W-90 gear oil would work, but check the other thread from today on gear oils. I'd say just get OEM but I don't think Lithia even carries it. They told me they put Penzoil in all their manual transmissions. Summit Racing has the Redline Lighweight Shockproof. I'd grab 4 quarts of that and just have Allison fix the leak and fill with the Shockproof LW if they aren't gouging you. You'll have to post up what actual seal is leaking before anyone can tell you if they're gouging you though.

I believe when they were replacing the clutch, they have to remove that shaft up there. I will ask exactly what is going on and exactly what the proper term is but I'm pretty sure they messed it up when they replaced the clutch. I really doubt if it is the main seal I'm sure if it was they'd have quoted much more. Still no carfax. :[
I was told it was perfectly driveable and not to worry. I'm still a little miffed. I'm going to tell them that the tranny place that replaced the clutch should be held responsible and Not I or the dealer. It seems really hard to get anything done from the dealer tho. It's been rough.

Isn't it a little late for a carfax once you own the car? Also, I can't imagine what seals they could have messed up while doing the clutch. Pretty cut and dry job.

I'm so fucking confused. So another place replaced your clutch, you believe they caused your leak, and you're trying to get Allison to fix the leak for you for free? That's what post #10 implies. And it makes little to no sense...

11 posts in, and I still have no idea what seal is leaking, but generally speaking, if you're leaking tranny fluid, I would recommend NOT driving it to LV. A chewed up seal, with a part spinning inside of it, has too much potential to get MUCH worse, quickly, and lose a lot of fluid while you're on the highway. Goodbye transmission. $174 is frankly a pretty decent price to replace a differential side seal, and a KILLER price to replace a transmission input shaft seal. But I still don't know which part is leaking...

And if I may add: I'm SO tired of people using the "I hate dealerships" generalization. I work at a dealership. I'm honest, trustworthy, and always fair with my customers. Lumping everyone together because of what you consider a bad experience at a particular place is in poor taste, in my opinion.

Cory, do you happen to know if they'll need to drain the tranny to replace the seal? (I know, we still don't know what seal and that's a question for Allison, but I thought I'd ask anyway) If so, I'm thinking Mare should pick up some Redline Shockproof LW from Summit for them to refill it.

IIRC, with an 05, whichever of the 3 seals it's been suggested here may be leaking, (front diff side axle seal, center diff output seal, or trans input seal) the fluid's pretty much coming out no matter what.

Um. I'm not trying to get allison to fix it for free. I'm trying to get the guy that sold it to me to fix it. And I worked at a dealership before too. I called the guy I bought it from six times yesterday, he kept promising to call me when he knows something and he never knew anything he just lied to me and said he called allison and they told him it was perfectly safe and driveable allison says no, he never called. So if you don't think that's a little sheisty, um, what r you smoking? I have been trying to get the exact seal name from them, all the guy told me was front center diff seal. Not my fault you can't figure it out because they can't seem to tell me? He is supposed to call me. FRONT OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL. THATS WHAT THEY JUST TOLD ME.

Tell them you want what's left in the last qt of fluid in case you ever need to top it off.

If you're irritated by my response, you should try to be more clear when you post. You never before post 15 specifically said "front output shaft seal" That, is a specific part. The only thing that can be is your front diff side oil seal, or axle seal. The dollar amount you mentioned before is a decent deal on replacing it, so at least take comfort in the idea that if you have to pay for it, you're not getting fleeced.

Your first post was all over the place, combined with post 10, and did NOT clearly indicate that you were trying to get the shop that damaged the seal to fix it. In fact, they indicated that said shop damaged it, and you were trying to get Allison to fix it. If you're asking for help on an internet forum, you need to be very clear when describing your problem, or you're not getting help, just speculation.

Stop flying off the fucking handle when people are trying to be constructive with you.

Take that!

wow, you're scary Cory, lol jk.
my buddy and i think that it sounds like a side seal for the price and the description of, "flying back on the starter". can you see it on the starter? have you looked under your car? if its a side seal you can see it leaking.

seems like you are the one flying off the handle. Me, I'm just chillin. If I knew what I was talking about my posts wouldn't be all over the place so I'm sorry I don't have your SUPERIOR knowledge. But I got it all taken care of thanks to cody. And yes. Editing posts irritates me. Stop taking things so personally.

and grr. I tried to get under it, that sucker is low. It is consistently leaking quarter sized spots every night but I got some 75w90 and I keep checking the fluid levels.
Note: It has to be on a level surface lol. Had it parked in my driveway, all slanted like, thing read empty. Nearly shit myself.

His knowledge is superior, because he wrenches on cars for a living. You should pipe down with the attitude and thank him for the free information with a smile.

I already got that information, from someone else. But thanks. I know his knowledge is superior. That's why I said it.

anywho it had nothing to do with you???

so what was it? the side seal?

You said his knowledge was SUPERIOR. Which looks like sarcasm. The best thing to do would be to just let this thread get buried before feelings get hurt. Namely yours.

you could try to hurt my feelings. good luck.


who r you anyway that I should care?