Max_Gator

My rear main seal is not leaking BUT there appears to be a small leak coming from what appears to be some type of drain plug at the top of the crankcase directly above the rear main seal. Looks kinda like the fill plug for the manual tranny. Take a look at the picture on vqpower:

http://www.vqpower.com/v2/modules.ph...howpage&pid=71

If you look at the very top of the first picture, that's what I'm talking about. The round plug directly above the main seal at the very top of the picture.

I have a small leak coming from there.

I have the 2000 fsm but can't figure out what this is.

Anyone know what this is? Why leaking? And how to fix?

thanks a lot!

ihavea5spd

can't see the picture. is it the reverse / neutral switch?

Max_Gator

Ok. Fixed the link so you should be able to see it now.

It is behind the flywheel so not the neutral switch - I already broke that! LOL.

I'm beginning to suspect that the leak is really coming from the rear main seal and possibly shooting up. I'm going to post some pics. But in meantime, I wonder if the thing I identified can leak??

Here's a link to a large picture. It is a 1meg file so don't d/l unless you've got broadband. http://web.tampabay.rr.com/maxgator It is dsc00205.jpg.

Max_Gator

bump......

Max_Gator

Thanks to Dave Burnette the mystery is solved.

It is apparently a "blind plug" probably there because of some casting issue with the block.

There is an o-ring/gasket behind the plug.

Interestingly Dave mentioned that the plug and gasket had SR20 and Q45 part numbers.

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

its kinda like a freeze plug, anti freeze should be right behind there. Durring a complete engine rebuild your supposed to remove them to get rid of trapped debris inside the oil/coolant galleys.

Max_Gator

Thanks Blackbird - that makes sense. But - would there be coolant there or oil?? It looks like it is leaking oil. Actually, I hope it is oil back there because otherwise I might have a seal leak.

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

once every blue moon that plug will leak, but that is sooo rare. If it leaked out it would be coolant. I recomend doing a rear main seal.

Max_Gator

Are you certain it is coolant? I can't get the plug off unless I get a special tool for it - so I can't check.

The reason I ask is I want to make sure I fix the right thing - if behind that plug is definitely coolant then I know it must be the seal and I only have to fix that. But if it is oil behind the plug - and I fix the seal - then I may have to go in later and fix it again.

Would you mind taking a look at my photo of the leak above? The plug is just covered with oil. It is oily around and above it. Then it looks like it leaked down to the seal - and down to the right side of the seal.

There is no oil at all below the bottom half of the seal - but a good amount up top. If the plug isn't leaking - does the oil get up there because of the rotation of the flywheel perhaps?

I uploaded a couple of close ups. Let me know what you think. home.tampabay.rr.com/maxgator . And they are the dsc00205-208 files.

thanks a lot for all your help!

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

I just looked at the picture on my computer from my own clutch install, and I looked through the FSM for that stupid bolt, I am almost 90% sure its coolant behind it. Unless someone has a spare VQ block layn around and can veriffy whats behind it. I don't see anything going through the block like that other than coolant. You will need HEX type socket/tool. I don't have a spare block to double check what the freeze plug does. I'm sure its just RTV that holds the threads sealed up tight.

Max_Gator

Thanks for the help.

That bolt definitely isn't in the fsm - I have one also. There is a gasket that goes with the bolt and I have the part number from Dave. So, guess I'm going to open it up and fix it and see what's there.

DAVEB

iTrader: (133)

Definitely an oil gallery! A big one, too! I looked at my spare VQ block, the gallery runs all the way to the front of the block to feed the chain, with other passages connecting to it along the way.

Max_Gator

Ah! Thanks!

If it is oil, I'm pretty sure it is the only thing leaking based on the pattern.

But, geez - don't ya think they ought to at least MENTION it in the fsm? Guess it is kinda like the vias - they tell you how to diagnose part of the problem but leave a hell of a lot out.

Just glad Dave could find the part no.!