Hey everyone, let me just start by saying that I absolutely love my 2000 A33, and I have put so much money (4x current value at least) into it fixing things left, and right as well as upgrading many parts to higher performance. This car has been in my family straight from the dealership when my parents first bought it in 99. It's got a lot of sentimental value to me, and I don't ever want to see it gone. Now that that is set aside, the issue that I'm having is with the rear main seal. 2 years ago my friend, and I attempted to make the repair. Only a few days after that day, it started leaking again. Not a lot, just a drip, but still, a drip over the course of two years, and numerous oil changes causes quite the mess inside the bell housing. Here we are, and I attempted to do it again per the holy bible of the Hayne's manual. After doing it exactly how the book said to do it, it still is leaking drip by drip, slowly, painfully. I am at a loss of as to what to do to get the fix right. I dropped the upper oil pan, put the rear main in place, put RTV on only the two corners of the gasket, and put it all back together. Ran the car for a bit, started dripping. Let it sit for a week, there is a small puddle of oil under the car. I have done some research, and people have said that at times the crankshaft may be too worn down that the seal won't sit correctly anymore, and will let the leak bleed by. I have seen other people that once they put the seal in, they cake the bottom gasket portion with RTV to "guarantee" the seal. I didn't use the dealership grade rear main seal, I went with Fel-Pro twice, once with O'Reilly, and now with Autozone. Any kind of help, or instruction will help tremendously. I don't ever want to get rid of my car, so it's either going to get fixed properly, or I will be leaking everywhere I go haha

 

Are you replacing the actual rear main seal? If so, are you replacing the half moon seal as well? Usually thats the one that likes to cause problems. The RMS itself probably was not leaking to begin with since thats apparently uncommon for these motors, the one directly below it is notorious for it though.As you mentioned, RTV Gray is your best buddy with this job.

 

I had to donate my 2000 Meridien last year, too many issues. Miss that car a lot (one family), wish you luck in your quest.

 

Nothing as too many Issues....But there is something such as not enough time or money to repair things.....

 

Drop the lower and upper oil pans will fix your little leak! Change your half moon seals and You'll be a Happy/Proud Max Owner again...

 

I changed that half moon gasket both times. Two years ago, and just 2 weeks ago when I did it. I changed the entire rear main seal, and the half moon gasket that sits underneath. I even changed the front oil seal on the complete other side too. No leaks there at all, just from the rear main seal. So should I crack open the transmission again, only this time, caking the entire outer part of that half moon?

If it's a vehicle you care enough about, there will always be time, and money to fix it up.

 

Are you saying you didn't put a thick bead of RTV on both sides of the half moon? I reuse the original one, b/c it's already shrank, plus, I'm cheap

Make sure to do the proper RTV method. Let the RTV set up for a while, so it's nice and thick, then put the pan and barely snug the bolts. Wait about an hour (weather dependent, should be kinda half dry), then tighten down.

 

I did not put RTV on the half moons, no. Only on the tabs of it because that's what the repair manual said to do. I did do the right method for the RTV. I let it sit for an entire day before I had the time to get back to it. I just didn't cake the RTV onto the half moons when I put them. I'm going to take the whole thing apart again, and do that. Hopefully it works out this time around

 

F

Yeah, has to go on both sides of em. What a dumb *** manual.