Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Monte Castleman did pass the time by typing:

> 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75

Drive a bit then pull/unscrew the plug and stick your finger in
there. If it comes out white/foamy then you have water. If it
comes out dry you don't have enough lube.

Draining and refilling diffs is easy to do although you may
have to jack the vehicle up or remove the track bar to get at it.
(Depends on vehicle)

> 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58

Now that's an expensive load of --------.
2-3$ and a few minutes with a wrench.
Some muffler shops will do this for a few bucks more
if they even charge you at all.

This is a sure sign that your mechanic should be avoided
and all other "suggested repairs" should be looked on
with extreme suspicion.

> 3. Replace rear main seal: $550

Check behind the valve cover up top to make sure that's not
what's leaking.

While the average wrencher can replace the seal, you have to
be comfortable with the idea. But 550 sounds high.


--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Monte Castleman did pass the time by typing:

> 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75

Drive a bit then pull/unscrew the plug and stick your finger in
there. If it comes out white/foamy then you have water. If it
comes out dry you don't have enough lube.

Draining and refilling diffs is easy to do although you may
have to jack the vehicle up or remove the track bar to get at it.
(Depends on vehicle)

> 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58

Now that's an expensive load of --------.
2-3$ and a few minutes with a wrench.
Some muffler shops will do this for a few bucks more
if they even charge you at all.

This is a sure sign that your mechanic should be avoided
and all other "suggested repairs" should be looked on
with extreme suspicion.

> 3. Replace rear main seal: $550

Check behind the valve cover up top to make sure that's not
what's leaking.

While the average wrencher can replace the seal, you have to
be comfortable with the idea. But 550 sounds high.


--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Monte Castleman did pass the time by typing:

> 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75

Drive a bit then pull/unscrew the plug and stick your finger in
there. If it comes out white/foamy then you have water. If it
comes out dry you don't have enough lube.

Draining and refilling diffs is easy to do although you may
have to jack the vehicle up or remove the track bar to get at it.
(Depends on vehicle)

> 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58

Now that's an expensive load of --------.
2-3$ and a few minutes with a wrench.
Some muffler shops will do this for a few bucks more
if they even charge you at all.

This is a sure sign that your mechanic should be avoided
and all other "suggested repairs" should be looked on
with extreme suspicion.

> 3. Replace rear main seal: $550

Check behind the valve cover up top to make sure that's not
what's leaking.

While the average wrencher can replace the seal, you have to
be comfortable with the idea. But 550 sounds high.


--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Hi Monte,
To give your Stealer the benefit of doubt, when you brought the
differential in to be checked, it could have be hot and the water mixed
in the the oil turning it a milky brown color. If your mechanic changed
it cold, the water would have condensed and separated to the bottom as
water is heavier than oil, where it fell from the opened cover to the
funnel and storage can unseen. Of course, there's no such thing as a
free inspection. If I had a salesman working for me that didn't a job
out of it, I'd fire him.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Monte Castleman wrote:
>
> JD,
> I did indeed go to Park Jeep, not because I like them but because they were
> offering free vehicle inspections and I had the day off, so I figured I'd
> take it in and see if they turned up anything that needed to be dealt with
> before winter, having no intention of paying them to do the actual work.
> They quoted:
> 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75
> 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58
> 3. Replace rear main seal: $550
>
> My regular mechanic, (the one I emailed you his name and address) wasn't
> available that day, so against my better judgement I called another place I
> was familiar with- an inner city outfit, and they quoted $45 for both 1 &
> 2. They're the ones that said the seal might suddenly fail, and quoted
> $350-$400 to replace it. Previously this place had tried to tell me my
> drive chain needed replacement. My regular mechanic, who opened the
> transfer case in order to replace the seals, found nothing wrong with it.
>
> Thanks for the recommendation. Might be good to see what someone who works
> on 4wd stuff all the time but is not a dealer has to say.
>
> Everyone,
> I'm pretty sure it's not the valve cover gasket, since that was replaced a
> few months ago- It was obviously leaking oil on top of the engine. (Also
> replaced the O-rings on the filter adapter). I've not washed the bottom of
> the jeep since then, but the oil does appear to be fairly fresh, and looks
> like it might be coming from between the engine and the tranny. It's
> leaking enough to give the bottom of the tranny a good coat of lubrication,
> but is not really enough to drip onto the ground yet.
>
> Why might the dealer think water got into the differential when it hadn't,
> or were they just putting me on? The fluid needed to be changed anyway, but
> I don't like being lied to.
>
>
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Hi Monte,
To give your Stealer the benefit of doubt, when you brought the
differential in to be checked, it could have be hot and the water mixed
in the the oil turning it a milky brown color. If your mechanic changed
it cold, the water would have condensed and separated to the bottom as
water is heavier than oil, where it fell from the opened cover to the
funnel and storage can unseen. Of course, there's no such thing as a
free inspection. If I had a salesman working for me that didn't a job
out of it, I'd fire him.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Monte Castleman wrote:
>
> JD,
> I did indeed go to Park Jeep, not because I like them but because they were
> offering free vehicle inspections and I had the day off, so I figured I'd
> take it in and see if they turned up anything that needed to be dealt with
> before winter, having no intention of paying them to do the actual work.
> They quoted:
> 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75
> 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58
> 3. Replace rear main seal: $550
>
> My regular mechanic, (the one I emailed you his name and address) wasn't
> available that day, so against my better judgement I called another place I
> was familiar with- an inner city outfit, and they quoted $45 for both 1 &
> 2. They're the ones that said the seal might suddenly fail, and quoted
> $350-$400 to replace it. Previously this place had tried to tell me my
> drive chain needed replacement. My regular mechanic, who opened the
> transfer case in order to replace the seals, found nothing wrong with it.
>
> Thanks for the recommendation. Might be good to see what someone who works
> on 4wd stuff all the time but is not a dealer has to say.
>
> Everyone,
> I'm pretty sure it's not the valve cover gasket, since that was replaced a
> few months ago- It was obviously leaking oil on top of the engine. (Also
> replaced the O-rings on the filter adapter). I've not washed the bottom of
> the jeep since then, but the oil does appear to be fairly fresh, and looks
> like it might be coming from between the engine and the tranny. It's
> leaking enough to give the bottom of the tranny a good coat of lubrication,
> but is not really enough to drip onto the ground yet.
>
> Why might the dealer think water got into the differential when it hadn't,
> or were they just putting me on? The fluid needed to be changed anyway, but
> I don't like being lied to.
>
>
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Hi Monte,
To give your Stealer the benefit of doubt, when you brought the
differential in to be checked, it could have be hot and the water mixed
in the the oil turning it a milky brown color. If your mechanic changed
it cold, the water would have condensed and separated to the bottom as
water is heavier than oil, where it fell from the opened cover to the
funnel and storage can unseen. Of course, there's no such thing as a
free inspection. If I had a salesman working for me that didn't a job
out of it, I'd fire him.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Monte Castleman wrote:
>
> JD,
> I did indeed go to Park Jeep, not because I like them but because they were
> offering free vehicle inspections and I had the day off, so I figured I'd
> take it in and see if they turned up anything that needed to be dealt with
> before winter, having no intention of paying them to do the actual work.
> They quoted:
> 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75
> 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58
> 3. Replace rear main seal: $550
>
> My regular mechanic, (the one I emailed you his name and address) wasn't
> available that day, so against my better judgement I called another place I
> was familiar with- an inner city outfit, and they quoted $45 for both 1 &
> 2. They're the ones that said the seal might suddenly fail, and quoted
> $350-$400 to replace it. Previously this place had tried to tell me my
> drive chain needed replacement. My regular mechanic, who opened the
> transfer case in order to replace the seals, found nothing wrong with it.
>
> Thanks for the recommendation. Might be good to see what someone who works
> on 4wd stuff all the time but is not a dealer has to say.
>
> Everyone,
> I'm pretty sure it's not the valve cover gasket, since that was replaced a
> few months ago- It was obviously leaking oil on top of the engine. (Also
> replaced the O-rings on the filter adapter). I've not washed the bottom of
> the jeep since then, but the oil does appear to be fairly fresh, and looks
> like it might be coming from between the engine and the tranny. It's
> leaking enough to give the bottom of the tranny a good coat of lubrication,
> but is not really enough to drip onto the ground yet.
>
> Why might the dealer think water got into the differential when it hadn't,
> or were they just putting me on? The fluid needed to be changed anyway, but
> I don't like being lied to.
>
>
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Like a mechanic accidentally said to me once, "I'm sure we'll find
something."
Heh.
KH

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:3FC582A5.763B52DB@cox.net...
> Hi Monte,
> To give your Stealer the benefit of doubt, when you brought the
> differential in to be checked, it could have be hot and the water mixed
> in the the oil turning it a milky brown color. If your mechanic changed
> it cold, the water would have condensed and separated to the bottom as
> water is heavier than oil, where it fell from the opened cover to the
> funnel and storage can unseen. Of course, there's no such thing as a
> free inspection. If I had a salesman working for me that didn't a job
> out of it, I'd fire him.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Monte Castleman wrote:
> >
> > JD,
> > I did indeed go to Park Jeep, not because I like them but because they
were
> > offering free vehicle inspections and I had the day off, so I figured
I'd
> > take it in and see if they turned up anything that needed to be dealt
with
> > before winter, having no intention of paying them to do the actual work.
> > They quoted:
> > 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75
> > 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58
> > 3. Replace rear main seal: $550
> >
> > My regular mechanic, (the one I emailed you his name and address) wasn't
> > available that day, so against my better judgement I called another
place I
> > was familiar with- an inner city outfit, and they quoted $45 for both 1
&
> > 2. They're the ones that said the seal might suddenly fail, and quoted
> > $350-$400 to replace it. Previously this place had tried to tell me my
> > drive chain needed replacement. My regular mechanic, who opened the
> > transfer case in order to replace the seals, found nothing wrong with
it.
> >
> > Thanks for the recommendation. Might be good to see what someone who
works
> > on 4wd stuff all the time but is not a dealer has to say.
> >
> > Everyone,
> > I'm pretty sure it's not the valve cover gasket, since that was replaced
a
> > few months ago- It was obviously leaking oil on top of the engine. (Also
> > replaced the O-rings on the filter adapter). I've not washed the bottom
of
> > the jeep since then, but the oil does appear to be fairly fresh, and
looks
> > like it might be coming from between the engine and the tranny. It's
> > leaking enough to give the bottom of the tranny a good coat of
lubrication,
> > but is not really enough to drip onto the ground yet.
> >
> > Why might the dealer think water got into the differential when it
hadn't,
> > or were they just putting me on? The fluid needed to be changed anyway,
but
> > I don't like being lied to.
> >
> >
> > Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> > Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Like a mechanic accidentally said to me once, "I'm sure we'll find
something."
Heh.
KH

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:3FC582A5.763B52DB@cox.net...
> Hi Monte,
> To give your Stealer the benefit of doubt, when you brought the
> differential in to be checked, it could have be hot and the water mixed
> in the the oil turning it a milky brown color. If your mechanic changed
> it cold, the water would have condensed and separated to the bottom as
> water is heavier than oil, where it fell from the opened cover to the
> funnel and storage can unseen. Of course, there's no such thing as a
> free inspection. If I had a salesman working for me that didn't a job
> out of it, I'd fire him.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Monte Castleman wrote:
> >
> > JD,
> > I did indeed go to Park Jeep, not because I like them but because they
were
> > offering free vehicle inspections and I had the day off, so I figured
I'd
> > take it in and see if they turned up anything that needed to be dealt
with
> > before winter, having no intention of paying them to do the actual work.
> > They quoted:
> > 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75
> > 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58
> > 3. Replace rear main seal: $550
> >
> > My regular mechanic, (the one I emailed you his name and address) wasn't
> > available that day, so against my better judgement I called another
place I
> > was familiar with- an inner city outfit, and they quoted $45 for both 1
&
> > 2. They're the ones that said the seal might suddenly fail, and quoted
> > $350-$400 to replace it. Previously this place had tried to tell me my
> > drive chain needed replacement. My regular mechanic, who opened the
> > transfer case in order to replace the seals, found nothing wrong with
it.
> >
> > Thanks for the recommendation. Might be good to see what someone who
works
> > on 4wd stuff all the time but is not a dealer has to say.
> >
> > Everyone,
> > I'm pretty sure it's not the valve cover gasket, since that was replaced
a
> > few months ago- It was obviously leaking oil on top of the engine. (Also
> > replaced the O-rings on the filter adapter). I've not washed the bottom
of
> > the jeep since then, but the oil does appear to be fairly fresh, and
looks
> > like it might be coming from between the engine and the tranny. It's
> > leaking enough to give the bottom of the tranny a good coat of
lubrication,
> > but is not really enough to drip onto the ground yet.
> >
> > Why might the dealer think water got into the differential when it
hadn't,
> > or were they just putting me on? The fluid needed to be changed anyway,
but
> > I don't like being lied to.
> >
> >
> > Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> > Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Like a mechanic accidentally said to me once, "I'm sure we'll find
something."
Heh.
KH

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:3FC582A5.763B52DB@cox.net...
> Hi Monte,
> To give your Stealer the benefit of doubt, when you brought the
> differential in to be checked, it could have be hot and the water mixed
> in the the oil turning it a milky brown color. If your mechanic changed
> it cold, the water would have condensed and separated to the bottom as
> water is heavier than oil, where it fell from the opened cover to the
> funnel and storage can unseen. Of course, there's no such thing as a
> free inspection. If I had a salesman working for me that didn't a job
> out of it, I'd fire him.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Monte Castleman wrote:
> >
> > JD,
> > I did indeed go to Park Jeep, not because I like them but because they
were
> > offering free vehicle inspections and I had the day off, so I figured
I'd
> > take it in and see if they turned up anything that needed to be dealt
with
> > before winter, having no intention of paying them to do the actual work.
> > They quoted:
> > 1. Replace Front differential fluid (contaminated by water) : $75
> > 2. Replace missing exhaust clamp: $58
> > 3. Replace rear main seal: $550
> >
> > My regular mechanic, (the one I emailed you his name and address) wasn't
> > available that day, so against my better judgement I called another
place I
> > was familiar with- an inner city outfit, and they quoted $45 for both 1
&
> > 2. They're the ones that said the seal might suddenly fail, and quoted
> > $350-$400 to replace it. Previously this place had tried to tell me my
> > drive chain needed replacement. My regular mechanic, who opened the
> > transfer case in order to replace the seals, found nothing wrong with
it.
> >
> > Thanks for the recommendation. Might be good to see what someone who
works
> > on 4wd stuff all the time but is not a dealer has to say.
> >
> > Everyone,
> > I'm pretty sure it's not the valve cover gasket, since that was replaced
a
> > few months ago- It was obviously leaking oil on top of the engine. (Also
> > replaced the O-rings on the filter adapter). I've not washed the bottom
of
> > the jeep since then, but the oil does appear to be fairly fresh, and
looks
> > like it might be coming from between the engine and the tranny. It's
> > leaking enough to give the bottom of the tranny a good coat of
lubrication,
> > but is not really enough to drip onto the ground yet.
> >
> > Why might the dealer think water got into the differential when it
hadn't,
> > or were they just putting me on? The fluid needed to be changed anyway,
but
> > I don't like being lied to.
> >
> >
> > Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> > Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address