Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Rear main seal leaking again

[Cowboy Medic]

In May I had the rear main seal replaced as well as a new SBC clutch put in, and then the input shaft redone. It was a nightmare. This is the thread that covered most of that if you are interested. First time around!!



Well since I got it back I have had transmission problems and have been researching figuring it had to be something in the input area as I had not had much of a problem before we redid it. It is my hypothesis that the thrust bearing was not replaced. I was there the day it was done and I am positive I did not see him put one in and I am suspicious that one was not already sitting in there when I watched him reinstalling things. To his credit he admits this and is pulling my old transmission and putting in a rebuilt one for me and if we open up the old one and find that is true he will be covering the appropriate expenses. Well I also noticed that the rear main seal must be leaking again as there is oil dripping from between the bell housing and the transmission. as well as my oil level is dropping again in the motor. So he will be fixing that as well. IF the clutch looks like too much oil has gotten on it he will replace that, etc. My concern now is what kind of damage could have been done to the motor itself. It seems to run fine and everything but am wondering what I should be looking for and if there are any specific things I should have inspected while that is all apart to make sure I don't get it back again and then another month down the road I am having motor problems. I am taking the truck in tomorrow and the new transmission should be here Wednesday. I am hoping I can have my truck back before the weekend. Somebody mentioned something about the crank to me once but I admit I am not experienced with motors or transmissions at all, what I know is from what I have been reasearching for these problems. If anyone can help me out I would appreciate it greatly.



Thanks!!!



Jon

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Engine should be OK. Be sure the crank surface and the seal lip are dry. No oil. Teflon seal. Smell the dripping oil to see if it is transmission fluid or engine oil. Engine oil probably didn't hurt the clutch, because the flywheel shielded the clutch from it. However, transmission oil probably did get on the clutch because it would come out the front bearing retainer.

 

[Sticks]

I can't believe you are going back to this guy. Granted you are giving him the chance to make it right, but you did that the first time when he forgot the pilot bearing.



IMO, take it to another shop and hand the first guy the bill when it's done.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

I know I probably shouldn't give him another chance but I don't really have the money to do anything else at the moment. I have only the cash outlay for the new transmission which I got for $1200 and that includes all the updates for fully splined shaft. I figure with a warrantied rebuilt transmission that part is taken care of because I don't trust him to do that kind of work, if he can fix the rear main seal and get everything installed correctly and it works and he gives me the money back that he should I will be happy and he has redeemed himself to a point. I already told him though that if it is not done by the end of the week or that I get shafted on anything else the papers will go to small claims court and the job will be done somewhere else and he will get the bill. Part of the problem is he is friends with several family members and they really pushed me to give him another chance. Maybe I shouldn't but it is already done deal. Just hoping it doesn't bite me. The clutch part seems to be working fine I am just concerned that there was enough vibration going on that it ruined another rear main seal and what else could have been damaged. Also going to make sure that pilot bearing is still good, I am concerned about that also with all the vibration. Most of all I just miss driving my truck and enjoying it. I want to feel it powering down the road and not have to cringe when it is time to shift.

 

[Pit Bull]

Whats this guys experience???

 

[Cowboy Medic]

He worked for chesley diesel in Mankato, MN for about 12 years and then opened his own shop.

 

[jwilliams3]

When he removes the Main seal housing, I would have him check for scratches on the crank that would cut the seal causing a leak.



--Justin

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Cowboy Medic

He worked for chesley diesel in Mankato, MN for about 12 years and then opened his own shop.

Guess you would expect him to know what he was doing. I guess everyone can have a bad day. Hope he does not disappoint you again.

 

[Huff N Puff]

Before you blame the mechanic.

Make sure you dont have excessive blowby pressures,plugged of vent hose,bottle pushed up against the vent hose. or damaged rings or pistons. Exessive blowby will cause chronic leaks. Merv

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Well, it is official!!!!! My truck is no longer a virgin. She has been screwed by JD Truck (dis-) Service. I had an entirely new transmission put in. a new rear main seal. An inspection of all the crankshaft, flywheel, pilot bearing etc. and got it back last friday. Today I drive 45 miles up to Mankato to go to work in the ER and as I am coming into town I stop at a stop light and cannot shift for the life of me. Shut it off and it slips into gear, push in the clutch and she starts but jumps also, so obviously clutch is not disengaging. I get it off to the side of the road and see an AAMCO place so I go over there. Guy comes out and looks over the truck, we check the hydraulics and they seem to be working, but with the engine off, if you push in the clutch you can hear a whole lot of cracking and creaking. Best guess is either something was not assembled correctly or the clutch failed. So I arrange for AAMCO to pull the transmission which they can't do until monday. I call South Bend and talk to Peter and he is awesome once again. taking the time to talk to me and to assure me that once it is opened up to let him know what parts we need and he would work with me to get me what I need and if it is a component of his that failed he would back it. Called the jerks that had screwed it up the last three times and they wouldn't even talk to me. Guess it will be small claims court if it comes back on them. Irregardless, I have $3400 dollars invested since this fiasco began and it is worse off now than when I started. I am so mad and frustrated I could just about cry. About the only good thing is it does not appear to be leaking any fluids anywhere so hopefully the engine side is fine. If I have to look at a rebuild on that as well I think I am gonna get sick. I have not had it drivable and running right since the second week of May. I absolutely love this truck, I just want it to be running right. Why does that seem to be so hard to get done? Anyway, I'm done whining for the moment. Figured it was better to dump it here than spend time in jail for murder. Cause I am about ready to kill that first mechanic(choking on that word).



Jon

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

Man that sucks, I don't think the problems you have had should in anyway damage the motor. One guy made a good suggestion to double check the crankcase vent hose, should feel air coming out while engine is runing. Make sure and keep us posted as to what the aamco guys say the first mechanics did wrong

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Got the call from AAMCO this morning. The bolts holding on the pressure plate had been twisted off. They suspected the use of an impact wrench when installing. I remember watching him do this one of the times I was over there. I never thought anything of it at the time. Guess my ignorance is showing, but hey that is why I was paying him to do it cause he was supposed to know better. Anyway, Had to buy another new clutch. South Bend is overnighting it. Huge praises again for them. Their reputation for customer service is awesome but still falls far short of what they truly provide. Woody and Peter have been of great help. So hopefully the truck will be back together and running before the weekend. Also, the clutch was oily so obviously there had been oil that leaked onto the new clutch even though he claimed it was fine. Man I hate Liars. I was perfectly willing to accept and believe that bad things just happen sometimes, but when you do it sloppy and then lie about it.



As for the guyat JD. I called him today to tell him what was happening. He basically called me an A-hole and hung up on me. SO I spent the afternoon consulting an attorney and going to the courthouse to get the documents I need for small claims court. Now granted last week I probably was a bit of a jerk, but after you have taken a truck to a guy three times and he still is screwing it up I think even the best would begin to lose their temper. I went back because he convinced me that he really wanted to make it right. I'm done now. I want my money back as I have had to spend it twice to get one job done.

 

[Old Man]

Man oh Man

Cowboy, I've been keeping up with your thread. If anybody needs a break, it's you. If and when you go to small claims, I certainly hope you burn him a new YING YANG. I wish you the best.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Thanks. I appreciate your concern. I have always believed in trying to support these guys who are trying to run their own places especially in small town america, but I have been getting burned more and more lately and it really makes it hard to trust.



I know for myself I get a little more emotionally involved because this was my Dad's truck and he custom ordered it and only had it a year before he died. SO I really try and baby it and it is hard for me to accept when the people I am paying to work on it don't give it their best even when I specifically tell them my feelings and expectations. I am learning as I go though and am getting more and more comfortable tackling alot of these things on it. Hopefully I will eventually get to the point I can take care of 99% of whatever needs doing on it.

 

[Huff N Puff]

Some times an education costs

I'm sorry it cost you dearly,to find out JD Truck Service is a bad apple,and didnt stand behind his work . You may educated others on how this guy runs his operation. Merv

 

[Pit Bull]

I'd write your story up and post it all over the web. It might keep others from getting burned.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Well I have the truck back and it is running great. A special thanks will be going out to AAMCO of Mankato. Going to wait just a bit to be absolutely sure, having a hard time trusting it is really fixed, after the last three times I hope that doesn't seem outlandish. They guys at AAMCO said they went through everything checking everything from the motor to the wheels to make sure they did not see anything that they felt would threaten anything. I really want to believe it is fixed. To me it just feels right. I really don't know how else to put it. It just feels like she flying down the road again, no odd sounds no wierd vibrations just the smooth response to the trhottle that puts that big grin on your face. It is amazing to me how much I really have missed that. I have been coming up with everyt excuse under the sun to run to town for this or that the last two days.



As for JD truck service I took over all my new repair bills and left another letter with them explaining what was done, why I felt it was their fault and he has said he would give me an answer after the weekend. I really don't want to have to take it to court, I would be so relieved if he would just pay what I am asking and we can move on. If not I do feel I am ready to go to court and win. I have everything documented and statements as well as pictures of everything, including the twisted bolts and damaged clutch assembly. There are things a guy learns when his mom has worked at a law firm for years.



A special thanks to everyone here as well. I appreciate everyone who offered help since all this started and gave advice or even just a different viewpoint. The TDR is an awesome bunch and I am proud to be a part of it. I'll put up another note once I know what this guy is going to do.





Jon

 

[MKresch]

it' s nice to see thing are back together. aamaco is a nationwide chain i don't think you'll have anymore problems. good luck and enjoy truck!Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.