Gearbox oil leak

[fordm]

Hi,
I took my 156 2.0jts to a local garage for clutch change last month and since then it's developed an oil leak from the gearbox, it went back just before xmas and they said it was one of the driveshaft seals and that they had reseated and tightened it, over xmas i've noticed it is still leaking so car is going back today. are these seal a quick job and can they normally just tighten them up or should it be renewed? as just a little woried that if it's an expensive job they will try an avoid fixing properly and maybe deny it's down to them.
Any advice please.
Thanks

[zulu ferret]

Not sure of the layout on Alfa, but on some the drive shaft cover flange needs to be removed to access the seal, which is part suspension dismantling, drive shaft removal, coverflange removal, seal replacement? Dunno' really, so just guessing again, sorry.:

[fordm]

Bump!

[fordm]

Just an update,
Picked car up from garage they said that the leak is nothing that they've caused, and that is leaking from behind where the shaft/hub bolt onto the diff/gearbox and that to resolve this would mean taking the gearbox back out and as they said it not something they've caused would be at my expense although they did say they would do me a deal for the work!!
I don't believe what they are telling me, I think that they disturbed the seal when removing the shaft which probably involved some amount of hammering prizing and pulling. however proving it's down to them is a different matter.

[fordm]

Anyone got any ideas what i can do?

[zulu ferret]

Ask someone on here with the expertise to access E per, or whatever it is called, for a decent line drawing, and then you should be able to see where the seal is located, and how to access it, more or less?: I haven't ever been able to access it myself, otherwise I would on your behalf, sorry.:

[fordm]

I have looked on elearn but it doesn't help with seals on the diff. does anyone know if the diff can be removed without removing the gearbox?

[Smaky]

Originally Posted by fordm

Just an update,
Picked car up from garage they said that the leak is nothing that they've caused,

Well I say BS to that comment from them, to change the clutch you remove the gearbox, to do that both driveshafts are dislodged from the diff, that CAN tear the seal, it's commen paractice to replace any seal that is intefered with during maintenance, normally though on the driveshaft seals though people don't bother, but in this case they obviously didn't, and are trying to get out of replacing them and spending another day on your car.

[zulu ferret]

Great! I was waiting for Smaky to comment as I wasn't sure, having no Alfa experience of a mechanical nature, but he has confirmed my suspicions!:

[fordm]

I agree, but I'm now in a position where they have said thats thats so how do I get them to own up to this being down to them and even if they do would I want them going anywhere near the car again after this.

[zulu ferret]

That's the difficult bit? You have to try and prove their default, and that isn't going to be easy, unless you can get a reputable garage to give you it in writing that is the most likely way the fault occurred. :

[fordm]

Yep I was discussing that with a friend who had a problem with a garage about 5 years ago which resulted in a blown engine, he had to fork out £200 for an independent engineer to investigate and write a report. so if it's going to cost me £200 or more to get a report and it turns out by some miracle it not their fault i've then got to fork out to get job done which is prob going to cost £300-500 ish i'm then out of pocket by even more, so yes it is a difficult one

[Smaky]

Trading standards or Watchdog are where I would start, to replace both driveshaft seals is only 2 hours work and £30 in parts, if they'd have done it right in the first place there'd be no problem, and I bet they tryed to grease the seal to stop the leak the first time you complained. Oh and by taking the car in the first time they admitted liability.

[Smaky]

If you were closer I'd sort it for you for a couple of crates. Certainly wouldn't be using them again if I was you.

[zulu ferret]

It always helps if you can get someone who can compose a decent letter in the firs place, if you can? Preferably Institute of The Motor Industry, AMI Mech.E or similar, to help re-inforce your claim? Trading Standards as Smaky says are worth a first call.:

[Smaky]

Originally Posted by zulu ferret

It always helps if you can get someone who can compose a decent letter in the firs place, if you can?

Obviously not us 2 though as neither of us can spell.

[zulu ferret]

Not that smakey mate really is it? Weak keys that don't respond most of the time Innit? Can't be pfaffed with an American spell checker, and often find the Chambers Concise is too heavy for me to handle!

[Smaky]

Or be bothered to change the batteries in my keyboard

[fordm]

I am on trading standards website now and will prob phone them in morning, I just wish I'd taken it to Jamie Porter at alfaworkshop (70miles away) but just thought how wrong can a clutch change go and went for a local recommended garage which was a little cheaper than Jamie's price.
What a FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[zulu ferret]

Anyway I hope fordm goes your route first and contacts trading standards, unless you are close enough to assist him? But he is in Essex, so I guess that's a non-starter! Maybe Jamie at Royston could help him out with sorting the leak, if nothing else?

[Smaky]

Well the car would get to me easily and the seals do just push into place, it's just the work needed to get to them that's putting off this garage, too scared to pop a ball joint I guess???? I just hate garages that wont backup thier work even when it's clearly thier fault, worse than BAE for a warranty.

[fordm]

I've been in contact with Jamie at Alfaworkshop.co.uk and he's said that the work would prob cost £130 or less and that the G/box shouldn't need to come out, he's also said that he'd be happy to write a report stating the cause of the damaged seal/s.
I am thinking now that I may just take it to Jamie get it sorted properly and then pursue the other garage for the costs.
Oh and did I mention that also since the car had the clutch done I have had a slight blow on exhaust (which wasn't there before) which they say is down to a hole on the down pipe and again nothing to do with them!

[Smaky]

Originally Posted by fordm

Oh and did I mention that also since the car had the clutch done I have had a slight blow on exhaust (which wasn't there before) which they say is down to a hole on the down pipe and again nothing to do with them!

Well that would be a difficult one to prove, the downpipe does need to come off, but ow do you prove it wasn't leaking before??? Jamie is showing you how a decent garage behaves and apart from his variators all his parts are quite cheap, but to do the seals, you do need to remove the driveshafts but the box will stay in, just need more oil again d'oh, oh well, it's just better for the box I suppose.

[fordm]

Have had a look on Elearn and it doesn't look too bad to do myself, so if parts are cheap enough I'm back to my old philosophy of why get a garage to do what I can do myself! I've attached a pic of leak (r/h diff/shaft seal)

[Smaky]

Originally Posted by fordm

Have had a look on Elearn and it doesn't look too bad to do myself, so if parts are cheap enough I'm back to my old philosophy of why get a garage to do what I can do myself! I've attached a pic of leak (r/h diff/shaft seal)

The on going saga, so it still leaks after an attemp to fix it.

I suspect the seal has been nipped when sliding on the box, the shaft has worn down inside the old seal, the new seal isn't in squarely.