So You Think Your Diff Isn't Leaking...

[ggccg]

So did I. Never saw so much as a drop of fluid in my driveway, much less the puddle that most people have described. But I took my 07 Sky in yesterday for the Differential Recall anyway. They called back in the afternoon to tell me that the car would not be ready for pickup in the afternoon as promised because they found that ALL of the differential seals were leaking, much of the differential fluid was gone, and they found metal in the remaining fluid. A complete new differential is on the way from the factory.

So... do not assume that your differential is good just because you have not seen any fluid in your parking space. Have your dealer take a look ASAP.

[SKY Spy]

Wow!!!

Very interesting... My diff has NEVER left any evidence of leaks and I'm in line for the recall right now at the Retailer I work for... I wonder if mine has an "invisible" leak like yours?

I have had my RedLine for a little over a year now, almost 8,000 miles and not an issue with it other than two cup holder replacements...

We'll see...

BA...

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by ggccg

So did I. Never saw so much as a drop of fluid in my driveway, much less the puddle that most people have described. But I took my 07 Sky in yesterday for the Differential Recall anyway. They called back in the afternoon to tell me that the car would not be ready for pickup in the afternoon as promised because they found that ALL of the differential seals were leaking, much of the differential fluid was gone, and they found metal in the remaining fluid. A complete new differential is on the way from the factory.

So... do not assume that your differential is good just because you have not seen any fluid in your parking space. Have your dealer take a look ASAP.

Yea WOW is right. I hope everything works out for you. I myself am scheduled for the 27th. My rear tho is a standard one, which don't mean anything since I have found out the last several days people with this rear have also experienced leaks.

If I recall, you have the LSD, it would be interesting to know after your repairs if you received a BRAND NEW LSD, or a rebuilt rear.. Wonder if they will tell you.. Good Luck!!

[SSGTBARCLAY]

I am getting my recall done right now along with other things up at the dealers. I had stopped by two days ago to check on the progress and the guy called me back there and showed me the diff. leak. He had showed me the front yoke and the seal that was going to be replaced and then he showed me were it had sprayed all over the under side of my car. Which is funny because I had never seen a drop on the ground were I park. Must leak/spray out while in motion. I don't really know tho.

[nomead]

ouch! and here I was feeling really good since I see nothing in home garage or in work garage (where I park pretty much in the same spot every day)
due for my 15K - time to call

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by SSGTBARCLAY

I am getting my recall done right now along with other things up at the dealers. I had stopped by two days ago to check on the progress and the guy called me back there and showed me the diff. leak. He had showed me the front yoke and the seal that was going to be replaced and then he showed me were it had sprayed all over the under side of my car. Which is funny because I had never seen a drop on the ground were I park. Must leak/spray out while in motion. I don't really know tho.

You would think that even if it sprayed all over, you would of been able to smell burning oil after hitting the muffler or the pipes..

[ggccg]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

Yea WOW is right. I hope everything works out for you. I myself am scheduled for the 27th. My rear tho is a standard one, which don't mean anything since I have found out the last several days people with this rear have also experienced leaks.

If I recall, you have the LSD, it would be interesting to know after your repairs if you received a BRAND NEW LSD, or a rebuilt rear.. Wonder if they will tell you.. Good Luck!!

I didn't order the LSD, so if I have one, it's a surprise to me. Wondering myself about what I'm gonna get as a replacement since they seem to have discontinued standard diffs on Skys. I'll be sure to ask when I pick it up.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by ggccg

I didn't order the LSD, so if I have one, it's a surprise to me. Wondering myself about what I'm gonna get as a replacement since they seem to have discontinued standard diffs on Skys. I'll be sure to ask when I pick it up.

Well shoot, this makes it even MORE interesting to me now.. I know you know the code in the glove box for standard or LSD. I can't imagine them making a mistake like that, however anything is possible as you know. The fact that you have a standard after reading some posts from others here the last couple of days now concerns me even more. True, they have discontinued the standard rear, wonder if they will give a LSD by mistake that would be cool, perhaps now. Perhaps we can tell them we'll pay the $190.00 and tell them to just put a LSD in there.. Yea I'll be keeping up on this thread..

[SSGTBARCLAY]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

You would think that even if it sprayed all over, you would of been able to smell burning oil after hitting the muffler or the pipes..

No I never smelled anything or saw anything on the ground under the vehicle but there it was sprayed all over the under side. Look at yours and see if you see it.

[Ghost-Sky]

Thanks for the info ggccg. I have never seen any indication that the rear has been leaking. I do have the LSD. I got my notice, just have to make an apointment to bring the car in. Hey hows the weather in sunny FL. I miss FL.
"The Sky's The Limit"

[TulsaSky]

I never saw a drop from mine, it did clatter and was noisy, and my Redline does have the LSD, heck the first time I backed it out of the garage the diff clunked so loud I thought I hit the garage door. Note to dealer next visit, "DO NOT WASH MY CAR" anyway they did and I have a feeling it was because of the spilled fluid from the seal replacement. Those dang water spots did not come off with my detailer once home
What I did notice once I pulled in the garage is the smell of burnt oil/fluid which I have never noticed before. So I went from a car that had no problems to one that now has hard water spots all over it and burnt oil smell, which I hope goes away next time I take her out. The clutch is still noisy and I did not notice the clatter but it does not do it all the time, so don't know if it is better or the same. I am trying to be optimistic that my deferential is fixed even if it was not broken and by replacing or at least topping of the fluid I will never have an issue with it

TulsaSky

[ggccg]

Update: as expected, the differential replacement did not get completed today. The reason? The dealership did not have the proper differential oil.

I did ask if the new diff was a standard like the original or was one of the now standard LSDs and was told that the replacement part was a standard differential, just like the original.

To ease my disappointment in not getting my car back today, they gave me a free rental car for 3 days.

[ggccg]

Originally Posted by Ghost-Sky

Thanks for the info ggccg. I have never seen any indication that the rear has been leaking. I do have the LSD. I got my notice, just have to make an apointment to bring the car in. Hey hows the weather in sunny FL. I miss FL.
"The Sky's The Limit"

Weather has been fantastic. There have only been 2 days where it was cool enough out to justify a light jacket. It has been unseasonably rainy though. Spent 5 days in Key West last week and it rained a lot on two of them.

[gadget]

All RL's have Limited Slip. 2.4's you had to ask for one. I don't know about this peticular differential but usually the only difference is the gear pack. the housing itself is usually the same so I don't think that it would make that much difference.

[ggccg]

Day 4 in the shop... dealer says they still do not have the "differential fluid additive" they need to finish the job.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by ggccg

Day 4 in the shop... dealer says they still do not have the "differential fluid additive" they need to finish the job.

I thought the additive was only needed for LSD's? They also now adding to standard rears looks like..

Heres what I have gathered from the Sol forum. (PS this was for the Cadillac owners)
Part Number - Description
19179933 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (CTS, STS, SRX, Solstice, SKY, GT) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179936)
19179934 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (STS-V, CTS-V)
19179936 - Seal Kit, Frt Diff Drv P/Gr (STS AWD, SRX AWD) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179933)
89021677 - Lubricant, Gr Synthetic, SAE 75W-90
01052358 - Lubricant, Limited-Slip Differential (if needed)

Heres the whole thread..
No additive after recall? - Pontiac Solstice Forum

[ggccg]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

I thought the additive was only needed for LSD's? They also now adding to standard rears looks like..

Heres what I have gathered from the Sol forum. (PS this was for the Cadillac owners)
Part Number - Description
19179933 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (CTS, STS, SRX, Solstice, SKY, GT) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179936)
19179934 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (STS-V, CTS-V)
19179936 - Seal Kit, Frt Diff Drv P/Gr (STS AWD, SRX AWD) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179933)
89021677 - Lubricant, Gr Synthetic, SAE 75W-90
01052358 - Lubricant, Limited-Slip Differential (if needed)

Heres the whole thread..
No additive after recall? - Pontiac Solstice Forum

Obviously I'm not getting good info from these Bozos. Guess I'll have to crawl under the car when I get it back and get a part number off the diff to know for sure what they have replaced the original with.

[07BLUESTONE]

Originally Posted by ggccg

So did I. Never saw so much as a drop of fluid in my driveway, much less the puddle that most people have described. But I took my 07 Sky in yesterday for the Differential Recall anyway. They called back in the afternoon to tell me that the car would not be ready for pickup in the afternoon as promised because they found that ALL of the differential seals were leaking, much of the differential fluid was gone, and they found metal in the remaining fluid. A complete new differential is on the way from the factory.

So... do not assume that your differential is good just because you have not seen any fluid in your parking space. Have your dealer take a look ASAP.

I just returned from the dealer, having the differential kit installed. I've been watching like a hawk for signs of a leak from the day I got my car. The talk of a seal / vent leak have been around a long time. That was over a year ago and 8,500+ miles. They said it was leaking pretty good, sprayed around the undercarrage, and I never saw a drop on the garage floor. The service order showed Seal Kit, Lubricant, and Additive.
(with my old TR6 the joke was the oil leaks and oil spraying under the car was a type of british car "Rust Proofing")

[cfjara]

Originally Posted by ggccg

So did I. Never saw so much as a drop of fluid in my driveway, much less the puddle that most people have described. But I took my 07 Sky in yesterday for the Differential Recall anyway. They called back in the afternoon to tell me that the car would not be ready for pickup in the afternoon as promised because they found that ALL of the differential seals were leaking, much of the differential fluid was gone, and they found metal in the remaining fluid. A complete new differential is on the way from the factory.

So... do not assume that your differential is good just because you have not seen any fluid in your parking space. Have your dealer take a look ASAP.

as cynical as this sounds, when recalls go out, the dealerships see this as $$ to be made since the manufacturer will cover costs, warranty or not, problem or not. I hope this was not the case in your situation.