&%$$#& Differential Leak!!!

[Roadfrog]

Going in for the second time in less than 8000 miles for the damned leaking differential!!! The first fix lasted about 5000 miles. I'm about to conclude that I have bought another General Motors POS. That's strike two on this car.

BTW, the ZO6 has B&B Bullets that will have to be removed to get to the driver's side leak. Anyone think this will cause a warranty problem? Thanks.

 

[Z_OH_6]

Going in for the second time in less than 8000 miles for the damned leaking differential!!! The first fix lasted about 5000 miles. I'm about to conclude that I have bought another General Motors POS. That's strike two on this car.

BTW, the ZO6 has B&B Bullets that will have to be removed to get to the driver's side leak. Anyone think this will cause a warranty problem? Thanks.

Gosh Roadfrog, sure sorry to hear about this. I don't believe your aftermarket cat backs will create any problems, especially since this was fixed under warranty previously; obviously before you installed the Bullets. They have no bearing on the differential any way. Best of luck, hope they get it fixed for good this time.

 

[Edmond]

frog,

Why is it leaking? Is it a seal or something like that?

I don't believe a catback system will void the warranty but you'd better check to make sure.

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
I would suggest that the repair may not have been done per the GM bulletin.
There is a revision that includes adding anerobic sealer to the side flanges where the cover mates to the diff housing.
Also, the fluid level should NOT be all the way to the top of the fill hole, if you drive the car aggressively. 1/4 inch below the fill plug is just fine and would NOT push fluid out of the breather when driving hard.
Also, the breather valve on the drivers side should be checked for function.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Roadfrog]

c4c5specialist,

This MAY relate to my issue. When the repair was made, anerobic sealer was definitely used as I saw the dealer apply it.

The day before my recent overseas trip, I took the ZO6 out and ran it pretty hard and fast in hot weather as it had already sat a couple of weeks without being driven.

Yesterday, I lifted the car and looked at the rear end. I ran my fingers around the breather cap on top of the housing and there was a thin coating of lube and a small amount of road grit in with the surrounding lube. This tells me it didn't get there overnight and that the fluid may have indeed come out the vent after the hard run prior to the trip.

Additionally, yesterday (another hot day) I took the car out and ran it up to 160 even (no lectures please, I have a place to do it), did some more fairly hard driving, parked the car in the garage and as of now, there is no sign of leakage from the seal or any drips of fluid around the bottom of the driver's side housing. I'm hoping there was an overflow out the vent prior to leaving for my trip as the rear end was finding it's natural fluid level.

I plan to just watch it for a while. I'll let you know the results (fingers crossed).

Thanks for the info.!

HI there,
I would suggest that the repair may not have been done per the GM bulletin.
There is a revision that includes adding anerobic sealer to the side flanges where the cover mates to the diff housing.
Also, the fluid level should NOT be all the way to the top of the fill hole, if you drive the car aggressively. 1/4 inch below the fill plug is just fine and would NOT push fluid out of the breather when driving hard.
Also, the breather valve on the drivers side should be checked for function.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[slong]

Hmmmmmm. Sheet RF, sounded like there was a puddle on the floor in the morning the way your first post read. Been there, done that, but only once. Good luck and drop that fluid done a little. That did sound like some good advice. 160!!! You should be ashamed of yourself. LOL, couldn't help myself.

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

160!!! You should be ashamed of yourself.

Yeah, what's wrong? Couldn't go faster?? :L

 

[c4c5specialist]

Actually, I thought there was something wrong with the car, 160 was too slow.
As for your issue, Roadfrog, I believe that maybe it was residual.
Speed is what these cars are engineered to do, enjoy.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Roadfrog]

Slong,

I'm not ashamed of myself other than I should have gotten on the throttle a little earlier so I could have topped her out. I think the fluid dropped itself down but didn't check for drips this morning. There were none last night.

I'll try to go faster next time. :L

Hmmmmmm. Sheet RF, sounded like there was a puddle on the floor in the morning the way your first post read. Been there, done that, but only once. Good luck and drop that fluid done a little. That did sound like some good advice. 160!!! You should be ashamed of yourself. LOL, couldn't help myself.

 

[Roadfrog]

Actually, there is no doubt in my mind that the car will do well into the 170's. It gets to 160 so fast it's mind boggling. I just don't like doing it in the downtown section of the city here....the pedestrians you know. :L

Yeah, what's wrong? Couldn't go faster?? :L

 

[slong]

At a baby!!!

Slong,

I'm not ashamed of myself other than I should have gotten on the throttle a little earlier so I could have topped her out. I think the fluid dropped itself down but didn't check for drips this morning. There were none last night.

I'll try to go faster next time. :L

 

[WhalePirot]

...the pedestrians you know. :L

Ya know, if the peds don't like how ya drive, they should just stay off the sidewalk! :L

 

[Edmond]

Ya know, if the peds don't like how ya drive, they should just stay off the sidewalk! :L

I don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything but we have that problem around here. The punk kids in the neighborhood like walking in the middle of the street when there is clearly a sidewalk for them to use. When they see you coming; they're very slow and deliberate to get to the side of the road. What gives? :confused

 

[slong]

I heard that. While back when I had a 528E was driving down the road and two kids "16/17" walked right in front of that BMW on purpose. You could see them staring straight ahead with there eyes pointed as sharp as possible in my direction. I was doing about 30 MPH. Slammed on the binders and stopped about 1' away from them right in the middle of the street. No sheet, you could see the color run right out of there faces. Pretty sure those punks won't do something as stupid like that again. Lucky for them I was driving a decent car.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything but we have that problem around here. The punk kids in the neighborhood like walking in the middle of the street when there is clearly a sidewalk for them to use. When they see you coming; they're very slow and deliberate to get to the side of the road. What gives? :confused

 

[Roadfrog]

Edmond,

Down here, people like that commonly recieve what is locally known as a "country ass whipping". That's one reason why people don't mess with each other as much down heeya in Dixie. It is sometimes refered to as "good ole Southern hospitality". Not kidding about this either.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything but we have that problem around here. The punk kids in the neighborhood like walking in the middle of the street when there is clearly a sidewalk for them to use. When they see you coming; they're very slow and deliberate to get to the side of the road. What gives? :confused

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

It's hard to part with your Z especially during the nice weather. Same thing happened to me at around 9000 mi. I keep my fingers crossed, but that's all you can do. They will find other problems more likely than not. If you take a look at the posts at ZO6Vette.com, you will find that you are not alone. Sorry to hear about it Roadfrog. Good luck brother!

 

[Roadfrog]

Todd,

Thanks for the info. and pep talk. I needed it, not because of the Vette....just having to deal with crooked VP Finance right now. I'm like a lion in the grass. First time he slips, I'll get him by the throat and kill. Why do people have to be such common trash and so blatantly dishonest? Thanks! Venting over. ad

It's hard to part with your Z especially during the nice weather. Same thing happened to me at around 9000 mi. I keep my fingers crossed, but that's all you can do. They will find other problems more likely than not. If you take a look at the posts at ZO6Vette.com, you will find that you are not alone. Sorry to hear about it Roadfrog. Good luck brother!