leaky diff question for C4C5.

[Cirrus8]

My diff is leaking but I can only find oil around the bottom bolt of the drivers side cover. I have been under the car with a flashlight and paper towels and the oil is only dripping off the bottom bolt. Is it possible that that bolt is the leak source? Can I remove the bolt without the diff oil running out. Or, would it require a drain and refill? Can this bolt be sealed with Locktite or silcone and stop the leak? Let me clear up that there is no oil anyplace around the cover plate. It is only around the bottom bolt. Thanks, Cirrus8

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
No, there is only one way to correctly repair the leak. Remove the differential, seal the cover with a new seal, Anerobic sealant and reassemble.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[RJ'sC5]

Differential leak

I had the exact same problem. After reading all the previous posts, I decided to give it a shot myself before spending the big bucks for the dealer fix. I drained all the synthetic gear oil out, and replaced it with the 1999 and prior year GM recommended non-synthetic gear lube and limited slip additive. The rear has always been the same, but GM decided to change to synthetic lube in 2000. Well 1500 miles later, I have not had one drip; when it had previously leaked daily when used. I can only hope this is not a temporary fix. C4C5 Specialist's knowledge of these cars is truly amazing, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for him. We are very lucky he gives generously of his time to help us; so I fully expect to see this leak return but so far so good.

 

[MorganC5Vette]

C4C5specialist,

Do C5s have a leaking problems? Is it normal for the C5 to have a leaky rear? I drive mines regulary and have not seen nor notice a leak yet.

Thank you.:cool

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
If you do not have one, you are doing great, and will probably not have a problem.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[6 Shooter]

Leaky Differential Seal Problem . . .

I was detailing a few weeks ago and noticed that our Vette has the leaky differential seal problem. The occasional drip/dirty rear suspension is more a nuisance than a concern of damage.

If repaired will the new seal fix the problem or is it a temporary band-aid?

Does anyone know what the associated $ charge is for having it repaired at a friendly Corvette/Chevy Dealership?

Thanks for any input in advance!

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hey there,
Another thing I would recommend is that you take it for a nice long ride, maybe 1 hour, then check the diff fluid level.
You may be surprised how much fluid may come out of the fill hole.
The fill plug is a 10mm allen socket.
You may find its overfilled when hot.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[lawless99]

C4C5specialist,

Do C5s have a leaking problems? Is it normal for the C5 to have a leaky rear? I drive mines regulary and have not seen nor notice a leak yet.

Thank you.:cool

Mine leaked, dealer fixed it under warranty, replaced driver side seal. This is what I would consider a fairly common problem and I think the dealership charges between $500-$800 to fix a $10.00 seal. The cost is all labor and fluid. The "catch" is the dealer charges by what "the book" says for labor hours and not by the actual time it takes them to do the repair. "The book" might say 4 hrs to do the repair but in reality a good mechanic can do this in well under 2 hrs, at $85.00 per hour you do the math and you will see that for this repair "the book" is not your friend. I would seek out a local corvette specialist who is familiar with this repair and charges his labor based on actual time spent working on your car, it could save you a few hundred bucks.

 

[don7790]

Mine leaked, dealer fixed it under warranty, replaced driver side seal. This is what I would consider a fairly common problem and I think the dealership charges between $500-$800 to fix a $10.00 seal. The cost is all labor and fluid. The "catch" is the dealer charges by what "the book" says for labor hours and not by the actual time it takes them to do the repair. "The book" might say 4 hrs to do the repair but in reality a good mechanic can do this in well under 2 hrs, at $85.00 per hour you do the math and you will see that for this repair "the book" is not your friend. I would seek out a local corvette specialist who is familiar with this repair and charges his labor based on actual time spent working on your car, it could save you a few hundred bucks.

You got to be kidding.How do you think the most good tech make their money? Would you rather have them charge 200.00 an hour and charge you by the hour.A good tech will beat the rate because he is good and has done the job many times before.He has the right tools and knowledge.Remember if the job comes back he eats it on his own time.

 

[lawless99]

You got to be kidding.How do you think the most good tech make their money? Would you rather have them charge 200.00 an hour and charge you by the hour.A good tech will beat the rate because he is good and has done the job many times before.He has the right tools and knowledge.Remember if the job comes back he eats it on his own time.

I understand that charging by the book is the industry standard but I also feel that the general public is not aware that this is the norm at most shops. I personally do not wish to pay YOU for 4 hours of labor if it only takes YOU 1.5 hrs to do the job. I will hire MY mechanic who is a retired GM master mechanic and HE charges $75.00 per hour for work actually performed. I would be FIRED from my job if I only worked 4 hrs a day and charged my boss for 8hrs and expected to be paid. I am not trying to take money from YOUR pocket but I am trying to keep my money in MY pocket and maybe help save some other people from paying for something they are not getting. Peace to you my friend.

 

[don7790]

I understand that charging by the book is the industry standard but I also feel that the general public is not aware that this is the norm at most shops. I personally do not wish to pay YOU for 4 hours of labor if it only takes YOU 1.5 hrs to do the job. I will hire MY mechanic who is a retired GM master mechanic and HE charges $75.00 per hour for work actually performed. I would be FIRED from my job if I only worked 4 hrs a day and charged my boss for 8hrs and expected to be paid. I am not trying to take money from YOUR pocket but I am trying to keep my money in MY pocket and maybe help save some other people from paying for something they are not getting. Peace to you my friend.

So what you are saying because I do the same job just as well as the next guy and do it in less time I should get paid less.I get punished for being faster.If I did the same job and it took me more time because I screwed up you would pay me more because I am on the clock?

 

[c4c5specialist]

You are not only paying for a competent person to serve your Corvette for the given time.
You are paying for their EXPERT opinion and knowledge.
If I had a dime for every person who 'wanted to know if you have seen this type of problem before', I would not have to work again.
3000 hours of training, 175 courses over an 8 year period, my time is money and there is NO short cutting working on Corvette.
DOING IT CORRECTLY, means that for the amount of time in Motors, Chilton, Alldata or the like is very close to what it will actually take to do the job.
NO AIR TOOLS to reassemble, TORQUE WRENCH ON EVERY SINGLE FASTENER.
And making sure that after a road test, there is NOT ONE spot of leakage.
You short cut, you will take alot less time, plain and simple.
Allthebest, c4c5

PS Just try to do my job and see.

 

[lawless99]

So what you are saying because I do the same job just as well as the next guy and do it in less time I should get paid less.I get punished for being faster.If I did the same job and it took me more time because I screwed up you would pay me more because I am on the clock?

No Sir, I am not suggesting that you should be punished for being good at your job. Let me make sure that I understand your position. Are you suggesting that if "the book" states the job SHOULD take you 4 hrs but the job ACTUALLY takes you 8 hrs are you only going to bill me for the 4 hours the book states? When I responded to this thread I was attempting to share some of my personal insight with the person who asked a question about an auto repair, it was not my intention in any way to pizz off a bunch of mechanics on this forum I was just sharing my personal experience.
I would be interested to hear the thoughts of non-mechanics who read this thread and are learning of this billing practice for the first time. I wonder what they would say when they go and pick up their car from the shop and the clerk at the billing window says: your car is fixed, it took us 1.5 hrs to do the repair but our "book" states that it could have taken us 4 hrs so we are going to bill you the full 4 hrs that will be $85.00 x 4hrs=$340.00 when in real time it would be billed as $85.00 x 1.5=$127.50. I'm sure you would hear some pretty choice words.
Again I would like to stress the point that I am not bashing mechanics in any way I am merely trying to point out the different ways a consumer can be billed for auto repairs.
Peace to you my corvette brother.

 

[LLC5]

Yes, you would only be billed for 4hrs. That's how it works. it's a double- edged sword. You are quoted a price to do a job, what do you care how long it takes an individulal tech to do it? If you don't like the price quoted, go somewhere else.