Leaking Axle Seals?

[Rob in WA]

I just a call from service. It's in for it's third annual service. I bring it in once a year, just to keep up on the warranty. Last year at about 12k miles I had some drips on the garage floor and they told me RMS was bad and they replaced it. It's dripping again, so I asked them to take a look (now 20k miles). This time they said both my axle seals are leaking AND the RMS. I asked them if they were going to replace the RMS again and they said yes. I then said I want it noted in my records that this is the second time it's been replaced. They tell me no, last year they replaced the axle seals. I specifically remember them telling me it was the RMS last year; it's not something I'd forget. I don't know if I still have the paperwork though. In all my reading I've never heard of axle seals leaking. Has anyone heard of this?

[Scouser]

Never heard of that. Sheesh! I hope theygot it wrong. Can't bear to think that the axle seals could go too.

Well I am on my 5th RMS seal replacement. Actually it's a real screw up so I would not bet on them screwing up for you too. Basically I have had, as far as I am concerned 4 RMS seals replaced but I have since been told after investigation by PUK that there were in fact only 3 replaced and the 4th is now due to be replaced. Apparently on one visit they didn't actually replace the seal despite telling me they did!

[Tool Pants]

Find your paper work or ask them to print out your service history from the computer. If they will not do it and it was warranty work then go to another dealer and ask them to print it out. Report back the part numbers that were replaced.

Axel seals is a new one, so that is a transmission oil leak. But any oil seal can leak. Usually when the are worn out after many, many miles, but with Porsche you never know.

[Rob in WA]

I'm going down there tomorrow for a print out.

How many times does the RMS get replaced before you get a new motor in the States?

EDIT: I found my paper work (wifey is the family file keeper) On paper - RMS was replaced last year.

Edited September 8, 2004 by Rob in WA

[Loren]

IMHO the most likely cause of your axle seal leaks is that they were damaged when they removed the transmission to replace the RMS. THEY should pay for that part.

[Poursha]

How many times does the RMS get replaced before you get a new motor in the States?

Apparently it has nothing to do with the number of times the RMS is replaced, but rather with whether the crankshaft is out of tolerance from a concentricity perspective.

They have a special measuring tool (search for pix posted by toolpants), and if the crankshaft is out of tolerance--even on the first leak--they replace the engine.

And then there are the cases where there have been several RMS replacements on the same engines because the crankshaft is within tolerance.

[Tool Pants]

EDIT:  I found my paper work (wifey is the family file keeper)  On paper - RMS was replaced last year.

My 2003 Boxster friend also told me his RMS was replaced last year. He showed me the paperwork and it was the input shaft seal on the transmission per the part number listed. Not the RMS. The words 'oil seal replacement' does not mean much without a part number.

The RMS has a part number of 999 113 490 40. Is that part number listed?

[Rob in WA]

Yup, that's it TP and 8 999-073-092009 Screw 10 x 50

Edited September 8, 2004 by Rob in WA

[Tool Pants]

Have fun with might be your next RMS.

The screw is because there is no puller for the seal. They put a sheet metal screw into the metal back of the seal and use the screw to pry the seal out. They even charge for a 1 cent screw than can be reused. :rolleyes:

[Rob in WA]

Great info Porsha, I found the thread here:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15

[Tool Pants]

They have a special measuring tool (search for pix posted by toolpants), and if the crankshaft is out of tolerance--even on the first leak--they replace the engine. 

This measuring mandrel is turning out to be much about nothing.

I talked to 2 mechanics I know at my local dealer. They have never had a car where the mandrel did not fit, yet seal leaks continued after passing the mandrel test.

I will use Jean's 2000 Boxster as an example as his car is at my local dealer now.

He had 4 seal replacements over the years, and the 4th seal leaked as well. The last 2 replacements were done after the new tools, including the mandrel, had come out. I know my dealer has them because they put on the tech session where we were shown them. Jean knows about them because he was at the tech session.

So the fact the mandrel fits means nothing. They have gone back to hand measuring like in the past.

By the time of the 4th seal leak Jean's car was out of warranty. In July they gave up on more seal replacements and put in a rebuilt engine. The rebuilt engine had a vibration problem, and the oil filter was loaded with metal. So after 800 miles the rebuilt engine was replaced with another rebuilt engine. Same problem.

So now he gets a new engine. It is supposed to be here from Germany by the end of the week.

[Poursha]

When my RMS was replaced, they measured with the special tool and also did a second measurement with a feeler gauge. The service adviser told me he didn't "trust" the tool so they always do both. Mine passed both measurements, so I'll keep my fingers crossed...

Rob, there's a RMS repair TSB (check TSB section) that calls for replacing the RMS, intermediate shaft seal, and a bunch of bolts with new, coated bolts, whenever they replace the RMS. I'd print it out and bring it when you go to the dealer.

[Scouser]

Loren, I tried to find this TSB that Poursha is talking about but could not see it. Any chance you could send me a copy.

Cheers mate,