GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Please help! I have had the 5th clutch put in a few months ago as well as a new tranny (a used 60K). Since I got it back from the mechanic I have had a transmission leak....mechanic said it was the seal where the CV/axle connects to the transmission. So he replaced that......got it home....drove it to the car wash and back into the garage. The next morning when I backed out I noticed a big puddle under my car where the leak was before. I called my mechanic and told him about it. He calls me back today only to tell me that it has to be my Axle! WTFreak!! My car never leaked a drop of anything ever!!...until now! I'm just sick to my stomach! I don't know if anyone else has had this problem after having the tranny replaced? I know my car like the back of my hand. I am OCD on maintenance and taking care of her....I don't know what to do and not sure if I should trust him? Could It possibly be the used tranny causing the problem or is it in fact my axle? It lever leaked before! ugh......any help/advice would be greatly appreciated Thank you I LOVE my car.......she's my baby

That's a terrible story. Five clutches and a transmission in under 80K miles. Just be forewarned, someone may post that maybe you don't know how to drive a manual. I assume that's not true, based on amateur psychology, and if you were the clutch killer you probably wouldn't risk posting about it on the internet

Some GTs had a problem with clutches, none as bad as yours though. What failed in the tranny that it had to be replaced? If the mechanic who says it's the axle is the one who replaced the seal and/or the clutch and/or the tranny, I'd be inclined to ask him why he failed to inspect the axles as part of any of those jobs.

I don't know if it's possible, but maybe he installed the seal wrong, or used the wrong seal. This cycle, did he pull the axle and can see damage/wear that makes a case for the axle being the problem?

There is a tendency to take it back to the same guy, to get him to fix his error for free, if it was something he did, , but if its been the same guy doing all this expensive transmission work on your car, given the totally unheard of frequency of problems you are having, it might be time to find another mechanic.

But I'm reluctant to offer a definitive course of action, really hard to say without knowing all sides of the full story.

Axle likely fine.

There is a seal at the axle/transmission that is easy to wreck if you're not careful. Its like $8 at Toyota. Iirc, driver and passenger sides ARE different

5 clutches though?!

Well, if you can squeeze under it, you COULD try and see where the fluid is leaking out yourself. Maybe take pictures. As I have gained a bit of weight, I now have to park mine with two side wheels on the curb. Used to be able to squeeze under without any tricks besides being tiny.

I have had my axles in and out quiet a few times with all the mods and upgrades I have done. I have never had one prob with leaking. I would say that the seal was bent when being installed, or if the case was split for some reason it could be lack of sealant. You could always find a trans shop to possibly do a free inspection on it, and if they find that the seal is not installed right you have a little ammo to go back to him for the repairs.

I think you should get a second opinion / new mechanic. First, you need to find out where the oil is really coming from. Second, axle shafts don't leak or cause leaks except when bent in an accident. Third, transmission drive shaft seals are easy to damage upon re-assembly, I've done it myself! Good luck.

Did you get the leak figured out?