[Guest]

Hey Guys, I have an 02 Rubicon that started leaking oil out of the rear driveshaft area pretty bad...maybe a quart every five minutes??? I am also hearing a grinding noise that sounds like a gear slipping sometimes when I take off, Usually when its warmer. I can hear the noise when I rock it back and forth. It sounds like it might be coming from the same area as the oil leak. It only seems to make the noise when I first take off. Honda dealer offers no help unless they look at it. They wouldnt even guesstimate. I dont want to put alot of money in it. If its an easy fix, I will keep it. If not, I will Sell it and try to get $3200 (1000 miles on it). Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!

 

[Honda Mechanic]

The sub-transmission is at the rear of the engine which is just a couple of fairly large gears for L,H & R I guess the noise could be a bearing but it sounds to me like the transmission .. The oil pressure for that transmission calls for 22lb at idle (1400 RPM) & 116lb at 5000 RPM .. But those numbers are low ,we check the oil pressure on every TRX500FA/FGA that comes in for service .. The oil pressure is usually 40-60 LB at idle & 160-180 LB at 5000 .. If that transmission doesn't receive high oil pressure it will make a ratcheting sound at take off ,next it will make a sandy kind of grinding sound all the time and then it will need to be replaced ..

If the oil leak isn't fixed you will soon need a new transmission .. The leak should be fixed and the oil pressure tested ASAP ..

 

[Guest]

Sounds probable to me. Will a seal change by itself increase the oil pressure? Thanks a bunch for your help!

 

[Honda Mechanic]

I would first replace the seal ..