Cover on rear of transmission

[skyrunner]

There is a cover on the rear of my 420a powered 99 eclipse. This cover has some silicon on it, but it looks like it might give me access to check out the torque convertor and rear main seal. My question is: Can I remove this cover without the tranny spilling its guts on me? The cover is mainly vertical on the backside of the tranny, it has about 10 12mm bolts around it. It is not the tranny fluid pan, I know I can't remove that pan, it is closer to the engine.

Basically I am trying to diagnose an oil leak in between the engine and tranny that I think may be the rear main seal... but after some reading I am not certain because I have heard a lot of people talking about the head gasket corner problem. I would like to look into both of these this evening, but I cannot figure out a good way to get a look at the rear main seal unless that cover is an option... Also, what is the best way to get a look at that corner of the head, just pull the intake? TIA

 

[Cesar]

the rear main seal is not visible until the flexplate is pulled off.

you have to remove the transmission to be able to see it. or pull the motor.

the other leak you mentioned i'm not familiar with.

THe input shaft seal on the transmission may also be leaking.

good luck

 

[skyrunner]

THe input shaft seal on the transmission may also be leaking.

But that would lead to ATF not oil underneath the car, correct?

Yesterday I pulled the intake pipe and battery and still couldn't get a good look at the engine (it was dark out though). I think I will have to just start moving stuff until I can get a good look at the motor. I was able to see a pool of oil on top of a valley in the transmission. I think I read that is a good indication that it is not the rear main seal

I do have a decent leak from the valve cover gasket too, but I can't imagine that that would be able to cause the pool of oil that I noticed. Regardless, new gasket is going in this weekend and I need to do some engine degreasing to make sure I can tell where this leak is coming from.

 

[Cesar]

atf isn't always easily distinguished from motor oil.

 

[Shadow98]

Might be a valve cover leak dripping onto the trans or your head might not be sealing like it should.