Well, I think I'm the latest victim of the RMS. I'm not 100% sure, but when I backed my car out to clean it, there were some drops on the garage floor. I don't think it was cosmoline, but I'm not that good at knowing for sure.

I put some ply wood under it this time to catch any new drops. That way I can tell if the drops were recent or I just now noticed them, but have been there for a while.

Also, I think the wood will help show the true color since my garage floor is pretty dirty.


Questions: (The RMS fix, I know there are a million threads about it on other boards w/ more history, but there are so many the searching process is just slow.)
Is the RMS fix a 1 day process?

Is this the one where they're close to the clutch so they can check it out and/or replace stuff if needed for cost of parts only since they're already there?

Is it bad to drive much before taking it in?

 

If they have the parts it is a one day deal. What year is your car? Is it under warrenty? If it is just a few drops i would not worry about your flywheel. My leak was really bad and everything checked out ok. I would take it in soon if you see anymore drops of oil. You can change the clutch disc and throwout bearing at parts cost. They have everything out as it is.

p.s. make sure they have the special new tool that checks the tolerances. If the tolerances do not check out you get a new motor. This new tool has not been out that long.

 

Oh..... I almost forgot...... you might be the newest member of the RMS club. We will teach you the secret handshake later

 

It's an '02 with 12k miles, so it's still fine with warranty.

Do you know the name of that tool? That is good advice!

 

Geez. I don't know whether to be glad it hasn't happened to me yet or whether I should feel left out.

I feel for you man. Good luck. If nothing else, have the dealer throw you something fun to drive while its in.

-Aron

 

Courtesy of Loren... His post says special tool 9699/1

Good Luck! Wanna race later? LOL

 

I hope I never have to learn your hand shake!!

Chris

 

There is a fixture for measuring the tolerance and another tool for seating the seal. They come out around March so any dealer should have it unless they are behind in their tool payments.

If you get a replacement seal it will be the same seal that has been around since early 2000. The only thing 'new' is that the replacement seal is seated farther into the crank. Jeff

 

Although really good advise with regard to checking the throwout bearing and the clutch, you might not need it (at least the clutch) at your low of miles. But, never hurts to check. Each time I had the RMS replaced on my "other" car, they replaced the flywheel at the sametime, under warranty.

What can happen is that oil drips down on the flywheel and you could get a shudder when starting out in first gear. I am not at all sure if this is reason for changing it under warranty as I have had a different dealers tell me different things, but check on that while you are there. I had three oil leaks in five places, each time I got a new flywheel under warranty.

Additionally, it might not be the RMS, there are other places it can leak from including the intermediate shaft. At which time, they will change both seals (intermediate and rear) as it's hard to pin point where the exact leak is and they don't want you to have to come back a week later as they replaced the wrong seal.

Good luck, but don't worry.

RobynC "Old Hat at the oil leak experience"

 

The RMS was replaced last month on my '02 C4S with 6k miles. They looked at the clutch and flywheel when they had everything apart and everything was fine. They scheduled 2 days but was finished in 1 day. Lets hope it stays dry. Good luck.