[eyspy]

I am up to my eyebrows in Vitara problems at the moment. The V6 won't turn over after replacing timing chains and guides (something too tight ? who knows? in the too hard basket at the moment)

My 2 litre (which is much easier to work on then the bloody V6) has gearbox bearing noise which is what I intended fixing after the V6 got back on the road. Unfortunately in the meantime it has sprung a major oil leak.
Travelled to my brothers the other week (2 hour drive) and when I got there there, there was oil leaking everywhere, all under the car was covered in oil, the rear window was covered in oil droplets, what a bloody mess.
,
Took it nice and slowly going home again and took to my local mechanic the next day (not a suzi specialist) . His verdict was "He thinks" its a main engine bearing seal and could not tell for sure unless he took the gearbox out, and then proceeded to say that in some cars the seal can be fixed without removing the engine, but most times the engine has to come out !!! Arghhhhhh!!! Just what I need.

Does anyone here know what would be involved and if my mechanic was on the right track ?

I appreciate all the feedback I am getting from you people, it is very helpful and appreciated indeed....

[Scrawny]

Get under and have a look to see where it's coming from. If need be, degrease and clean then recheck. Has engine oil level gone down?

[ninjamoses]

Oil all over the bottom of the car is almost definitely (I'd say 95% likely) the rear main seal. As above, degrease it all then go for a very short drive to see where its coming from.

And sorry to say it is a gearbox out job to fix (or engine out, take your pick). That said, if you managed a H25A timing chain on yourself I'd definitely have a crack at doing the rear main yourself also.

[Chop]

Love to say its an awesome easy job. But lets be honest, I'm doing it now and its a @&%t I have an auto and have just found out you need too take the diff out to undo the torque converter bolts and to get the motor out anyway which i want out to put all new gaskets and seal up.

[eyspy]

large groan and sigh................. why me ? Did I break a mirror, did I run over a black cat, did I walk under a ladder ?

OK, could not see where it was coming from, will de grease again and have another look see. Gearbox has to come out anyway, which is no biggie. So what you are saying is if I get the gearbox out then I can replace the rear main seal "Without engine removal"
If so, then all is good with the world again ....

[ninjamoses]

Yep, easy as to do with the gearbox out. Like you say, not even that big an issue considering you had to pull it out anyway.

Park the 4 cylinder one up for a bit and get your V6 one working again in the interim.

[eyspy]

All good then, thanks people, much appreciated for the good news.......