SR20DET Front Main Seal Problem!! w/pics need help

[IketaniS13]

This is not an install question. This is a major problem and i need some help guys. I had an accident after I installed my front main seal. I have a redtop sr20det. After installing my new front main seal everything was re-assembled fine I started the car.. no leaks, let it idle for a while (10 min.) still no leaks. Pull the car out of the driveway and went down the street and came back and there was a pool of oil under the car and all over the engine bay. I took off the crankshaft pulley with my puller only to find this:

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?c58a84217e.jpg]http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.c58a84217e.jpg[/url

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?83bced3de0.jpg]http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.83bced3de0.jpg[/url

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?fc2e43a3d6.jpg]http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.fc2e43a3d6.jpg[/url

Now what do I do. Notice in picture 1 the deep cuts in the metal. Thats from the seal cutting into the metal. And also the piece that fell out of the crank in picture 2. Is there any way to fix this problem or is the block f***. Please help me out I need someone's serious opinions or advice

[slider2828]

I am just taking a stab here because I have changed my front main seal before. Now isn't the front main oil seal a plastic thing? Hows it possible that it cut the metal... Would it not be just the front crank pulley cutting into it? But I think something has to be off balance in order to cut out something like that in your block. It might be after you crashed, you hit something which cause the crank to warp? Did you hit something head on hard?

[IketaniS13]

I purchased a front main seal for the USDM sr20de because i was told they are compatible and inside the seal was a metal spring ring and I never hit anything i just drove down the street. Is there anyway to fix that and how to put the little metal piece back on the crank

[IketaniS13]

I purchased a front main seal for the USDM sr20de because i was told they are compatible and inside the seal was a metal spring ring and I never hit anything i just drove down the street. Is there anyway to fix that and how to put the little metal piece back on the crank

[slider2828]

Why did you change the front main seal first of all? Secondly, did you put the crank pulley back at a bad angle? Thirdly, did you check all the belt tension? Fourthly, that little piece near the notch is to position your crank so you lock it in. It looks like the piece broke off in the notch area, so do you think that would indicate that you put the crank pulley on side ways and hence because of engine rotation, it scratched up the block? Oil should not leak even though that piece broke off cause it has nothing to do with the oil seal. When you put the oil seal, did you make sure it went in straight?

[slider2828]

Ooooo... the other post had better pictures, damn it scraped off the block right next to the oil seal... No wonder there is a leak. Yah just replace the front timing chain cover. No big deal, but it will take some time. I think you have to remove the head and the upper oil pan. Someone correct me if I am wrong, cause I can't really remember, cause the front cover is sandwiched between the crank case (upper oil pan) and then head.

[IketaniS13]

Everything seemed to be in straight. I lined everything up and while I put the pulley back in it slide in very easily. Obviously Not according to the picture and something went wrong. Ok now i can replace the timing chain cover but what about the piece of metal that positions the crankshaft how do I fix or replace that? (Refer to picture 2)

[IketaniS13]

here is a pic of the piece im talkin about

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/8069d45811.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

[slider2828]

Don't think you can do much with it.... I don't think it will affect performance too much. But rather just fixing it, jot your memory and figure out what went wrong. Did you tap the crank pulley too far in? Cause its better to figure out what went wrong first and then fix it so it won't happen agian.

[IketaniS13]

Yah i think i the crankshaft pulley went on too far and the seal wasnt in far enough. when i put the seal in i pushed it in so it was flush with the cover thats how the old one was. I also put the pulley back on by tightening it in with the bolt... Probably shouldnt have done that huh? So that piece isnt worth trying to replace. How will the crankshaft spin if its not locked into the pulley?

[Slippin'eight-nine]

That was you first mistake..you should have slide the pulley on and checked for side to side for freeplay/freespin while pushing it slightly in until it locked itself in and was fully seated..

[slider2828]

Yup boom that is your problem.... You used the nut to push it in, that means it definitely wasn't on straight and probably caused it to torque the pulley on the crank and just rip it to pieces. Then you should have checked for clearance, but you did put in the seal correctly, cause it leaked from the crack on the cover, not from the seal.

The pulley looks like it still can be locked in because you still have enough metal to hold it there and make sure you put it in right. I don't think it needs that much to hold the pulley from spinning and the crank pulley bolt holds it in. I dunno its a toss up, but I think it will be fine. Don't quote me on that..... Secondly, you should always tap in all pulleys with something flat like a socket or something and just do a cross check with a leveler and look for clearance.....

You got some work ahead of you. Good luck....

[[email protected]]

crank shaft key...

they are cheap... $1 at most...

if you need a new front cover / oil pump let me know...

[IketaniS13]

So lets be sure on this you think that piece of metal can be pushed back into the space in the crankshaft or do I need to replace that whole piece. And if so how do i put it back in (refering to picture above)?????

[NIK90s13]

The piece of metal is the crank shaft key, replace that with a new one, The block (timing cover) looks fine from the photos.
Your crank pulley is shot, it wont hold a seal. You need a new one.
Do'nt run the car with out the key, the pully will slip, or spin.
your crank seal should be flush to the cover, mabe a little in side the cover, it should be very snug in the cover.
With your NEW crank pulley , tap it on with a hammer if it doesnt go all the way by hand. Then use lock tight on the crank bolt to make sure it does'nt back out. That should get you going! It is not as bad as you think. the worst of it is the pulley.

[NIK90s13]

You could possibly sand smooth the key and fit it back into the crank slot, but I would get a new one.

[[email protected]]

the key costs a buck... just get a new one...

[IketaniS13]

Thanks getting a new crank key with the cover thanks to [email protected] How do i put that back on the crankshaft and what kinda tool do I use?

[NIK90s13]

it should tap in, it should be tight, but not to tight so that you cant get it in(the key)
I do'nt think you need to replace the timing cover, just the seal and pulley

[91s13hatch]

nice, good luck with the fix. mine had the same problem, im in the process of installing a new oil pump cover since mine cracked from the crank key. ill let you know how the install goes.

[IketaniS13]

Well this install is gonna be fun. Is there any way to remove the front oil cover without taking the entire head apart (like in the S14 SR FSM) and while its all out should i replace the timing chain as well?

[drifter808]

yeah i had to remove the front cover with out taking the head off. just remove the 2 bolts inside the head and for the upper oil pan what i did was remove all the bolts except for a few by the tranny and then applied a small amount of pressure with a screwdriver and it spread the oil pan from the block just enough to get the front cover off.

[IketaniS13]

yeah i had to remove the front cover with out taking the head off. just remove the 2 bolts inside the head and for the upper oil pan what i did was remove all the bolts except for a few by the tranny and then applied a small amount of pressure with a screwdriver and it spread the oil pan from the block just enough to get the front cover off.

Ok guys so I can remove the front oil cover without pulling the head off. Can you access the two bolts that hold the cover from the top by removing the vlave cover? Do you have to remove the timing chain and/or exhaust cam gear and CAS to get to the bolts or can you reach them easily enough. Can anyone gimme a step by step on this procedure if it is easier than removing the head and timing chain? Also, I might as well replace the oil pump too.

[TheWolf]

what you did. See the V in the top of the crankshaft key. When installing the crank pulley it didn't slide over the key. It started to partly push the key out the back of the grove in the crank. Eventually it got jammed between your crank pulley and the crank. You torqued your crank nut but it was against the key. the key just had to compress and that nut became loose. Evetually this stuff wobbled around and there's your problem. In the future use a new key and use a little sand paper to clear and rust or debris in the channel of the crank pulley. If both surfaces are clean it will almost slide on. If they are rusty a 5lb hammer would be required. big difference. Make sure the crank snout and pulley are rust free. It is probably easier to do this job with the engine out of the car instead of in the car. Removing the oil pan. Lower oil pan. Oil pickup. and all thats involved with the front cover would be cleaner and easier with it on an engine stand. You shouldn't need to remove the timing chain but if you've got it out of the car it's easy to reset the tchain if you do.

[IketaniS13]

Im gonna pull the motor and do some other maintainence on it. With the motor out it will be a little easier. Should I replace the timing chain as well or just check it. Never had any problems with it or any rattle noises. Motor has like 70,000 on it?