[atomic13]

First let me say sorry. I'm sure there is and answer some where on the site but when I search, I'm getting no match found.

The other night out of no where my 63,000 mile 1997 3.5L Intrepid developed a major oil leak, I mean pouring out the front end of the engine.

The oil drained down to the the low end of the dip stick and stopped leaking.

I put the car on a lift today and found that the oil is leaking out of something that is in the front passenger side of the engine and it really comes out when its running.

My problem is, I cant find my haynes book to and am not sure if this is a quick fix deal.

I am attaching several photos of the area and think its coming from the thing with the 2 bolts with a round 2 inch shaft thing coming off of it close to the lower crank pulley.

Is this a common deal or is it coming from somwhere else. If this is the sourse, what is the fix?

Im in a bind du to my son needing the car to get to school tomorrow because his car ECM just crashed.

Thanks to all and sorry again.

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[Adpros]

That part is the timing belt tensioner but, I have to assume the leak is actually beyond this part. More like a cam seal or crank seal within the timing area and exiting at the tensioner.

[bh1992]

I cant remember if the tensioner only used spring tension or if it used oil pressure too. But I'm with ADPROS on this one.

[Adpros]

The tensioner has oil in it I believe but does not use engine oil to work. It is more like a gas shock, fully self contained.

[atomic13]

Based on those thoughts, with only 63,000 miles, what would cause either the cam or crank shaft seals to fail?

I guess without tearing everthing down, thats the only way to idenify this problem.

Thats out of my DIY ability. Approximatly, what would it cost for a repair like this? I have someone other then the dealer that can do the work.

[crypt keeper]

Remove the timing cover bolts and look down inside if there's oil in there the seal has gone bad.

If there is no oil then you probably have the same issue i have the oil pump gasket is bad.

[atomic13]

Is there enough room to pull the cover away without removing any belts, pullies or hoses? If its the oil pump gasket where and how hard is that to replace?

Thanks

[crypt keeper]

Yes there is plenty of room to get a look with the belts on.

The gasket is located behind the pump and all the lower timing timing components and crank pulley most be removed.

More or less your pump maybe on its way out and in my case im just going to replace the pump.

[timgren]

Oil pump gaskets rarely fail on their own. Ive found that if the pressure regulator inside the pump fails (sieze up), causes internal pump pressures to blow the oil out any questionable seal. If it were me, I would replace the oil pump as a unit. Esp since you have to pull the crank pulley, which also suggests replacing timing belt and water pump, cam/crank seals all at the same time. Either way...not a "minor" repair.

[atomic13]

Just a quick update.

I have put a manual oil preasure guage on it and it has 65PSI cold.
I pulled back the front cover on the engine and found that the oil is coming from the passenger side cam shaft seal.
Im in the process of replacing the cam seals, main seal, water pump, timing belt and tentioner.

Is there anything else I should do while Im doing all this?

[cdmccul]

Do you have the cam holding tools? If not, you have some marking on the face of the timing case to do before you remove the pulleys...

[GTXKen]

I haven't done the cam seals before but I think if I were doing one side I would do the other as well. At the point you are at its not a significant amount of additional work.

[atomic13]

Im replacing both cam shft seals, front main seal and the water pump. Any other suggestions

[Adpros]

I agree with this and, will note that a 97 Intrepid with less than 70k on it probably has had some extended periods of just setting and allowing the oil to run off the seals. This is where I believe the problem stems from and not any major wear elsewhere.

[98IntrepidTan]

The timing belt. Or had you already mentioned this?