So i have a 99 GS300. I am the second owner and the car has 106,000 miles on it. Since I bought the car I have run synthetic oil in it exclusively. I was due for an oil change and took it in yesterday to an independent shop to have that done. These folks have worked on my car for years, and I felt comfortable giving them repeat business. I got right in and things seemed to be going fine. I know the manager personally and he came out and told me that they had found a problem - the car was leaking oil between the engine and the transmission after they performed the oil change. He didnt know why, and pointed to the fact that there was no residue on any of the components to indicate that the problem had been there prior to the oil change. He said he would have a mechanic from the sister business (a mechanical shop that owns the quick lube where i was getting the oil change) take a look at it before he released the car to me to drive it. That to me is where it gets interesting. The owner of the mechanical shop and his chief mechanic came over immediately and inspected things. neither one would address me directly after inspecting my car. I was told by the manager of the quick lube that the reason I was having the leak is because the rear seal is going, and changing the oil with fresh synthetic exposed my problem. Further, I was told that the part to fix things was only $8, but that they would have to drop the transmission in order to perform the repair. Further, they told me a rough estimate to fix things would be in the $700 to $1000 due to the labor intensive nature or the repair.
so i ask you good folks, that car had never leaked anything before, and I am meticulous in my maintenance of my car. does something seem fishy to you about what happened to me yesterday? These folks have treated me right in the past, but I dont like the way they handled things yesterday and that has raised my suspicion. and for those of you that have had to replace a rear seal as they are recommending, can you give me an idea of what you paid to have that work done?
any advice would be welcomed. thanks in advance.
