Transaxel output shaft bearing and seal question

[Tony48]

I new to the forum but an old Pontiac man, starting with a 68 Firebird that I kept for 22 years. I'm a pretty good mechanic but not really up to speed on a lot of the new tech things. We have a 2000 GT, 3.8 auto with all the options. Yesterday check guages flashed on the HED, the low oil level light was going on and off. I stopped and found it was just about of oil. I filled it up but it was near empty when I got it home. I jacked it up and it looks like the oil is pouring out of the passengers side of the transaxle where the half shaft enters it. I wasn't aware that the transaxle was lubricated with engine oil or I'm really missing something. If I'm right can anyone give me some information on how to change the bearing and seal. I've been noticing some noise coming from that side but I thought it was the CV joint. If it was the bearing and it is lubed with engine oil, I'd better change both if it's possible.


Thanks for any advice, Tony

 

[Trannyman95]

Hi Tony,

The 3800 S2 engines have problems with the oil pressure switches leaking or seperating and when in really bad shape will pour oil out quick and it dumps straight down on the passanger tail of the transmission. Engine oils is isolated from the transmission so there is no reason the transmission leaking would cause a low engine oil light to come on and due to the location of the leak this is what I would expect to see going on. Often it leaks through the connector on the oil pressure switch and this is located just behind the oil filter on the oil filter housing.

 

[Tony48]

Good morning Trannyman 95,

Thank you very much for the assistance, you were absolutely correct. Your expert advice saved me a whole lot of painful crawling under and around the engine.
Thanks again and thanks to the fine folks who maintain this site.

Everyone have a happy and safe Christmas.

Tony