Hello, everyone. I've really enjoyed reading the forums and have found lots of great info on here. You guys seem to be the most knowledgeable, so I've come to ask for your assistance.

I've searched everywhere, including the FSM for my '99 TL but I just can't figure out what purpose this fastener serves:



I have a small oil leak that appears to be originating from behind this fastener, but am reluctant to remove it without knowing its purpose, not to mention the fact that I will have to remove the passenger side half-shaft to access it.

Any ideas what it is and why it might be leaking?

Thanks in advance!

Ed

 

Thats definitely a bolt....

 

^Yea, I have to agree. It's for sure a bolt.

 

Captain obvious, both of you


It looks like its one of the main bearing cap bolt. These engines have 4 bolt mains.

 

Now, having said that, are you SURE its coming from that and not coming from above it, like one of the sensors???

 

I was unaware that these engines had 4 bolt mains, and doubly cool that they're cross-bolted at that!

Apologies to the OP, i couldn't resist lol

 

Very big and stout at that too. They are about 1" thick

 

 

looks like it can withstand a very nice big turbo...

 

Outstanding!!

 

Usual leaks at that area is the Vtec solenoid gasket or the oil pressure switch, unless its from the valve cover. Use brake cleaner to clean off old oil then you can pin point where the leak is coming from.

 

Im guessing its that sensor shown in pic-is that the actual oil pressure sendor?
or part of vtec sensor?

 

The bottom end is built like a brick shit house.

 

I think my smart-ass comment made the OP mad, hasnt commented since...

I was just trying to be funny lol please dont ban me...

 

Nope, I have a PhD in smart-ass. Just got busy yesterday.

I also did not realize how stout the bottom end is!
FWIW, the bolt is not one of the main bearing cap bolts, but it IS shown in the same diagram:



As far as cleaning the block to pinpoint the leak, I've already done that; it's what led me to this mystery bolt. I planned to double-check the oil pressure and VTEC switches, but didn't get to it.

Thanks for the help!

 

I think I have the same leak, am in process of the timing belt, valve cover etc maintenance and cleaning program, have cleaned that area carefully after thinking I had a valve cover leak, but now think it's the area being focused on in this thread. I've could not find a leak ( oil ) coming form the valve covers after removal and inspection.
Mine was in for trans inspection a while ago, I asked them to tell where that oil leak was, they said it was valve cover,,,, yeah I know, don't remind me ! Even cleaned the oil pan area so they could see easier.
Once I've fired up the engine, I will find this leak and report back here.

 

I stand corrected. The bolt in question is, in fact, one of the main bearing cap bolts. To complicate matters, the inner CV boot is leaking from around the large end of the boot and spraying right on the area where oil is collecting. Guess I need to solve this problem first.

 

That is the A/F block drain bolt... So there is no oil coming out of there guaranteed

 

when replacing the axle, think NEW - NAPA has a good reputation on that part

also ck for atf seal leak when axle is out
Ck atf level now to see if that's involved

 

Acura has a service news about those bolts leaking oil.
It says to un bolt it , clean the bolt and appy honda bond to the bolt under the head and reinstall bolt and tourque to proper spec

 

The cost of OEM axles has dropped BIG time, and personally, i would buy OEM over aftermarket.

Acura Parts @ AcuraAutomotiveParts.org - Genuine Acura OEM Parts from Acura Carland

 

I was looking at a reman from Rockauto which, it turns out, is the same manufacturer of the NAPA unit, but the NAPA unit is new, and has a lifetime warranty.

I had only planned to pull the half-shaft, not the intermediate shaft, but I will check the trans fluid level. Thanks for the info!

Awesome find! I found the Service News you are speaking about..thanks to Acurazine I'll seal the bolt when I replace the axle.


I'm a fan of OEM parts, too. But, I just dropped $600 on injectors, I've got to draw the line somewhere. BTW, I've been dealing with Bernadi Acura for parts as they seem to have the lowest prices, and don't have to pay sales tax like I would with Acura Carland.

Thanks again,

Ed

 

Update:

Pulled the axle in order to access the main bearing cap bolt. The bolt was pretty dry considering it may be the source of an oil leak. Nevertheless, I sealed it with Hondabond as per the service note and reinstalled. If nothing else, it will eliminate one potential leak source.

The axle I purchased from NAPA did not include the dynamic damper, so I returned it. While I had the axle out, I removed the boot clamp from the leaking end of the CV boot. The clamp seemed to be situated properly in the CV joint groove, but I cleaned the grease from the groove, reassembled the axle and reinstalled it.

I'll check everything again next weekend to see if any of this helped.

Has anyone had any success with aftermarket boot clamps? My daughter's MDX also has CV boot leaks at the clamps, and it would be nice to find an effective solution.

Thanks,

Ed

 

I never have with the cheap ones. If you can get your hands on the crimp tool you can get them to work. The other option is to bring it to a trans shop, or a shop that has the tools to crimp them properly and bring the axle in and have them do it

 

More like a washer to me...

 

It's been a week since I sealed the main bearing cap bolt, and there is still an oil leak. It's definitely not the oil pressure switch or VTEC solenoid, either.

That seems to leave the oil pan and the front main seal. I'm leaning away from the front main seal because it was replaced only 15,000 miles ago during the timing belt replacement. Also, I would expect the crank pulley to sling oil all over the place, but oil only collects on the oil pan.

The oil pan gasket looks like the easier of the two jobs, at least once the exhaust is out of the way, or am I kidding myself? Do you guys think the oil pan is the more likely source of the leak? How would you proceed?

 

I hope its not your oil pump leaking
There is a rubber o ring that hardens and lets oil pass by
Get some oil dye and see if you can follow the leak like that

 

I hope it isn't either. I'll have to be 100% sure before I go digging that far into the engine. It wouldn't have been such a big deal when doing the TB, I wish I'd have known about the o-ring then. I figured changing the front main seal would solve the leak.

I'll give the oil dye a try and see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion.