Ok, I'm no stranger to cars but with all the discussion on the forum about the diff leak is there a sure fire way to tell if I have a diff leak. I have pulled my car out of storage a few times this winter when the roads were good and it was warm, but have had it out (mostly) the last two weeks. It only has 450 miles on it.
1. VIN number is it the last 4 or 6 numbers, I've seen it referenced as both places on the forum, to find my build number to see if the car is in the problem group. I took delivery in early Dec, so I know it is an earlier car.
2. Sometimes the car has a hot funky smell after running. I can't track it down. Not the best sniffer, but it doesn't appear worse going from front to back of car or under hood.
3. I carefully watch where it spent most of it storage time (parked in same spot) and it is always parked in same spot at night. I know oil and anti-freeze are easy to spot, not sure on diff fluid as I've never rebuilt a diff always had a dealer do that kind of thing. However, I have never seen anything to indicate a leak.
4. Car sounds good and shifts well. Has LSD and sounds \ feels good in turns, no clunky action at all.
If it were not for all the problems people have had and the funky odor I get every once and while I wouldn't even bother posting.
One last thing, I've driven a lot of stick shifts, and I'm not saying I'm a master on the clutch or ready for the race track, but I'm also not roasting it either, so I know the smell isn't comming from their either.
Thanks for any input you guys may have.
Sorry if this duplicates info from the other threads but from what I was getting in those it was more of people that already had the problem or how to be prepared, but not much on early diag.
it appears there are obvious leak spots from the rear differential..on the floor....small drops to silver dollar size pools and obvious signs..drops or fluid stains on the differential flange itself.....most of us simply place a piece of cardboard under the rear differential and check for any fluid drops...and apparently the odor from it burning on the rear exhaust is quite BAD....so it seems to be obvious enough...I check a two to three times a week...simply using the cardboard method...but I park in a garage as well........so just be observant for a while....with the car....is my advice.....we dont know if it is an epidemic...(IMHO it isnt).....and have your dealer check your fluid level in the differential at your first oil change or service......
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Mine were 3-4" drops visible in the dirt drive and when parking at work. She dumped a 2"er as the Service Manager wrote it up. The pinion seal isn't a small leak....
__________________ Red Cloth ABS LSD Airco XM CD/MP3 Monsoon & Lighter CAI, SOLO Header Highflow CAT Center dual exhaust, Norms Facia, Toyo Proxes 4s tires, OZ Ultra #2274 Delivered 12/15/05 [DEC21ST] Named Dusty Rose Blue, Automatic ABS LSD Cloth Monsoon XM Lighter Pinion seal
#19867 7/26/06 [JUN21ST] White Leather ABS LSD Airco CD/MP3 #11068 8/13/07
Mine were 3-4" drops visible in the dirt drive and when parking at work. She dumped a 2"er as the Service Manager wrote it up. The pinion seal isn't a small leak....
I took mine on a long drive out over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and back and noticed coaster-size drops in the parking lot after a basketball game.
Also, in the attached picture of the underside of a Solstice with the driveshaft and underpan removed, the area highlighted in red will be wet with differential fluid.
Diff fluid has a very characteristic smell, and even worse if you have a Limited Slip Diff (almost a grape-like smell mixed with dead fish...) due to the additives.
Sweet! You guys are not always helpful, but super fast!
I'll try the cardboard method. Although MI (at least my part) is rain for like the next week, so it may have to wait unless I want to test wet cardboard puddles (I know I could still see discoloration but wet cardboard just plain sucks).
Thanks again for the advice!
One day I hope to be an expert on something someone asks and be able to give something back to the forum.
In all fairness if you see my CAI thread I am typing with an injured hand which as we all know causes Freudian (bust me on spelling for that one) slips
As someone else on the Forum once said:
You can have the job done done: right, on time, on budget
Please pick two of the above
Diff oil is either 80/85/90 weight, and as SM says with the anti-slip rear will stink to high heaven. Just look for spilled oil but thicker. You got your car in December and have 450? I got mine 9 days ago, haven't gone anywhere and just went over 450.
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BIX A BEL Cool, Ebony leather, Chrome, loaded, no XM/onstar Founding member of the "Lost Sols Club"
Deposit (1100) - 9/29/05, 1101/1102 - 2 Feb 06, 2500 - 7 Feb 06, 3000 - 8 Feb 06, 3100 - 13 Feb 06, 3300 - 13 Feb 06, 3400 - 14 Feb 06, 3800 - 24 Feb 06 (112544), 4000 - 24 Feb 06, 4150 - 24 Feb 06
dealer expected deliver 6 March, arrived 28 Feb, picked up that night w 3.2 miles on the clock :)
NOT WAITING ANY MORE!
On my way home from work last night I noticed the smell of burning oil.
When I got home I looked underneath the car with a flashlight... I could see where the rear-end was a little wet. But this morning there was nothing on the garage floor. I didn't notice the smell today (I drive about 30 miles to work).
Is this the start of the Pinion seal going bad or could this just be the relieve valve seeping?
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First 1000 Solstice Owner (#430 SLY)
what the heck does THAT mean?!?!? 
