96 Camry V6 Rear Main Seal

[PatrixUSA]

96 Camry Coupe V6 SE
I’m told by the dealership I take my Camry to that the rear main seal is starting the leak. They showed me where the leak is and how it is beginning to drip down onto the manifold. They of course recommend replacement. The car has 166K miles on it with no other mechanical issues.

I’m wondering how much something like this should cost?
and
If this is one of those type of repairs that is just the tip of the iceburg and will only lead to other problems?
and
If there are other things I should have them do if and when I decide to have them replace the rear main seal?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Eye8Pussies]

how does a leaky rear main seal drip onto the manifold?? may want to double check which seal it is exactly...

and an actual rear main seal would cost about 800 if no more to fix, since the transmission must be taken out to get to the seal

[eddie926]

I just had the rear main replaced on my 4 cyl '95 LE at the dealership. It was $763. I was leaking large quantities of oil on my driveway daily and had to keep carboard under the car at all times. Got to the point where I couldn't stand it any more.

As Eye8 pointed out, you have to pull the tranny to get to the seal, so if you needed any transmission work that would be the time to do it. I don't know of any other "while you're in there" items.

[PatrixUSA]

eye8, maybe not the manifold exactly, but some element of the exhaust system to where you can smell it burning occasionally. Might as well do the trans pan gasket and maybe oil pan gasket?

Any other seals or gaskets that they will have to break in order to replace rear main seal? Learned some good info from previous posts but nothing that noted specific seals or gaskets.

Thanks.

[rty]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "main seal"?

[Mr.Nutcase]

Buy a UV dye kit, with it you can find the leaks.
The rear main seal is a seal behind the flex plate(auto) or the flywheel(manual)