Cadillac Catera Front Crankshaft Seal Replacement at your home or office.

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Front Crankshaft Seal Replacement Service

How much does a Front Crankshaft Seal Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Cadillac Catera Front Crankshaft Seal Replacement is $854 with $504 for parts and $350 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2000 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0LService typeFront Crankshaft Seal ReplacementEstimate$1418.96Shop/Dealer Price$1692.58 - $2477.98
2001 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0LService typeFront Crankshaft Seal ReplacementEstimate$1396.44Shop/Dealer Price$1662.32 - $2441.93
1998 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0LService typeFront Crankshaft Seal ReplacementEstimate$1585.00Shop/Dealer Price$1898.13 - $2819.25
1999 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0LService typeFront Crankshaft Seal ReplacementEstimate$1372.46Shop/Dealer Price$1632.45 - $2394.16
1997 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0LService typeFront Crankshaft Seal ReplacementEstimate$1585.00Shop/Dealer Price$1904.57 - $2830.52
Show example Cadillac Catera Front Crankshaft Seal Replacement prices

What is the Front Crankshaft Seal all about?

A number of mechanisms must work together to make your vehicle move forward. One of the most important is the crankshaft, which converts rotary into linear motion; i.e., it transforms the force created by the engine's pistons moving up and down into a force that moves in a circular motion that causes a car’s wheel to turn. Enclosed in what’s called a crankcase—the largest cavity in the engine block, just below the cylinders—the crankshaft must be completely lubricated, essentially submerged in oil, to spin nearly friction-free and do its job properly.

Consequently, there are seals located at either end of the crankshaft that allow it to spin freely and keep engine oil from escaping the engine block, as well as prevent contaminants and other debris from entering and causing damage to the mechanism. Since there are two ends of the crankshaft, there are two types of seals: the front crankshaft seal and the rear crankshaft seal, also known as the front main and rear main seals.

Keep in mind:

  • Loss of oil will eventually cause serious internal engine damage.
  • Inspect the sealing surface of the crankshaft or the crankshaft pulley (depending on the engine design) for damage when replacing the crankshaft seal.
  • Oil degrades rubber components.

How it's done:

  • The vehicle is raised and supported on jack stands
  • The crankshaft damper and timing belt is removed
  • The crankshaft seal is removed and a new one installed
  • The timing belt and cover along with crankshaft damper is reinstalled
  • The engine accessory belts are installed and the vehicle is lowered off of the jack stands

Our recommendation:

One of the most important parts of your car, crankshaft seals are typically made from a durable material, such as a synthetic rubber or silicone, designed to handle the extreme pressure and temperatures as well as the caustic chemicals in your engine oil. Because they are exposed to such abuse, main seals are subject to a lot of wear and tear. And whether you are talking a front or rear main seal, replacement is the only cure when one malfunctions.

The good news is that the seals are relatively inexpensive components. The bad news is that neither is easy to replace.

Front seal: The front seal is located behind the main pulley that drives all the belts, which is, of course, always spinning. The main pulley throws any leaking oil out in a big circle. It can get thrown up on the alternator, steering pump, belts, in short anything attached to the front of the engine and cause a real mess and eventually some serious damage. Consequently, it has to be removed along with many of the components attached to the front of the block to replace the front main seal.

Rear seal: The rear crankshaft seal is placed along with the transmission; therefore, the process of replacing it requires the removal of transmission, as well as the clutch and flywheel assembly. This is a very involved job.

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Front Crankshaft Seal?

  • Oil leaking from the front crank pulley.
  • Oil dripping from the bottom of the clutch housing, where the block and transmission meet.
  • Clutch slip caused by oil spraying on the clutch.

How important is this service?

Letting either crankshaft seal continue to leak can be detrimental to your vehicle’s continued operation. Besides the maladies caused by driving around with little to no oil flowing in the engine, the faulty seal will be spread oil through the engine bay and undercarriage of your car as you drive, a mess that is difficult to clean up and can be a fire hazard. Replacing is better addressed sooner than later.

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Mark

19 years of experience
72 reviews
Mark
19 years of experience
Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Fuel is leaking from gas tank - Cincinnati, Ohio
Quite a good experience actually. Didn't expect that.

Duane

26 years of experience
589 reviews
Duane
26 years of experience
Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Check Engine Light is on - San Diego, California
Duane described the issues as he saw them and explained what needs fixing along with the fees.

Brandon

19 years of experience
318 reviews
Brandon
19 years of experience
Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Heater Control Valve - Holly Springs, North Carolina
very nice guy, one of best mechanic that I have ever met.

Pardeep

22 years of experience
1277 reviews
Pardeep
22 years of experience
Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Coolant is leaking - Campbell, California
I really enjoy working with Pardeep, he's always on time, courteous, professional, and is extremely knowledgeable. I will be placing a new quote for my painting van, and I look forward to his next visit. David Knapp

Excellent Rating

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