good luck with your project, I have one in similar situation, picked it up for $450, but it doesnt start, but it cranks. hope you get it going.

 

Unfortunately I'm looking to sell the Eclipse once I get her in good running order and all my paperwork for her comes in. I've a huge Volvo freak and I need the money so I can get another one. I do like the Eclipse but eh. She'll be fun to fix up. She had an... interesting... previous owner.

 

So I got her "running" today, but I forgot to get the gasket to put the exhaust back together. She started okay, but throttle kills or nearly kills her. Is this just because there's 0 backpressure keeping the valves and stuff in check?

Also, she sounds effing MEAN right now. BRATBRATBRATBRATBRATBRATBRATBRATBRAT

 

I got the oil pan removed, gasket removed, cleaned the oil pan, shot it with silver paint to track oil leaks, got the new, real, gasket and put it all back together. Got the exhaust gasket I needed, bolted the exhaust back together, and VROOOOOOM she started right up, revved great, and I was generally pretty excited. I let her warm up for a little bit before I did the rev test (she would start bleeding under throttle). So I did and...

No oil!

So as I'm picking up my tools so I can take her for a spin to the exhaust shop I take one more peek under the car.

She's bleeding oil again.

I can't figure out why or where, but here's a picture of where she's bleeding.


The oil is coming from the side of the crossmember opposite the oil pan, by the trans. I don't know much about Mitsubishi engines or FF cars so I'm not sure where this could be coming from. The oil was black and gross, but now it's bleeding the clear, clean oil.

I also have a video of the oil leaking, if that's helpful. I'd really like to get this fixed by tonight. I have a new valve cover gasket, exhaust manifold gasket, but not a head gasket.

 

The pic isn't really clear but it looks like it could be the rear main seal, Post the video.

 

Video didn't come out so hot on YouTube. I'll take some more pictures and stuff in a second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt6oXWoCRGw

 

After watching the vid, it deff looks like the rear main seal is leaking.

 

How would I verify that's the problem?

Edit: Here's a clearer picture of where the oil is dripping from. I let my car sit for a little bit so the dripping stopped, wiped down some of the motor, trans, etc, and snapped some pictures.


Edit 2: Just looked up the procedure for replacing the rear main seal... UGH...