I had a miniscule leak without even a drip from around the the silver transmission pan, just a slight coating. Took it to a mechanic that was fixing another problem. He mentioned it and that they tightened the bolts and now it is dripping pretty bad. Is it a seal? I don't have drawings on the car.

There is a qasket around that transmission pan. It's sounds like it's time to drop the pan and replace the gasket. This shouldn't be more than $20 for the gasket, $10-$15 for transmission fluid, plus an hour or less of labor at whatever rate your particular shop charges.

Mike

You took it to the mechanic, and it leaked WORSE? Did he sabotage it? I have seen more and more of what can only be explained as sabotage these days. Stuff that happened to me personally... ie take the Honda CIVIC in for an alternator replacement, and all the freeplay is gone from the clutch to the point where it won't go up hills without slipping. Or the old Volvo I had where somebody loosened ALL the ground wires under the hood (5 wires, not just a little loose either.) Or my dad taking the Audi to the DEALER for years, only to find out that NONE of the work was performed! It's really bad out there sometimes...

this weekend I sprayed some degraser around the pan and underneath the engine. It seems that it is the main engine seal where the engine and transmission bolt together. How much should it cost to replace that seal?

If it is the main seal between the engine and the transmission, it can be a fairly expensive repair. The cost is mostly labor as this is a labor intensive repair. The engine and transmission are usually removed from the car as a unit and then they are seperated from each other. Then the $10 seal is replaced and the transmission and the engine are reattached. Then they are put back in to the engine compartment as a unit. My best guess on cost would be $400 to $700 depending on the labor rate charged in your area. I would recommend an independent shop rather than the dealer to minimize the cost.

MIke

It was the front pump seal on the transmission, so while he was there I had them replace the main engine seal, and the transmission pan and filter kit total $623. Gues that is better then inheritting somone elses problem and spending even more money.