2000 3800- Random rattling & smoke from transmission area
 

Hey guys, still fighting the 2000. No more misfiring, but fuel pressure issues now. After an un-needed fuel pump change, the car's acting strange. To get the pump out I had to raise and drop the rear axle, I'm guessing this is where something went wrong. When I first drove the car there was noticeable smoke from around the O2 sensor after the exhaust heated up, I blamed it on all the rust penetrate I had sprayed on. But now there's smoke from the engine bay when you lift the hood, and there's been evidence of something leaking on the exhaust pipe that runs under the rear of the engine. I guess it's finally gotten worse. I put a new tranny mount on because that's what the rattling sounded like, but you can still hear it when accelerating and cornering at the same time. Tranny fluid looks fine, oil looked....ok, maybe a little runny. Don't like how easily it dripped off the dipstick. Could I have blown a seal or gasket when I had to lift and drop the rear axle? I'm at a total loss here guys, many thanks for any input....

does the oil have a stong gas smell? 5w30 is thin anyways if thats whats in her. gona have to track that oil leak down. it does take a bit to burn off oil but shouldnt be too long.

I doubt you cause an oil leak dropping the axle but a rattle could be cause by a shifted exhaust hanger. You want to grab the exhaust any place you can reach it and shake the crap out of it. If you can make it hit metal to metal that is the issue. Next you have to get all the way under and look for shinny metal. The only going around corners ones can be a pain to find because it requires some body flex.

Just a quick follow up, the smoke was just the rust penetrate burning off. The noise ended up being a bent cross member or something. $125 later it's fixed and humming along, versus $430 the other shop wanted because "it's PROBABLY the motor mount", as if they even inspected the noise :p