*weisshorn, thanks for the reply. can you tell i'm refreshing this thread like crazy because this problem is stressing me out that I really need to get as much asvice as I can get. The speedometer problem was never solved. It still wiggles +/- 10km back and forth when the needle passes 20km or so. I will try to bring the car to a diff mechanic and have him re-attach or replace the cable. Is replacing it a simple job, nothing to disassemble? Would you have any idea how much the cable is?

Re oil leak, yes, that what the mechanic did the first time we went back. He cleaned it and told us to use it a few days, it leaked in the same place. The question would be, is the problem with their workmanship, the "original" seal itself, or the crankshaft groove that you (and the mechanic) mentioned. My only contention with the last one is that, if there was a groove before the replacement, isn't it supposed to leak way before the seal replacement, why leak now the day after the new seal was placed. Since the day the car was bought, it never ever leaked, only until the day after the replacement. And now he wants to disassemble the crankshaft >