Mitsubishi Repair: Oil leak, mitsubishi eclipse, mitsubishi dealership

Question
1999 Mitsubishi eclipse 2.0 RS...My car has has started leaking oil...it is coming out in between the autotrans and motor so i took it in and had it checked... they told me it was a plug on the side of the motor inside the trans...is there really an oil plug in there...is that bad on the trans? they told me it would be around $700 to fix...i just want to make sure they aren't just jerking me around for my money...i have put off fixing and now the leak is getting pritty bad...thanks  

Answer
Matt,
I'm not sure if it's a plug, and I'm not familiar with any particular plug between the engine and the tranny.  But I believe your problem is a leaky rear main (crank) seal.  That's simply a rubber seal that goes between the engine and the tranny and over time, that can leak, and you will see the oil leaking between the tranny and the engine.

But regardless of a bad plug or oil seal, it is a labor-intensive job to fix.  And depending on your mechanics hourly rate, it may cost you around $700.  But $700 is a lot of money to spend, and I would recommend you first get a second opinion and estimate from another mechanic.  You should also call the service department of your local Mitsubishi dealership and ask what they would charge to replace the rear main seal of your car.  Have your VIN ready incase they ask for it.
Good luck!