al wrote:

Hello - I have an older washer that has begun leaking water when in
use. It's also making a kind of grinding noise for several seconds when
it first starts spinning but that eventully goes away once it gets
going. Would anyone happen to know what's going on with that, whether
it's a complicated repair or whether it's signaling that its last gasp
is imminent? Thanks in advance... AB

Hi...

Been there; done that. Recently, no less

Can't speak to the leaking water, but the grinding noise
is almost certainly the transmission. And it will get
worse and worse as time goes by.

Transmission isn't repairable (imho), and replacement
even if you could find one not worth it. Start saving
up to replace the machine asap

Ken