Trans leaking? Pics included

So I was driving home last night and my check engine light suddenly pops on. I make it home, check all engine fluid levels, everything looks good. I crawl under the drivers side and see what looks like oil on my trans pan and coming off the bottom most hose. Is this my trans pan leaking or could it be the hose that runs back into it? I dropped it off at my mechanics place immediately in case it was ATF. He's going to look at it today, but I always appreciate a tacomaworld opinion. Also for reference I just had my trans fluid drained and filled 1000 miles ago, so I wonder if it wasn't re sealed properly. You can see the oil on the pan, the cross member support, and the trans support.

 

Hard to tell in picture. Whom did the work? Did they drop pan, or do drain and fill? Lot ? To ask, whomever did the transmission service.

 

Has the pan been removed ?
If not there's a good video on the forum on how to remove and replace it.

 

he's not a DIY.

 

No drips on your parking spot? i would snug up the bolts again and then wipe it off before i dropped it by the mechanics

 

Definitely leaking. It would seem whomever did you drain might have fudged something. Good luck at the mechanic.

 

Yeah my mechanic did the initial drain and fill. And yes @auskip07 there was a small puddle about the size of my hand under it when I looked.

 

Did you read the CEL code? Thats the first step before we start guessing

 

Then yeah i would take it back if it was work performed. Hopefully your check engine is related.

 

Unfortunately don't have a code reader. I really need to get one lol. Hoping to hear back from my mechanic in a few hours

 

Mechanic would be first step….but … My mechanic while changing my oil noticed a transmission cooling line leak. If you look at warranty believe it or not it may be covered. My 2016 80k was ultimately covered. Ok I had to be told no by the stealer but after doing research I found what was still covered and lines were there. Stealer said it was declined, so I went and discussed it, finally the idio- said do you want me to call Toyota.. YES. Was my immediate replay, after be transferred three times Toyota replaced the steel lines for free. Read warranty. If the lines leak you may have a case, if your mechanic messed up you have a case with them. Fight for what is right. Don’t fight for the fight. Always be respectful and keep the conversation civil. Good luck

 

Good to know and great advice. The timing seems suspicious since I just had the service done so I am leaning toward something not being put back together properly. However if it is the steel lines I wouldn't be shocked. The road salt/chemical de-icer where I live is brutal and destroys cars, which could absolutely corrode and compromise the lines.

 

I don't see any tracking above the fluid on the bolt in the second picture. Looks like maybe the trans pan was removed? Maybe a filter change? If so then they may not have sealed up the pan correctly, ie torqued the bolts or replaced the seal. If it is the lines I would def push Toyota to fix it.

 

To me it looks like the pan was dropped...gasket looks funky around the bolts. Looks like a shiny spot on the left bolt where the gasket use to cover the mating surface.

 

What way do you think it looks funky? I unfortunately don't have an original photo to compare it to pre-service

 

Comparing the gasket surrounding the 2 bolts I circled...like it was overtorqued. Those bolts are 65in-lbs.

Do you have washers on the drain and overfill plugs? Hard to tell from the pic...

 

To me it looks like the leak is coming from the circled bolt area. If so, he removed the pan. I’d question if they replaced the gasket, should have, and the bolts just need to be checked for proper torque. Easy peasy. Then re-check proper fluid level at temperature.

 

Yeah I believe that he did remove the pan to do the service. I see what you mean with that bolt, and I did notice it when I crawled under last night. Totally drenched.

 

Update: shop fixed it. Was good for about 1000 miles and then failed again. Shop fixed it again and said the replacement seal had failed. Another 500 miles later, slow leak once more. Any suggestions? Idk what they're doing wrong but thankfully they haven't charged me since the initial job. I'm taking it in again Friday. The only thing that I can think of is that they keep over torqueing it. Anyone have the torque specs?

 

Maybe a issue with the pan or the mounting surface. They should straight edge the bottom of the trans and the pan prior to throwing another seal at it.