Transmission fluid leaking after fluid was replaced

If the dealer did it very good chance of overfill.
They love doing that with motor oil.

It takes 4 quarts of fluid. It’s bright red pretty easy to see where it’s leaking from but hard to get all the way under there to look at it unless the car is jacked up.

 

It is almost impossible to overfill. Perhaps the tech did not use two new washers and/or torque to the correct spec.

 

Take pictures and post here, maybe that might help.

 

is it wet on the bottom? wipe it clean and then dive back under after it starts dripping again. they shouldn't have touched anything but the plugs.

 

Who changed it, dealership? Was it the specified Toyota ATF-WS fluid. Do you have an invoice indicated how many quarts or liters were used?

I would get back to them asap, and take it real easy with the car in the interim. I'd second some kind of mess up with the fill or drain bolts and/or their washers.

Also, I've got a vague recollection: someone here reported having a change done, way too much fluid was put in, and it was coming out, through a third bolt at the top of the transaxle if I recall correctly. The engine bay had some fluid sprayed. Have you popped the hood??

 

THIS. Why would that NOT be the first thing that you think of doing ????

Transmission fluid is pink oily fluid.
Engine oil is usually light brown.
Coolant is green or orange and smells sweet.

 

If it’s the green box on the picture, that’s the oil pan.

The oil drain plug is just above the left side of the green box.

Are you sure it’s trans fluid?

Keep us posted .

 

What coolant are you using in your Prius?

If using the long life coolant, that is red.

Have you changed the water pump out or is the water pump leaking? What is the level of coolant in the engine loop?

Happy new year and keep us posted.

 

they might have slopped some fluid during the change, and now its dripping off. coolant is pink and water pump might be leaking. some trannys will leak out the vent if overfilled; I don't know if prius will do that. you need to get under it with a strong flashlight right away to figure out whats going on before damage occurs. and likely you will need to remove the plastic panels under the engine to see the problem.

 

Sounds like there might be Long Life Coolant (red coolant) in the engine loop.

My bet is the radiator cap isn’t secured or the water pump is finally due for replacement, given this happened after “servicing” .

 

This is incorrect. Gen II are all factory filled with SLLC (pre-mixed). The Gen I used LLC (concentrate). If you had a '07 with LLC, then that was after the fact. There is nothing to stop you using LLC either, it's spec'ed life is shorter is all, so you will be changing it more often.

 

100% coolant would be handy in cases where the system was water flushed. Too bad SLLC only comes pre-mixed.

 

Looks like a failed water pump .

Hope the level didn’t get low enough to throw a code on the dash indicating a high temp in the system.

But clearances are tight, yet doable.

Good luck.

 

Ray is correct thats the fear as Toyota in there infinite wisdom never put a engine temp gauge in the dash so the engine can get pretty overheated before it throws a check engine light. Aluminum head.... not good.

Take the black plastic cover off the top of the radiator and theirs a rad cap under there. I bet the rad is pretty low. This car is weird the rad can be empty but the overflow is full. Wacky...so you have to check the rad itself.

Never did a water pump on this car but many many posts on replacing it. Search forum.button.

 

Put a piece of cardboard under the car and let it drip overnight then pull it out and then you can tell for sure what type of fluid it is.

 

Yeah that's 100% what the eagle and the fox say. Residue of dried coolant seeping from the water pump seal.

Get the radiator (the actual radiator not just the plastic reservoir) topped of straight away, then look at getting the water pump replaced soon.

BTW. Always make sure the engine is cool before removing the radiator cap.