Cleaned MAF now leaking Transmission Fluid???

T

t4rain

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I'm mechanically illiterate and it seems like everytime i touch my engine i break something... somehow, after cleaning my MAF and attempting to clean my TB but giving up (running out of daylight) my car now leaks what looks to be ATF fluid (EDIT: it is coolant.) I have done the trans cooler bypass if that makes any difference and it wasn't leaking before this. I'm not sure how the two can be related but i tightened a few of the clamps near the TB because they were so loose that they werent even doing anything. i tightened or adjusted the red circled parts (didn't touch the transmission fluid lines to my knowledge) and the bucket shows how much fluid has been leaked in about 10 hours. I'll probably take it in to the mechanic tomorrow unless anyone has any suggestions... thanks in advance
 

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Nothing you've circled is related to trans fluid so you probably didn't cause it by cleaning the maf. perhaps you should check your work bypassing the trans cooler? Just see if you can find where it's coming from. How long ago did you do the tranny cooler? I assume you closed off the old radiator lines?
 
JRZEE2000TR4LTD said:
Red Toyota coolant from the coolant hoses going into the IAC valve on the TB possibly?
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My thought exactly. Although most on here would not confuse coolant and ATF...

...really depends on where it is leaking from...not what you did just prior. Post hoc ergo propter hoc is a known fallacy.
 
soundmanlpte said:
Nothing you've circled is related to trans fluid so you probably didn't cause it by cleaning the maf. perhaps you should check your work bypassing the trans cooler? Just see if you can find where it's coming from. How long ago did you do the tranny cooler? I assume you closed off the old radiator lines?
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It has been over a year since I installed it... and i had to take it in once already due to it leaking - mechanic fixed it. Glad that the two are highly unlikely to be related. Yes, old radiator lines were closed off as instructed in the tutorial on this site.

I'll concede to the mechanic again and hope it gets fixed for good.

Thanks for chiming in everyone
 
TheDurk said:
My thought exactly. Although most on here would not confuse coolant and ATF...

...really depends on where it is leaking from...not what you did just prior. Post hoc ergo propter hoc is a known fallacy.
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I can't find where it is leaking... I dont know the difference between coolant and ATF - and i am CERTAINLY not as mechanically-inclined as most on this board.
 
t4rain said:
I can't find where it is leaking... I dont know the difference between coolant and ATF - and i am CERTAINLY not as mechanically-inclined as most on this board.
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Well, ATF is red colored oil and coolant is red-colored water and ethylene glycol. Is it watery or oily? If it is coolant, it likely leaks only under pressure and you will only find the leak using a pressure testing kit.
 
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TheDurk said:
Well, ATF is red colored oil and coolant is red-colored water and ethylene glycol. Is it watery or oily? If it is coolant, it likely leaks only under pressure and you will only find the leak using a pressure testing kit.
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It is definitely watery so i guess it is coolant... thanks for the help, i'll bring it in and hopefully it's not too costly of a repair
 
t4rain said:
It is definitely watery so i guess it is coolant... thanks for the help, i'll bring it in and hopefully it's not too costly of a repair
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Look at every hose attached to your TB/IAC. And behind the manifold. Usually when I re-attached mine some hoses fall off, and I have to double check them.
 
It may sound weird, but does it smell bad? Transmission fluid has a very distinct odor, while coolant has a much more mild smell. That will help narrow down what exactly is leaking.

Edit: Damn, I scrolled through this too quickly...didn't see that you had already figured out it was coolant. Should be a cheap repair, most likely a hose somewhere that has cracked or just came off.
 
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Not sure if you already found your leak yet or not, but coolant when it dries will leave a white, crusty film on the leaking components. Since you know the general area of where it is leaking from (since you caught in a bucket), go under your truck and look for the leak. Should be the only thing wet or crusty. Follow that up to the affected hose and you've found your leak.
 
The mechanic said the coolant leak is coming from the water pump... nooooo! So after all of that, it appears to be unrelated to what i did... Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Timing belt and water pump were last done a little over 4 years ago at 96k... now it has 154k - i know timing belts should be done every 100k but doesnt make sense to do one without the other from what I understand

I do trust the shop - little family shop, not the dealership or anything

thanks for the help everyone
 
t4rain said:
The mechanic said the coolant leak is coming from the water pump... nooooo! So after all of that, it appears to be unrelated to what i did... Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Timing belt and water pump were last done a little over 4 years ago at 96k... now it has 154k - i know timing belts should be done every 100k but doesnt make sense to do one without the other from what I understand

I do trust the shop - little family shop, not the dealership or anything

thanks for the help everyone
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Yeah, go ahead and do timing belt if you can afford it. It's worth it to be good on that for another 100k. And it's not THAT expensive. Should be $450-$500 correct?
 
I would say replace the TB also but if your only getting 50K from the WP, that means you'll be in there again in another 50K which would be right on cue for the TB change. Personally, I think you should get more than 50K from a WP. Probably a non OEM pump. I would get an Asain pump and gasket off of Ebay or something and have you mechanic use that one instead one from Autozone, Pepboys etc. The seals are much better- not paper. Mine had those paper gaskets and gasket sealer and it took FOREVER to clean up the sealing surface. It was JUST starting to leak, evidenced by those crusty white spots mentioned.
 
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