New PRNDL Switch, then red fluid Leak.

Had a PRNDL switch installed on my '06 Tacoma a few weeks ago. One week later, noticed what looks like several drops of red fluid on the ground (transmission fluid?). Truck seemed fine after having the PRNDL switch installed, but since last week the truck feels like it's slipping gear sporadically. Wondering if slipping gears and red fluid drips could be related to PRNDL switch replacement? Although there looks like there may be a leak below the PRNDL switch, there are also red drops on the snow are more closely located below the skid plate and radiator (see photos). There have been no engine warning lights. Can't find any spray or leaks anywhere around engine or radiator when observed from above. I appreciate any thoughts or recommendations.

 

That's transmission fluid. Check your transmission fluid level and then decide how you are getting back to the shop that installed your switch to have them fix the leak they caused.

 

Welcome to TW,
Yup, she is bleeding out, call a tow truck and take her back.

 

It may not be as bad as you're being led on to. If you have the capability, reach up there and use an inspection mirror to see the top of that lip on your tranny pan. My guess is that the shop didn't do a good job of cleaning up after they replaced the switch leaving residual fluid up on top. The snow melt caused the fluid to drip down. So what I would do before you bust out the tow truck is get a shop rag and wipe up that area clean and start the truck. Let it warm up and run through your gears (P -> D -> N -> P pausing briefly at each gear, repeat 10x) to work any fluid around that switch. There are methods using a jumper wire on your OBDII on this website on how to get your truck into the 'A/T Temp Check' mode. You'll know your tranny fluid is warm enough when it enters that mode. Run the above test a few times then check the switch again for leaks. If it's leaking, the shop should fix it. If it's not leaking, then you should be good to go but I'd keep eyeballing under your truck for any signs of dripping tranny fluid. Ultimately, it's entirely up to you on what you decide to do and that shop should make it right.

-J

 

The threaded portion you see that the nut is threaded to, is actually inside the transmission as well.
There should be a seal around that rod.
The NUT has been known to corrode to the PRNDL switch.
When this happen, it is a bear to get off.

If you go “Gorilla” on it. You could possibly damage the seal.

I don’t have and can’t find a good parts diagram with this seal shown?

 

When I was a kid (I’m old), my mom called the gear shift the PRNDL pronounced “pernundal”(Park,reverse,neutral, drive and low.) She was born in Germany and didn’t speak a lot of English. Hadn’t thought of that in about 40 years.......

 

PRINDEL switch is what it sounds like in English basically. I've been calling it that for a long time now.

 

I don't think anybody is saying that it's a terminal diagnosis. The truck was been driven for a while before this started and it's slipping between gears. It's probably not a huge fix, but it's definitely something the shop should make right.