Oil Dripping behind drivers dash? WTF?

[xpunkfishx]

I was greeted this morning to a nice little puddle of oil right in the middle of my drivers side floor mat. It's trailing down from somewhere in my dash?! It looks like engine oil, but the only thing near that side is the brake fluid reservoir.

Anyone ever have this issue?????

Shouldn't be related, but I just had my transmission rebuilt.

?????

 

[snowboardonsnow]

That would be a master break cylinder leak more then likely. Pop your cap off and see if the fluid in there is the same dirty color. Probably just hasn't been changed in a while so it looks off.
Mine did that a few months back, luckily I had a spare.

Edit: is it a auto or manual? could be the clutch I suppose just follow the trail up you should find it.

 

[CaptHamster]

Just a thought, but I had that happen on my FJ62 once and it turned out to be the speedometer. The speedo cable had gotten separated from the speedo head at the back of the gauge and leaked through the dash onto the floor. Always a possibility I guess...

 

[xpunkfishx]

That would be a master break cylinder leak more then likely. Pop your cap off and see if the fluid in there is the same dirty color. Probably just hasn't been changed in a while so it looks off.
Mine did that a few months back, luckily I had a spare.

Edit: is it a auto or manual? could be the clutch I suppose just follow the trail up you should find it.

Hmm..I'll check that, but I just had the brake fluid changed a few months back. It's an automatic.

 

[xpunkfishx]

Just a thought, but I had that happen on my FJ62 once and it turned out to be the speedometer. The speedo cable had gotten separated from the speedo head at the back of the gauge and leaked through the dash onto the floor. Always a possibility I guess...

Interesting because the more I think about it, there is a slightly weird sound that wasn't there before and it varies depending on speed. I'll definitely check the speedo cable. I really had no idea that there would be oil coming from that.

Thanks.

 

[CaptHamster]

Interesting because the more I think about it, there is a slightly weird sound that wasn't there before and it varies depending on speed. I'll definitely check the speedo cable. I really had no idea that there would be oil coming from that.

Thanks.

What kind of sound does it make? When my speedo started going out, it either sounded like a small hive of bees was living in the dash, or it sounded like a higher pitched grinding or scraping noise, and it was relative to the speedometer's reading.

 

[Joe_E]

Just a thought, but I had that happen on my FJ62 once and it turned out to be the speedometer. The speedo cable had gotten separated from the speedo head at the back of the gauge and leaked through the dash onto the floor. Always a possibility I guess...

I agree.
Probably speedometer cable.
My 60 did the same thing.

 

[BG_TX]

I had something similar and it was the speedo cable... but... it was ATF/gear fluid mix leaking behind the dash. There is an o-ring on the speedo cable where it seats to the transfer-case, I guess the o-ring had failed and the transfer-case gear oil (mixed with ATF due to a failed seal between transmission and transfer-case) had made its way up with speedo cable, started pooling behind the dash and eventually dripping from behind the dash.

I replaced the speedo cable, complete with new o-rings, and it stopped.

 

[maat]

Do you have a mechanical oil pressure guage?

 

[klinetime574]

Speedo cable. Mine quit working and the end of the cable had tons of oil in it. Replaced it with OEM, no problems since.

 

[Spike Strip]

Speedo cable. Actually, it's the speedo cable drive gear seal ( O-ring) in the t'case. Gear oil gets past the seals and is pumped up the cable, eventually into the speedometer, itself.

You might be able to spray some solvent and lube in the cable and save it, and remove the speedo gear in the t'case bearing retainer housing and replace the seals. Still avail from Toyota.

 

[tclark]

Just a thought, but I had that happen on my FJ62 once and it turned out to be the speedometer. The speedo cable had gotten separated from the speedo head at the back of the gauge and leaked through the dash onto the floor. Always a possibility I guess...

I had the same problem after removing my dash. Tightened cable back up and all was well.

 

[cruiserfj45]

There is a speedo drive gear seal which looks like a valve stem seal in the housing at the t-case. Replace that as well as the o-ring. But that should be pretty obvious if it is gear oil. What does it smell like? If not it could be the brake master. If you have a aftermarket oil pressure gauge which ruins an oil line inside that cab that could be your leak as well.

 

[KLF]

That would be a master break cylinder leak more then likely.

Not possible, there's a big booster between the MC and the firewall. A leaky MC will drool brake fluid down the front of the booster and drip on the inner fender.

 

[CruisinTiger]

x12 on the speedo cable...same thing happened to me

 

[haryv]

If is right below the oil pressure gauge, if you have one, that's the source of the leak. Never would have guessed it was speedo seal. IS there a vent on these transmissions? if so, sounds like its plugged.

 

[KLF]

Never would have guessed it was speedo seal. IS there a vent on these transmissions? if so, sounds like its plugged.

If you mean the transfer case, then yes there is a vent. It's on the top, and it's a huge PITA to get to.

The gear oil can be pushed up the speedo cable by the gear drive.

BTW, the A440F trans vents thru the dipstick tube.

 

[xpunkfishx]

What kind of sound does it make? When my speedo started going out, it either sounded like a small hive of bees was living in the dash, or it sounded like a higher pitched grinding or scraping noise, and it was relative to the speedometer's reading.

The new sound I'm hearing is a rotational/metallic/soft grinding noise, that increases and decrease based on my speed, if that makes any sense?

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Thanks everyone!

It hasn't leaked again, but that doesn't make me feel any better.

I literally just had the transmission and t-case rebuilt a few days ago. Sounds like my the o-ring/seal needs to be replaced. Hmmm....maybe I can get the transmission mechanic to fix it since it sounds like it's all his fault.