2006 Pathfinder vibration and liquid leak

[davendeb]

2006 Pathfinder SE, 2wd, 4.0L, auto, 107,000 miles.
Last week wife tells me she has a vibration when driving that goes away when she lets off the gas. I drive it and the vibration is bad when acelerating but does lessen when decellerating.
Jacked up PF this morning thinking I would replce the U-joints. But there is no slack in the drive shaft fore or aft. Both joints look good, no moisture around them and no sign of damage. HOWEVER, some eletronic looking box on top of the torque converter (i think) is dripping wet and shiny with liquid. The liquid has flug around the area and has dirt and dust sticking like mud. No drips at transmission, Where can this liquid be coming from? I have pictures but I cant post them. It won't allow me to.
Any ideas?

[Chuck Tribolet]

There's three liquids: coolant, motor oil, and ATF. Check all the levels. My first guess would be ATF because of the vibration. Wipe some up with a paper towel and report back.

Chuck

[davendeb]

Will do. Plan to get back under tomorrow and change ujoints anyway.

[davendeb]

Trying to post picture of area showing wet area.

[Chuck Tribolet]

The picture is looking forward and up, right? If so, that's not the torque converter, which is on the front of the trans inside
the bell housing.

Is the glop the grey stuff or the small bit of black stuff?

Chuck

[davendeb]

Yes. Looking toward the engine from driveshaft. Don't know what to call the gray part. Sorry. The shiny object on top of three pics is black and shiney from being wet.

[davendeb]

OK. Got the u joints replaced. Vibration gone. PTL. The liquid has no distinct odor. I filled radiator and will watch for drips.
One word of caution. The 06 pathfinder has an aluminum drive shaft and aluminum yokes for the u joints. Be aware that the yoke can spread out while driving out the old u joint and can close up while driving on new ujoint caps. This makes it impossible to get enough space in the new cap to seat the clips. You'll have to gently spread the yoke back out. Be careful.