Any gear heads able to assist this amatuer? I have 3 concerns

[spree17]

I have a 93 190e 6 cyl:

1) After my running car is parked on my sloped driveway I notice 2 small thin lines of fluid. They are like 1 inch wide and 3 inchs long. They are parallel to each other. They are so small that I cant tell what it is. Any ideas on what they could be? I havent noticed any fluids being low. I had dropped some oil a while ago. Could this be the remains dripping from the that plastic guard/pan under the engine?

2) Yesterday after driving around 75mph my car seemed to vibrated via the steering column but it seemed fine at slower speeds. Today I dont have any of that shimmy or vibration. The car has pulled to the left just a tiny tad for 3 years but never had this high speed shimmy before. Is that a tire balance issue? How can I tell?

3) I dropped a wrench while working on the car 2 weeks ago.I think there is some sort of plastic guard/pan under the car that it dropped in to. Does anyone know how hard it would be for me to go get that wrench? Would it likely have fallen out on its own by now?

Thanks a bunch for any and all replies.

[Stoney]

1) What color is the fluid? (Black, Red, Green) helps to id source
2) Could be a number of things...Ball Joints, Bushings..put it up on the rack with a good Indy tech and see what you find (a good tech will SHOW you what's wrong, not just tell you)
3) Slide under the front end and remove 4 8mm screws that hold lower shield to frame. The will drop down adn so will your wrench. While they are out, use a can of spray engine degreaser/sleaner (checp stuff) and clean the accumulated crud off and wash clean. Now you will have less "phantom" drips and can track the ones that happen easily.

[Stoney]

Sorry keyboard suffered a Jones Soda Root Beer attack yesterday and that Pure Cane Sugar realllllllly makkkkeeess ttthhhee kkkeeyyyss stickkkkyy!

[KermitF]

Spree17,

Has your ac been in use?

Not uncommon in warm weather for condensation to drip in a manner you are describing. If you go back later and look at spot where fluid lines were, do you notice stain, or has fluid all evaporated?

[mpolli]

Just stick your finger in it, rub it between your finger and thumb and smell it. That should answer your question. As far as the vibration that is easy, DON"T DRIVE SO FAST !! You will save money on tickets, insurance and tire balancing.

Mike

[spree17]

Originally Posted by Stoney

1) What color is the fluid? (Black, Red, Green) helps to id source
2) Could be a number of things...Ball Joints, Bushings..put it up on the rack with a good Indy tech and see what you find (a good tech will SHOW you what's wrong, not just tell you)
3) Slide under the front end and remove 4 8mm screws that hold lower shield to frame. The will drop down adn so will your wrench. While they are out, use a can of spray engine degreaser/sleaner (checp stuff) and clean the accumulated crud off and wash clean. Now you will have less "phantom" drips and can track the ones that happen easily.

1) The fluid doesnt seem to have a color really. Its that little that is on the ground. It doesnt seem like water though. I tasted it and it tasted like some sort of chemical based fluid.
2) I was hoping to avoid paying a mechanic and doing it on my own but I may not have a choice.
3) Thanks for the advice on how to take that panel off.I will do that this weekend!

[spree17]

Originally Posted by mpolli

Just stick your finger in it, rub it between your finger and thumb and smell it. That should answer your question. As far as the vibration that is easy, DON"T DRIVE SO FAST !! You will save money on tickets, insurance and tire balancing.

Mike

I dont break the speed limit. Thats how fast people on the highways drive.
Its weird that I dont have any leak when the car is parked in the garage. It only shows up when i'm on my hill of a driveway.

[spree17]

Originally Posted by KermitF

Spree17,

Has your ac been in use?

Not uncommon in warm weather for condensation to drip in a manner you are describing. If you go back later and look at spot where fluid lines were, do you notice stain, or has fluid all evaporated?

Yes I use the ac but today I didnt when pulling out and still saw the 2 thin lines. Once I get back home be it 20 minutes or an hour later the stains are gone though. Maybe thats just the heat of the driveway in summer time. It only shows on the slope of the driveway not in my garage.

[spree17]

Update. The "leak" is just water I guess from using the AC.

The wrench I dropped must have came out on the road somewhere. I dropped the panel and it was no where to be seen.

Most important the tire shimmy is gone.

Hey guys thanks for all your help! Turns out you guys were right. It was the Tires not the brakes or anything else.

After checking the brakes and everything else myself I decided to get the spare which had a hole plugged and change it with my right front tire.
Then I remembered that the tires were bought at discount tires so I brought it there to get plugged since it should be under full warranty. I also asked them to balance the front tires also under full warranty. Turns out I was wrong about where the problem was. It was in the left front tire. It had a small bubble that I could not even see. I had them replace the tire under warranty and after declining new tires all around my car (Cost $441 for 3 with 1 free) about 5 times I was on my way.
I wish I did this 2 weeks ago. It would have saved me time and aggravation!