red fluid leaking from my car - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hedpe · #1 05-13-2003, 03:21 PM

Hey guys, theres a redish liquid leaking from underneath my car, i'm not sure what it is, i'm not that familiar with car fluids. I whiped it on a white towel and its pinkish red. Is something dead under my car or is it leaking?

tunk · #2 05-13-2003, 03:24 PM

where exactly did you wipe it from? How much has leaked out? Could be transmission fluid. Let us know what part looks to be the guilty culprit for a better shot of actually figuring out what it is.

cdt

G-Benz · #3 05-13-2003, 03:48 PM

That is the color of transmission fluid.

The question is where? There is a transmission cooler that is integrated in the lower part of the radiator. Check the metal hose fitting that exits out of the bottom of the radiator near the passenger side for leaks.

hedpe · #4 05-13-2003, 03:57 PM

I would take a pic for you guys but my dad has the memory stick so i can only give you a rough estimate right now. It's by the passenger side near the front middle of the car. So front rightish middle of the car.

tunk · #5 05-13-2003, 04:03 PM

can ya get under there at all and take a peek? A leak should be pretty obvious (depending upon the cleanliness of the engine, size and number of leaks) just look up from where it's been dripping right? Sounds like what I just replaced, transmission fluid cooling lines (not saying it is). You might just get lucky on this one, if that's what it is its an easy 20 minute fix. But still, you have not really told us where the leak is coming from or how much has leaked out. how do you keep a turkey in suspense?

CDT

engatwork · #6 05-13-2003, 04:15 PM

Sounds like tranny fluid to me.

hedpe · #7 05-13-2003, 04:52 PM

I'm unforunately at work until 9:00PM ET. So I can't get you guys a look at it until then. My dad should be home with the memory stick then and i can take a picture also. I washed the car 2 days ago, and then put it in the garage and hadn't touched it until today. When i moved it to wax it, there was fresh tranny fluid probably about spreading 2 feet long and a foot wide leading to my drain. It was still fresh and leaking. When i moved it, in about an hour and a half i'd say there was a spot about the size of a quarter that leaked in that hour and a half.

If i were to gestimate right now where it was leaking. It would be somewhere right under the shifter in the car. I wouldn't be surprised if the idiots at the dealership broke or cracked another line like they did with my brake line, but we won't get in to that. Because they had replaced the tranny rotors on the car last time it was there.

But i'm not THAT familiar with transmissions. I learn day by day and problem by problem

I'll get some pics around 9pm EST tonight for you guys. Thanks for the responses and the help so far.

zeb · #8 05-13-2003, 05:47 PM

could also be powersteering fluid..

hedpe · #9 05-13-2003, 09:24 PM

okay i have NO clue what i'm looking at or looking for, i've never dealt with transmissions before. But i jacked the car up and took some pics for you guys to examine:

looking at it from the front bumper:

and looking up at it:

looking at it from the right side:

engatwork · #10 05-14-2003, 06:18 AM

I don't see any drips off of the pan but is that seal "moist". It looks like it. I don't think it is your power steering. Look where the tranny bolts to the back of the engine. Is there any dripping from this area? Also, from where the shaft comes out the back of the tranny.

95E320cab · #11 05-14-2003, 08:57 AM

I've had a real slow drip at my "AT Protection Switch", which is about where you described on my car. I just tightened it up with a pair of pliers. There are no flat sides to put a wrench on.

The switch has a plug on it that looks like a spark plug wire on a lawnmower. Ther wire comes off the sensor and makes a right turn with a "boot" on it.

Check it out.

tunk · #12 05-14-2003, 09:25 AM

I'm with engatwork the right hand side (passenger side) of the tran fluid pan looks wet. I would take a closer look at that area and see if you can't figure out where it's coming from, sometimes fluid starts leaking from one place and sort of spreads like when you solder; which makes this difficult. You could have a leak coming through the gasket, that's my bet. not a huge deal. Might be a real good idea to check level of tranny fluid before making the next trip, in my 190 there's a dip stick towards the back right top hand side of the engine. If the fluid's not too low perhaps you could run it while it's up on the stands and isolate the leak.

CDT

hedpe · #13 05-14-2003, 11:06 AM

I'm going to check the tranny level today. Sorry for my lack of knowledge but what and where is the AT Protection Switch located? I'm gonna see if i can find any leaks again. Thanks guys!

btw, what do you guys use when you check dipsticks to whipe the dipsticks off on so you don't leave dirt on it to go back in?

hedpe · #14 05-14-2003, 11:23 AM

OK, the car will not start today. I have no clue why, it isn't even trying. I turn the key and i get a click and that's it. No effort on its part. I turn my headlights on and the headlights seem fine. My stereo seems fine. How can i check to see if its the battery? I don't want someone to jump start the car, me move it, and then it be dead again.

I had my stereo running yesterday with the car off for maybe an hour or so. The voltage reading on my capacitor is usually 11.8 or 12.0 with the car off. But now its reading about 10.1, that a sign of anything?

Thanks guys.

tunk · #15 05-14-2003, 11:50 AM

if the battery is getting low your engine should try to turn over but sound kind of pathetic doing it. A slower version of a start. If your headlights and electrical components like stereo still work then battery might not be the cause. Do you have a multimeter? Check the batts potential, maybe you do just need a jump start, happens to everyone. Jump on a good battery shouldn't leave you stranded. If it does turn out that you just need a jump you might consider checking for a battery drain with the car off. Lastly, just wipe the tranny dipstick off with a clean rag.

CDT