Cabrio leaking green stuff!

[milleplod]

The wife's '99 Cabrio has sprung a leak somewhere! Got up this morning and noticed a small puddle under the driver's door area (right hand drive car!), and its bright green! The coolant is the red stuff. Is the leak likely to be from the aircon system? :huh:

Pete

[Loren]

Are you sure it is not coolant - from the heater core?

[milleplod]

Are you sure it is not coolant - from the heater core?

Hi Loren.

Just spoken to my wife....she's out in the car (only spotted the liquid on the floor after she'd gone!). She's looked under the car and says the leak's coming from a pipe that runs more or less the full length of the car, at a point roughly under the driver's (r/hand drive) door handle, and seems to be where a bracket's supporting the pipe. So.....I'm thinking coolant pipe, possibly worn through by the bracket? I was sure the coolant was red....presumably not!

Pete

[Loren]

Yeah, sounds like a damaged line.

Best take the plastic covers off and have a look.

[milleplod]

Yeah, sounds like a damaged line.

Best take the plastic covers off and have a look.

Is it a major job replacing the pipe? DIY possibly?

Pete

[Loren]

That will depend on which line.

[milleplod]

OK, I'm going for a refrigerant leak (not that I know much!)....my coolant is definitely the red variety (at least, it is in the header tank!) and this luminous green stuff seeping out is stone cold (with a stinking hot engine) and slightly tacky between the fingers. Would you agree, Loren? If so, is the refrigerant pipe difficult to replace?

Pete

[Loren]

Last time I checked refrigerant was milky white.

Coolant can be green or pink.

You need to identify where the leak is coming from.

[londoner06]

Pete, at Renntech a picture is worth a thousand posts... even from a camera phone. Some locations are difficult to photograph but then we can see the liquid and the problem area.

Edited March 1, 2009 by londoner06

[milleplod]

Pete, at Renntech a picture is worth a thousand posts... even from a camera phone. Some locations are difficult to phogograph but then we can see the liquid and the problem area.

Will try to get one done in the morning! I bow to Loren's way superior knowledge, but if it is coolant, there's something weird going on!!

Pete

[Orient Express]

What color is your windshield washer fluid? Sometimes that stuff is green.

G12 coolant is always orange or red.

[milleplod]

Washer fluid is blue! Coolant definitely the orangey-red stuff.

Pete

[RFM]

Looks like Pentosin power steering fluid leak to me.

[milleplod]

Looks like Pentosin power steering fluid leak to me.

Now I am confused!! Does one of the 2 parallel pipes under the door carry PAS fluid?? :unsure:

Pete

[RFM]

Yes they do, one pressure line and one return line.

[Orient Express]

Pentosin is green, and your steering rack is in front. Could have a bad fitting or hose.

[milleplod]

I did some more digging around. Its definitely not Pentosin....I dipped some out of the reservoir and compared it to the stuff that's leaking - nowhere near green enough or fluorescent enough!! I'm told the aircon system would have the fluoro green dye in it to aid leak-finding, so, bearing in mind I've got the orange/red coolant, I'm going for refrigerant! I'm going to have to take it into the workshop though, as I've no facilities for doing it myself, unfortunately.

Thanks for the advice so far guys! :thumbup:

Pete