Help - Leak - I think!

D Walker

D Walker

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In the process of looking at my wishbones with my new fangled USB flexible camera thing I managed to find a blindingly obvious pool of liquid under the front nearside of the car.
On investigation I have found that the front of the front wheel arch liner is wet for about the bottom inch. The fluid is a bit like mucky water with a slight smell of coolant.
I know we collected a fair amount of water on Sunday in the drive back so am hoping it is just what has not dried up.
With my camera I can see a silver hose behind there - going in from the grill but the inside part, plastic on the bottom and the hose feel dry and I cant see any collected liquid in the bottom.
Have dried the floor and the fluids look ok allthough I am finding it hard to see brake fluid level. There is none showing inside the filler tube!

Any ideas before I start dismantling the front wheel arch etc ( at the weekend)

Dave
 
spkennyuk

spkennyuk

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Could it be overfill If your car was serviced prior to you picking it up ? If you've collected water somewhere again since it might pick up the scent of coolant again from any that dried in the engine bay area. I would just keep an eye on it and see if it appears again. If your coolant level isn't dropping then it sounds like its rain water collecting behind the liner.

For £8 those cameras are pretty good quality.
 
D Walker

D Walker

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spkennyuk said:
Could it be overfill If your car was serviced prior to you picking it up ? If you've collected water somewhere again since it might pick up the scent of coolant again from any that dried in the engine bay area. I would just keep an eye on it and see if it appears again. If your coolant level isn't dropping then it sounds like its rain water collecting behind the liner.

For £8 those cameras are pretty good quality.
Click to expand...

Thats what I was thinking - dried the floor - started and ran for 10 minutes, quick check 10mins later, nothing as yet.
You are right about the camera - the only criticism I would have its a little too flexible, but that said £8 cant fall off - as far as I can tell - my front wishbones are fine - will do the rears either tommorrow or when the car is on the drive, can also confirm it looks like I have 2 bolt manifolds. Is US Spec?

Thanks for the camera tip!!

Dave
 
safrane

safrane

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Could be the drain from the scuttle. Check the area of the scuttle is free of leaves and dirt as the six small holes can be blocked easily.
 
D Walker

D Walker

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safrane said:
Could be the drain from the scuttle. Check the area of the scuttle is free of leaves and dirt as the six small holes can be blocked easily.
Click to expand...

Thanks Peter - excuse my ignorance - scuttle - the damp part is the front / forwards most part of the liner - ie closest to the bumper.

Dave
 
StuartW

StuartW

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safrane said:
Could be the drain from the scuttle. Check the area of the scuttle is free of leaves and dirt as the six small holes can be blocked easily.
Click to expand...

I had the very same thing in my 3200, lots of leaf build up in autumn. It only took a couple of days of the cover not being on
 
allandwf

allandwf

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Is that near the access plate for the headlights? Is there not some sort of filter in there also?
 
D Walker

D Walker

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allandwf said:
Is that near the access plate for the headlights? Is there not some sort of filter in there also?
Click to expand...

Not sure, the area that is damp is just below a velco'd flap you can pull down inside the drivers side front wheel arch. Not sure what's inside it.
Dave
 
conaero

conaero

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One that fits on a smartphone would be better than lugging the laptop around, do you know if they do one?
 
spkennyuk

spkennyuk

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Conaero said:
One that fits on a smartphone would be better than lugging the laptop around, do you know if they do one?
Click to expand...

You can get a smart phone version link below but quality doesn't look as good and it appears they don't work with all smart phones. You can get a better one for a smart phone but they are around the £60 mark and for that price you can probably get a dedicated unit with screen built in.

The pc/laptop version should work on a windows based tablet. I will try it on an android tablet on the off chance it will work but you would loose the ability to record and take pictures that you can with the windows/mac software. Unless I can find a suitable android app that works. There are a few out there.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7mm-3-5M-...232?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cfeab22f8
 
rossyl

rossyl

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Dave, check the drivers carpet area. Take up the mat, feel the carpet. Then open the plastic cover which allows you to see the VIN. Feel about there, and give the sound deadening a squeeze.
 
D Walker

D Walker

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Ok - I have taken the drivers and passengers car mats up - good feel etc and dyr as a bone,
Removed the scuttle panel and found this on the drivers side, IMG_0380[1].jpg, left side was clear so I cleaned that out and refitted panel (4 times),

This is the area that is soaking for approximately an inch -IMG_0367[1].jpg however when I poke a finger through onto the plastic panel underneath there does not seem to be any fluids collecting, so I am assuming something is dripping onto and saturating the bottom inch or so of the wheel arch lining.. There is a braided hose behind there but my coolant level seems fine.
Any ideas - informed opinions.
 
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