posted
Hey dudes. I have a problem with my car. Just wondering if anyone here can possibly help.
I'm driving a 1999 Saturn SW1. I left my driveway today and my car started making all manner of horrible noises. I turned back and pulled into my garage and looked under the car to see massive quantities of fluid pouring from a pan right next to the front passengers tire.
At first I thought it was transmission fluid, because some kids at Jiffy Lube did some service on it a little while ago. But as I did some investigation, I'm thinking it might not be. I checked the transmission fluid level (although I didn't dare do it with the car in idle) and there seemed to be plenty there. Same with the oil, steering fluid and brake fluid. But I noticed the coolant reservoir seemed empty. I poured some water into the coolant reservoir and it emptied out again pretty quickly. The fluid is clear brown (maybe slightly reddish) with a bit of sediment.
First, anyone think it might be anything other than the coolant? Is there anything else I should check before the tow truck comes?
Second, I'm sending it into the dealership, since I haven't lived in this area very long and don't know anyone around here I'd trust to work on it. But I don't want to be hosed by them. So what's the worst case scenario for that situation? I don't want them to make up some story about needing to replace the engine block, which I would buy because I'm kind of ignorant. And what should I say to them to let them know I'm not a complete dummy?
Sorry this is kind of a weird problem. Any help would be greatly appreciaged.
Posts: 563 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Sounds like coolent to me, but without seeing it myself I am just guessing.
Could be a hose...that's the best case situation. Could be the radiator, which would suck.
Good luck, let us know what it was...they only thing I can figure out is what the noises were. If it was just coolent, then there should have been very few noises.
What type of noises were they? How fast were you losing fluid?
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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It's also possible that your radiator itself is leaking somewhere. I had to have mine patched up once, and the damage was only about $35, I think.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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The 'massive quantities of fluid pouring' makes it sound less like a radiator leak to me (wouldn't think it'd be that sudden & catastrophic), but I don't really get the 'horrible sounds' either.
Posts: 326 | Registered: Aug 2005
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It was a high-pitched squealing nose that seemed somewhat related, but not completely proportional, to the movement of the car.
After I got home and stopped the car I got out an a couple seconds later I heard some splashing. I looked under the car and the fluid was pouring out at the rate you'd expect if you opened a gallon of milk and turned it upside down.
Thanks for the help. Posts: 563 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Hmm. Could also be the water pump, I suppose. If the bearings on it had seized up, that would explain the horrible noises, and if it broke, then it would spray coolant and empty out the radiator pretty quickly.
Edit: The squealing probably came from the serpentine belt, in which case I'd put my money on the water pump. Pop the hood and look at the belt. Is there fluid all over it and the rest of that side of the engine compartment? Can you tell where the fluid was leaking from?
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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I'm with JB, probably the water pump. That happened to me with those same symptoms (with the water pouring out as soon as you put it in).
Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Yup sounds coolant related to me. I think probably the water pump (because of the noises and you can lose fluid quickly when the pump goes) or a hose coming off. Do all the hoses appear to be properly connected? Can you follow the water marks to see where it came from?
Edit: from the pics it's hard to tell where the fluid came from. I'd be surprised if it actually originated that far down (rather than dripping down from above). If it did actually come from that far down, it could be a blown hose or possibly a blown plug (I forget the actual name - the plugs in your engine block).
Out of curiosity, have you ever flushed your radiator? That fluid is dirtier than I'd expect to see in a vehicle of that age.
Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Nope. I haven't owned the car for very long.
Thanks for the help, everyone. I'll feel much more confident talking to the mechanics now. If anyone has anything to add, feel free. If not, I'll let you know what happens. Posts: 563 | Registered: Feb 2006
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quote: It was a high-pitched squealing nose that seemed somewhat related, but not completely proportional, to the movement of the car.
When you get a lot of wet fluid on your belts, don't they make that sound? So if he blew a hose and it sprayed all over his fan belt, I could imagine it squealing.
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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Speaking of car problems, I have almost a thousand dollars of repairs to do to my car before we can drive it to D.C. The axles, CV boots, and brakes are all getting replaced.
quote: It was a high-pitched squealing nose that seemed somewhat related, but not completely proportional, to the movement of the car.
When you get a lot of wet fluid on your belts, don't they make that sound? So if he blew a hose and it sprayed all over his fan belt, I could imagine it squealing.
Yup. That's why I'm guessing it's the water pump. Several months ago a small plastic fitting on a hose in my car blew, so the water pump started spraying coolant over everything. The belt squealed and actually slipped off. Luckily I just needed that fitting replaced, and they replaced it with an aluminum one that wouldn't break like that.
Hopefully Baron Samedi's car problem is something similarly small like a hose or a fitting and not the water pump itself.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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