Condensation leak?? please help diagnose.

ocabrera · #1 (**permalink**) 08-31-09, 10:45 AM

soo....I have been noticing a bit of a spot on my driiveway recently (08 SRX v6 AWD) When I turn off the car I often hear some kind of sizzling sound coming fron underneath the car. I looked under and noticed a clear kind of fluid coming from the flat underside of the tranny (maybe a transfer case??) that is directly underneath the two exhanust downpipes and between the oxygen sensors smack in the middle of the car (I really do not know what the part is). The liquid which is clear and very water-like seemd to be coming directly from the seal that separates the underside of the pan with the top side. A bit of seepage is also coming from a a bracket that seems to secure the pan to the undercarriage. I can easily get under the car and even if I run the car for a few minutes the leak becomes aparent. All fluids seems to be fine and like I said the leak is clear (not dark oil) but if does smell a bit oily and it leaves a mark on my driveway which leads me to believe it is petroleum based. I have no idea what it could be I was hoping it would be condensation from the a/c and it maybe where is the exhaust for a/c condensation?

thanks for any input. I have not called dealer, it is still under warranty.

louisn · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-09, 04:16 PM

Power steering fluid? My reservoir was bone dry before the dealer figured it out. I saw similiar spots as you described under my car and the dealer missed the source a few years ago. He said "no leaks" until the reservoir was empty about a year later.

elspence · #3 (**permalink**) 09-01-09, 02:07 AM

I would think this most definitely just water from the AC unit. Power Steering fluid is generally dark red or another easily i.d. color as is ATF. Brake fluid can be clear, but it is not watery. Could be water from the AC dripping off the underside of the car and picking up some residual oils from the car which would explain dirty or "slickness" of it.