Strange Leak

[loudandheard]

Well, I came outside to find fluid all around passenger side rear tire.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/1855000-1855999/1855532_65_full.jpg

So I check underneath the car and this is what I see.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/1855000-1855999/1855532_64_full.jpg

I don't know if you can see a shiny black tube in the middle of the pic, but that's where it's leaking from. Sorry the pics aren't too good, I couldn't lift the car yet. My question is, is it a hose for the brakes or something else. I know it's a stupid question, but is it safe to drive, I do need my car. I really appreciate the help.

[1995c280]

from looking under my car. it looks like it runs up the inner fender to the filler neck around the gas cap area. smell the fluid. if its gas you'll know. otherwise if it brake fluid it'll be very slippery.

back there there is really no sparks so if it's gas and you must drive the car...but prepare for bad gas milege. however, if its brake fluid, DO NOT drive that car until fixed

Jason

[loudandheard]

Yeah, it feels slippery. I'm pretty sure it's not gas, it doesn't have that familiar odor. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something like transmission fluid. I checked the brake fluid and it seems ok, I just thought since it was in such weird location it could be something else. Thanks, yeah I'll have to think twice before driving it now.

[1995c280]

gas can be slippery also and if it sat like that for a while the smell could have evaporated.

ok although its very hard to get under my car with the drop i managed it. to me it looks like its a gas line hose. a hose comes from the gas filler neck and there is a hose clamp that connects the 2 hoses right at the spot where it appears you have your leak. check the clamp.

that line looks like it's too large in diameter to be a line containing brake fluid.

Jason

[harryt]

Well if you really need to test it, just move the car in and out of your garage. You have ebrake, incase you can't stop. If your brake fluid is full, then it most likly isn't the brake fluid at all. I'm going to go with 1995C280 on this one, most likly a gas leak.

[loudandheard]

You're right, I went back and checked it and it smelled like gas. I guess I was thinking it couldn;t be gas so I must have ignored the smell. I just thought it was funny that it didn't evaporate and that it was slippery. Well, how do you think I can fix that problem. Is it something I can do my self or am I going to have to take it some where to fix it. I can do it myself as long as I have some sort of instructions and know what parts to replace. I really appreciate you being persistent with me, sorry I guess I was just hoping it was the brake fluid.

[1995c280]

first off...to start you have to identify where the leak is starting from. always look from the top and work your way down when finding leaks. easiest way is to jack up right side of car, remove r/r wheel, open gas cap, posibly remove r/r inner fender (few 10mm platic nuts) - this is easy to do, then buy some hose line pliers. autozone has them in pairs for like 12 bucks. pinch the rubber hose so the fuel doesn't pour out. buy a hose clamp from the parts store about the size of the one that's on there now. pull the rubber hose off then replace the clamp and re-connect the hose and tighten. this is assuming that your leak is from the clamp. the OEM clamp on there cannot be tightened any more because its a pinch type clamp where-as the parts store will give you a clamp you can tighten with a screwdriver.

find out where the leaks is before replacing anything though, just remove the wheel, dry everything off in the area then start the car and look with a flashlight while the car is idling.

hope this helps, Jason

[loudandheard]

Well, I jacked up the car and took off the wheel and noticed it was the little tube for the fuel. The tube was cracked and leaking from there and no where else. It was a pain in the ass getting those little clamps off, but I managed. I went to the dealership and they didn't have the tube, so I went to autozone and got some heater tube, for the time being. I'll buy the tube at the dealership, I just wanted to be able to drive my car. They told me it was going to take up to 2 days for it to get here, so hopefully the heater tube will hold up for that time.

[martattack]

Originally posted by loudandheard
Well, I jacked up the car and took off the wheel and noticed it was the little tube for the fuel. The tube was cracked and leaking from there and no where else. It was a pain in the ass getting those little clamps off, but I managed. I went to the dealership and they didn't have the tube, so I went to autozone and got some heater tube, for the time being. I'll buy the tube at the dealership, I just wanted to be able to drive my car. They told me it was going to take up to 2 days for it to get here, so hopefully the heater tube will hold up for that time.


AutoZone didn't carry any fuel line? That's odd.

[loudandheard]

Yup, they said they didn't carry anything that large or small, I can't remember.

[1995c280]

glad you found the leak. let us know how it goes when you put the new gas line tube in.

Jason

[loudandheard]

well, I already put in a rubber tube temporarily and so far no problems, I'll let you know the part number and how much the actual tube costs from the dealer.

[coolin]

Originally posted by loudandheard
well, I already put in a rubber tube temporarily and so far no problems, I'll let you know the part number and how much the actual tube costs from the dealer.

I've swapped whole sections of metal fuel line with rubber in previous cars that had leaks.

As long as it's clamped, you'll be able to drive for a long time as is.