Suspicious water leak from driveshaft? Puddle under car....

S

sapphire_nick

Member
Hi all
Last night I got home and drove the car into the garage and before walking into the house I noticed a fairly distinct series of drops of water on the driveway. Have not seen this before and I wonder if anyone knows if its likely to be serious.

Can't jack the car up to check where it is coming from but here are some pics I managed to take. Some even have the drip coming down and as you can see, the puddle of water. Any thoughts?
Should I stop driving it? Is it maybe a leak from the aircon system and nothing serious?

Puddle under the suspected area. Midway under the car (kind of behind where the gear stick would lie)

Gallery of pics:
http://gallery.me.com/sapphire_nick#100065
 
Is it clear water? If so then it's aircon draining out or rainwater that was trapped then dripped out.

Check if it's coolant, washer fluid, etc. Easiest way is not the recommended but taste it...

Check coolant level is not low or decreasing.
 
Thanks Cj10jeeper! It is indeed clear water and it didn't smell of anything at all. Didn't try the taste though :o

Does the aircon really do that, then?

All other fluids seem to be at the correct level.

So not worth worrying about, then?
 
I'd agree with Phil. I have my AC on all year round and get this after any run that's longer than 10 minutes.

It's just moisture that the AC unit has removed from the air as it's processed it - otherwise you'd end up with steamy windows.
 
mmm-five said:
I'd agree with Phil. I have my AC on all year round and get this after any run that's longer than 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

Yep, me too - always get this even on short runs. It's surprising how much water actually drips down - much more than any car I've had in the past.
 
Any ideas why it just drips from under the car? It doesn't seem to have a proper hose outlet, just drips on the driveshaft it seems. Didn't realise that this was the norm!
 
The air con compressor gets really cold. when stationary is warms up making condensation on the outside of it... this then just drops off forming the puddle you see.
 
gannet said:
The air con compressor gets really cold. when stationary is warms up making condensation on the outside of it... this then just drops off forming the puddle you see.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
I was definitely using it, yes! Just seems wierd that in 1.5 years of owning the car, I have never noticed it before. Seems to have deposited a lot of water, too!
 
sapphire_nick said:
I was definitely using it, yes! Just seems wierd that in 1.5 years of owning the car, I have never noticed it before. Seems to have deposited a lot of water, too!
Click to expand...

I have to say also that I've only noticed it a couple of times in 2.5 years ownership - guess I should drive it more :D
 
Work and drive in the Middle East - all parked cars have a small puddle under the AC condenser after a run with the AC on (and its on all the time!)
 
I live in a world of air conditioning in the summertime and I always give give those puddles in the driveway the lick test, just to make sure it 's plain old water from the AC unit.

If you assume it's water every time then it won't be :x , just Murphy's Law.
 
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