I had all 4 brake pads replaced yesterday. come home from class last night and realize there‘s a puddle in my parking spot. I left it alone, i‘m on crutches and it was dark. bad combination. anyway, so today i went out there to check it out. here‘s what i found: under side of my car is wet in a small area, and you can see little drips hanging on to it, I didn‘t get close enough to see where it was coming from, remember i‘m crippled right now. the whatever it is that‘s leaking is brown so if i narrowed it down correctly, that‘d make it either oil or brake fluid. It‘s dripping from the middle of the car for the most part, not near either one of the tires. it‘s in the front like i guess actually almost right in between my front tires. ANY info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks all you car buffs. I know a little, but not too much!!!xoxops- it‘s a 2002 monte carlo ss if that matters and its got about 88000 miles on it, sigh. it‘s my baby
Just back the car enough to get your finger on the fluid and give it the smell test, that will give you some idea of what kind of fluid you're seeing. Like the other man said, after a brake job, it's not unusual to see a little fluid dripping because of the overflow from the master cylinder, and re-filing.
NICE CAR!!! when the brake pads were replaced, did they bleed the brakes?? And did they put the reservoir cap back on tight? Lift the hood and look for fluid dripping from the reservoir. Probably did not bleed the brakes, (I don't), and if not, is it possible that you added fluid recently before you got the brake pads replaced? If you did, that would be too much fluid for the reservoir and will leak out, and run down on to the frame traveling to the lowest point before dripping, which is under the engine, in the center. Before you drive the car, check the brake fluid (make sure the cap is on), and if the person remembered to replace the cap, make sure the fluid is full. If not, don't drive the car until it is filled using DOT 3 brake fluid. Other options is you could have a hole in your brake line, but you car is too new, and the rubber lines at the wheels would most likely go bad first.
Andrea, Sorry you're having trouble. Too bad some one with a little car knowledge was not around to advise you what the fluid was. Brake fluid and antifreeze smells and crude as it may seem tastes different. A tiny smear of antifreeze on a finger tip tastes very sweet. Brake fluid smells like Southern Comfort Whiskey. My guess is you have an antifreeze leak near the lower radiator hose connection (easy inexpensive fix.) I'm sorry you're on crutches but the good news is antifreeze leaves tracks. This means the any mechanic will be able to easily find the source of the leak. Antifreeze mixed with water does not evaporate easily. For now, lift your hood and make sure there is adequate coolant in the white plastic coolant recovery bottle near your right front fender. Be careful not to dump antifreeze coolant in the windshield washer white plastic bottle. If you get confused there is a black hose connected to the side of the radiator cap opening. Follow that hose. It'll lead you to the coolant recovery tank. My wife's a nurse in an OB office and youngest daughter is a nurse in labor and delivery. Hope you'll be able to use your crutches as firewood soon!
