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fluid leak in the inside front passenger side

23K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  double dee 
#1 ·
I have a huge problem. My car has been in the shop NUMEROUS times with the same front end issues as others with more miles on it. My question is after having my front brakes pads done ( and probably the rotors turned) about 6 mos ago, then 2 mos ago we had the front sway bar and bushings replaced. And the steering assembly was done at the same time the brakes where put on. I wondered what could be the fluid that is leaking from the front passenger side inside wheel well area. It also sprayed grease onto the passanger door and on a spot on hub cap area. Could someone PLEASE HELP ME. I am ready to put on a straight jacket. The car now has 30,000 miles on it and did I mention that I was forced into putting on 4 new tires when we had the sway bar and bushings done!
AT MY COST!!!
Please help, I need amunition and the car is going into be looked at on Wed.
Till then its sitting in my garage!
Thanks a bunch
DD
 
#3 ·
is the cv joint a bad thing? and someone (co-worker) said that it could be a seal near the boot? does any of this sound right?
Would that have been damaged or something forgotten (like something not greased) with the other repairs for this type of thing to happen?
thanks
DD
 
#4 ·
Look at all your fluid reservoirs to see if any of them are low. Based on what you find, look for a leak in that system. For example, if the brake master cylinder is low, look for leaks in the brake hoses. If the power steering is low, look for leaks there.

Check the transmission fluid level, while idling in neutral while the engine and transmission are hot. If it is low, this may be the culprit.

Crawl underneath and see if you see any red or clear fluid dripping anywhere. Red will either be transmission fluid or power steering (as the same fluid is used in power steering), clear would be brake fluid. Orange-ish would be coolant. Golden or brown is engine oil.

The CV joint is a good thing. However, if the boot is broken that is a bad thing. That is unlikely, given you only have 30,000 miles, and what is in there is grease, not fluid.

It is possible what you are seeing is condensation from the air conditioning compressor. That leaks, in front of the passenger footwell, and is perfectly normal, even in the winter.

I can't think of any fluid that would leak around the underside of the car and splash onto your door. I would bet that is due to an unrelated, separate incident. Run it through a car wash for that one.
 
#5 ·
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
at least I have something to go on when I take the car in tomm.
The fluid was brown in color and smelled like oil, and there was grease on the wheel cover that spread to the passenger door! I would not be one bit surprised if it was the boot , since we have already replaced most of the front end as it is!
Thanks for the car wash tip, I will take that into consideration!
this lemon sure does make my eyes water!!!
DD
 
#6 ·
Looks Like The Transmition Fluid Is Slightly Down, Not Tons But At Least A Quart. Could The Boot And Cv Joint Gone Bad After The Brakes Were Done? Could It Have Been Worked On At All When They Did The Brakes And Things Not Put Together Right?
Thanks
Dd
 
#7 ·
How about make, model and year of your van?

Do you have a digital camera ? Take some photos and post them.

Do you hear any clicking noise from passenger side when driving?

If the "grease" on the side of car is black, sticky, impossible to get off your fingers, then it is grease from a CV joint.

If the "grease" is brown, slimey, it's probably power steering fluid.

Let the mechanic do his job.
 
#8 ·
Thanks for the advice, the "grease" is sticky and hard to get off.
The van is a T&C mini van, 2003 purchased 10-22-2003
and I have tried to let the machanics do there job, but the van has been in at least once a month or several times a month since Sept. with problems fixed at the shop then drive 2 miles down the road and the same noises/issues being present, or a different issue being present after several things replaced.
Even insulation foam was pumped into the wheel well at one point to "quiet" the noise that evenually resulted into 4 new tires, stabilzer bar put on and an alignment, bushings and brake pads! And this was all before the car had 28,000 miles on it.
I just want to get an idea of what could be wrong with it before I am taken in by another "idea" they have on fixing/replacing another part on the van.
And dont get me wrong I still have faith in the dealership, otherwise I wouldnt still be taking my car in there!
Thanks so much, I will keep you all posted on what the dealership has to say!!
DD
 
#10 ·
I'll second that!

Find a garage you can trust. Tell them what you told us, and make sure they know you will give them business if they demonstrate that they know what they are doing and do quality work. It doesn't have to be a dealer. Most work does not require a dealer's equipment. If it does, a good shop will tell you so and refer you on.

I just had brakes done on the van, all four. Because I have worked well with them, they gave me a loaner, found the best prices on all of the parts, and did a quality job in less than four hours. I know they are doing good work, and they know that I know my vehicle and respect their job and their work. They saved me at least $120.
 
#11 ·
results are in!

Well, I got the van back last week, and here is the story!!
they gave me a loaner van to use for no charge and they had the van for almost 2 days. found that after they washed the van and got the grease off the passanger door and wheel well, that no leak was present on the paper when it was left overnight in the garage! they also said there was no vibration present when they had taken it for a test drive! ( but the test drive was at a speed of 35-40 miles per hour -according to the service mngr.)
So this fantum problem and vibration must only happen when I am in the car!!
So far there has been no additional grease on the door spraying, but I think there is still a mild vibration when the car is at 55-70 miles an hour, so I guess we will have to play the wait and see card for this one!!!
thanks for all the help, and I will keep this forum in my favorites file!!!
dd
 
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