Damp patch rear off side.... Brake line?

step_change · Post by **step_change** » Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:15 pm

Hi. Last few times I reversed out of the garage I noticed a small damp patch - size of a hand - just in front of the off side rear wheel. Not a puddle but clearly something has dripped onto the floor. Just a bit in front of the wheel so not the caliper I don't think. I "tasted" this dampness and it was water-like in taste, not oily or anything. Hmmm, I'll keep an eye on that I thought. When got back home it had completely dried up so it is not oil otherwise it would still be puddled. Then today I had my amber ABS and amber warning lights come on driving up the M40. Did 80 miles like that, then stopped at Warwick services but when pulled off to go home it was gone. Car brakes fine.

Rear brake lines do you think? Expensive?

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:27 pm

Air con puddle is common, but this is too far back. The warning lights could just be a coincidence. Get them checked out if they reoccur. Could be anything from a dirty sensor to a failing ABS pump.

Could be your roof drains - there are small outlets near the rear mud flap where water drains out. If it’s a slow drip after the car is stationary then maybe your drains are partially blocked.

If your pour water very carefully along the rubber seal at the base of the roof, you can check if it comes out in the same location.

step_change · Post by **step_change** » Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:31 pm

Thanks MrPT that's an interesting thought..... Glad I had the roof motor relocated then...!
Then again, why the ABS light coming on, then clearing on it's own?????

Will try pouring the water to see as you suggest.

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:34 pm

step_change wrote: ↑Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:31 pm Thanks MrPT that's an interesting thought..... Glad I had the roof motor relocated then...!

Ah, that’s interesting. Not sure whether the procedure involves clearing the drain or not, but either way, the hole in the bottom of the drain is tiny and easily blocked.

Then again, why the ABS light coming on, then clearing on it's own?????

There are three main causes of those lights coming on - dodgy sensor, dodgy battery or dodgy ABS pump - and they can all be intermittent, unfortunately. I can’t think of an obvious connection to the drip, but someone else might.

Ducklakeview · Post by **Ducklakeview** » Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:45 pm

The pipes normally go on the nearside, just in front of the rear wheel, where they are exposed to all the crap getting chucked at them from the tyre. Ideally a code read to see what's causing the problems..

Mike

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Oct 16, 2017 10:06 pm

If it’s leaking hydraulic fluid I doubt it would have dried up from from the floor? More likely to be water by the sound of it

Rob

Rusky · Post by **Rusky** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:26 am

Unscrew your whippy aerial and poke it down the drain to clear it. Puddle will probably get bigger but then no more puddles after that.

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:11 am

Rusky wrote: ↑Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:26 am Unscrew your whippy aerial and poke it down the drain to clear it. Puddle will probably get bigger but then no more puddles after that.

Aha, they're good for something!

Rusky · Post by **Rusky** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:40 pm

MrPT wrote: ↑Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:11 am
Rusky wrote: ↑Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:26 am Unscrew your whippy aerial and poke it down the drain to clear it. Puddle will probably get bigger but then no more puddles after that.
Aha, they're good for something!

Ofcourse, isnt that why they are there? Never quite understand why people swap them for a stubby! How do you clean the drains with a stubby?!

Mike6 · Post by **Mike6** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:28 pm

If your leaking hydraulic oil, the level in the cylinder will be going down. If the oil is still at correct level then you arent losing any.

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