Coolant Leak?

pkittie · 03-22-2007, 08:57 PM

Hello everyone-

I just purchased my 2007 Prius 12/29/2006. Today I noticed a light green fluid leaking behind the right front passenger tire, and the service tech on the phone said it was the coolant. I'm taking in my car on Saturday to get it fixed, so my question to you is:

Is this going to herald a never ending number of things that are going to have to be fixed with my car? Did I get a lemon?

FYI: To pull in and out of my driveway, there is a huge divot in the cement that bridges the street to the driveway (a gutter, if you will), so no matter how slowly or what angle I drive, it impacts the front of the car.

I'm hoping that that is not what is making the leak, but I suspect it isn't helping.

Thanks!

tochatihu · 03-22-2007, 09:14 PM

Your Prius coolant (in both loops) is pink. In the earlier Prius it was red, but it has never been green. The brake fluid is 'straw-colored', and I very much hope that yours is not leaking after some damage.

To learn more, might it be possible to put paper down under the parked car to see if anything drips? If you do not know the various fluid reservoirs under the hood (which all ought to be full), please ask.

That your technician regards light green fluid leaks as Prius coolant does not fill me with confidence (in them). Are there any other Toyota shops nearby?

I have very high confidence that you did not receive a Prius-lemon. They are awfully rare. Odd though it may sound, I suspect that you might have observed a light green puddle left by some earlier vehicle.

pkittie · 03-22-2007, 09:42 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tochatihu @ Mar 22 2007, 07:14 PM) [snapback]410595[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Your Prius coolant (in both loops) is pink. In the earlier Prius it was red, but it has never been green. The brake fluid is 'straw-colored', and I very much hope that yours is not leaking after some damage.

To learn more, might it be possible to put paper down under the parked car to see if anything drips? If you do not know the various fluid reservoirs under the hood (which all ought to be full), please ask.

That your technician regards light green fluid leaks as Prius coolant does not fill me with confidence (in them). Are there any other Toyota shops nearby?

I have very high confidence that you did not receive a Prius-lemon. They are awfully rare. Odd though it may sound, I suspect that you might have observed a light green puddle left by some earlier vehicle.
[/b]

It was actually when I got home and parked my car in my personal spot (with no other cars around) when I noticed the leak. I cleaned up the wet spot, wiped under the area where it appeared to be leaking, and it kept on leaking.

Here are some photos:

It appears that there are some old dried spots that are near the new one.

It looks green? Could it be the yellow fluid in the container below?

It's been about 2 hours since I came home and since I took this picture-I didn't notice any leaking, but the wet spot SHOULD have dried up by now. The yellow reservoir container is at it's maximum level.

seasalsa · 03-22-2007, 09:53 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pkittie @ Mar 22 2007, 06:57 PM) [snapback]410585[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Hello everyone-

I just purchased my 2007 Prius 12/29/2006. Today I noticed a light green fluid leaking behind the right front passenger tire, and the service tech on the phone said it was the coolant. I'm taking in my car on Saturday to get it fixed, so my question to you is:

Is this going to herald a never ending number of things that are going to have to be fixed with my car? Did I get a lemon?

FYI: To pull in and out of my driveway, there is a huge divot in the cement that bridges the street to the driveway (a gutter, if you will), so no matter how slowly or what angle I drive, it impacts the front of the car.

I'm hoping that that is not what is making the leak, but I suspect it isn't helping.

Thanks!
[/b]

Did you have the Auto-A/C on? I suspect it is the normal condensate drain. Mine has always done this and it is normal.

pkittie · 03-22-2007, 10:01 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Mar 22 2007, 07:53 PM) [snapback]410618[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Did you have the Auto-A/C on? I suspect it is the normal condensate drain. Mine has always done this and it is normal.
[/b]

Um, not the Auto-A/C, but the fan on medium-it was in the high 70's today. Man oh man, I hope it's normal.

BTW, I didn't talk to a tech, just the service desk gal.

Do you think I still should bring it in, or just observe it after I use the air/ac?

seasalsa · 03-22-2007, 10:10 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pkittie @ Mar 22 2007, 08:01 PM) [snapback]410623[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Um, not the Auto-A/C, but the fan on medium-it was in the high 70's today. Man oh man, I hope it's normal.
BTW, I didn't talk to a tech, just the service desk gal.
Do you think I still should bring it in, or just observe it after I use the air/ac?
[/b]

Try using Auto A/C tomorrow and see if you don't have a larger puddle behind the right front tire.

BluePrius2007 · 03-23-2007, 12:21 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Mar 22 2007, 09:53 PM) [snapback]410618[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Did you have the Auto-A/C on? I suspect it is the normal condensate drain. Mine has always done this and it is normal.
[/b]

A/C condensation is normal, but if it's green then it's not A/C condensation and it's not normal.

galaxee · 03-23-2007, 12:51 AM

can tell you right now it's really not likely to be the yellow stuff. (brake fluid.) if you had a brake fluid leak, your brake pedal would go right to the floor when you touched it. and if the system detects a loss of brake pressure it will sound a continuous beep, annoying as hell. can't miss it...

there is nothing green in the car...

can you see where it's dripping from? if you get underneath there a little?

hyo silver · 03-23-2007, 01:12 AM

Could the AC drain be mouldy? How does the drain from the area at the base of the windshield look? Where does it drip from if you pour some water in there?

JimN · 03-23-2007, 10:20 PM

pkittie, did you run over an alien and squish green goo out of him?

To me it doesn't look like an automotive fluid. Does it feel oily or watery? I'm sure there is nothing mechanically wrong with your Prius. I wouldn't think it is contaminated water from the AC since it is new and it is winter but will defer to the opinions of the technically gifted.

The darker green specs in your photos look like cut grass. Could this be water from a lawn mower filtered through caked grass?

03-22-2007, 08:57 PM	#1
pkittie Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LaLa Land Posts: 48 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hello everyone- I just purchased my 2007 Prius 12/29/2006. Today I noticed a light green fluid leaking behind the right front passenger tire, and the service tech on the phone said it was the coolant. I'm taking in my car on Saturday to get it fixed, so my question to you is: Is this going to herald a never ending number of things that are going to have to be fixed with my car? Did I get a lemon? FYI: To pull in and out of my driveway, there is a huge divot in the cement that bridges the street to the driveway (a gutter, if you will), so no matter how slowly or what angle I drive, it impacts the front of the car. I'm hoping that that is not what is making the leak, but I suspect it isn't helping. Thanks! __________________ www.eleanormakeup.com

03-22-2007, 09:14 PM	#2
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 1,681 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: Pioneer #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Your Prius coolant (in both loops) is pink. In the earlier Prius it was red, but it has never been green. The brake fluid is 'straw-colored', and I very much hope that yours is not leaking after some damage. To learn more, might it be possible to put paper down under the parked car to see if anything drips? If you do not know the various fluid reservoirs under the hood (which all ought to be full), please ask. That your technician regards light green fluid leaks as Prius coolant does not fill me with confidence (in them). Are there any other Toyota shops nearby? I have very high confidence that you did not receive a Prius-lemon. They are awfully rare. Odd though it may sound, I suspect that you might have observed a light green puddle left by some earlier vehicle. __________________ DAS Tochatihu, the Hopi hummingbird kachina

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03-23-2007, 12:51 AM	#8
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,806 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	can tell you right now it's really not likely to be the yellow stuff. (brake fluid.) if you had a brake fluid leak, your brake pedal would go right to the floor when you touched it. and if the system detects a loss of brake pressure it will sound a continuous beep, annoying as hell. can't miss it... there is nothing green in the car... can you see where it's dripping from? if you get underneath there a little?

03-23-2007, 01:12 AM	#9
hyo silver and awaaay! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 6,215 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	Could the AC drain be mouldy? How does the drain from the area at the base of the windshield look? Where does it drip from if you pour some water in there?

03-23-2007, 10:20 PM	#10
JimN Certified Prius Advisor Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,045 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	pkittie, did you run over an alien and squish green goo out of him? To me it doesn't look like an automotive fluid. Does it feel oily or watery? I'm sure there is nothing mechanically wrong with your Prius. I wouldn't think it is contaminated water from the AC since it is new and it is winter but will defer to the opinions of the technically gifted. The darker green specs in your photos look like cut grass. Could this be water from a lawn mower filtered through caked grass?