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Fluid drip by back wheel

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SlipperyPete, Jun 9, 2021.

  1. SlipperyPete

    SlipperyPete New Member

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    My 2009 has fluid dripping in front of right rear wheel. The fluid smells like oil and doesn't appear to have any color.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    come on, I know you want to taste it. Solve the mystery already
     
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  3. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    To my nose, engine oil doesn't have much odor. Since there isn't anything with oil lubrication aft of the engine bay, I have to wonder if you have a brake fluid leak. Best to safely lift the car and inspect. Have you checked your fluid levels?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Most likely you have a bad cabin leak like many a g2 and the 12 volt battery well is full of water and goldfish.

    Take the back hatch aprt so you can get to the spare tire get a flashlight and look in the hole the battery sits in. Water probably under the spare tire too.
    And if real bad it has migrated to under the rear seat carpet.
     
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  5. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Would the typical Gen2 body water leaks drip ahead of the right rear well? I might expect super duper mildew smells inside the car if it got that bad.

    Anything is possible, but inspection of the leak source is a good idea.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    At least feel the fluid; is it oily?
     
  7. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    fluid dripping in front of right rear wheel. The fluid smells like oil and doesn't appear to have any color.

    3 descriptions and they all match brake fluid. The "in front" part could be indicative of a hose or fitting issue. I've also had an instance of a steel brake line rusting through at a chassis mount. The mount apparently held moisture against the brake line.

    Leaks in the drum area typically show themselves as a mess on the inside of the tire/rim.
     
    #7 TMR-JWAP, Jun 10, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2021
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    How’s the brake fluid reservoir level?

    could be real slow leak though.

    recent brake work?

    Any sort of work in that corner, say collision repair?
     
  9. SlipperyPete

    SlipperyPete New Member

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    Yes, it's oily and smells "oily"
     
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  10. SlipperyPete

    SlipperyPete New Member

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    The reservoir level is good.
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If you taste it and it taste like Hot Dogs, then it's just a street vendor that spilled some oil on the spot you parked.

    There's also washer fluid that goes to the back window, maybe some of that is leaking out
     
  12. SlipperyPete

    SlipperyPete New Member

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    It's not water :)
     
  13. SlipperyPete

    SlipperyPete New Member

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    It turned out to be a blown shock
     
  14. SlipperyPete

    SlipperyPete New Member

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    It turned out to be a blown shock :)
     
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    blown shock....makes total sense. Didn't even think about shock leakage.

    Good thing the part is cheap on Toyota websites, labor is a different story.
     
  16. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    How... shocking.

    Can't remember the last time that I have seen an actual "dripping oil on the ground" blown out shock.

    Well, as far as things that can wrong on your car, that's a pretty easy one to fix.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  17. SlipperyPete

    SlipperyPete New Member

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    650 for both rear installed.
     
  18. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Wow...never saw that coming. Been so long since I've seen a leaky shock, it never even occurred to me, lol. great to hear that's all it is. but yikes. 650 bucks for rear shocks. The world is going crazy. Rock Auto has 'em for about $80 each, so dealer price is probably $160+ each and 2 hours labor, so I guess that adds up about right. Adds up, but still highway robbery. Maybe it would have been cheaper if it was a leaking brake hose.......
     
  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    That seems cheap for dealer service, this quote is from an Indy shop correct?

    a few years ago I bought rear shocks at the dealer for $60 each and brought them to my mechanic and he charged $50 labor for each side. So about $250 for me to get it done.

    this job requires partial disassembly of the rear hatch area, and a spring compressor to get the shock changed.