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98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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PontiacFan79
New User
Jul 31, 2014, 7:32 AM
Post #1 of 8
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98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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I drive a 98 pontiac sunfire convertible. I can provide more info should it be requested.. I do believe it is a 2.2 4cyl
So I was driving yesterday, pulled a U-turn in a parking lot to turn around and the car, from the top of the hood by the windshield started smoking a white smoke. it was also coming in at my feet as well, just not nearly as much. The smoke was not black or did it have a distinctive smell other than a typical smokey smell. I stopped the car and turned it off. I opened the hood and checked my fluids.. everything seemed fine. Coolant was full, oil was a little low. I drove for a little bit more to my destination as I was less than a few blocks away. When I stopped I checked under the car and saw drips hitting the inside of the passenger tire and also about a foot away towards the inside of the car parellel with the tire. When I looked under the hood I could see where the drip was coming from. behind the motor were 2 black plugs taking in thin metal bars and just below that is what looks like a metal elbow, or if I had to crudely describe it.. a bent leaky metal faucet. dripping a odorless, colorless liquid.. water? I tried to gather some up with a cup and it was indeed colorless. looked exactly like water.. and this "faucet" was leaking like a leaky faucet does, a drop followed by another drop, enough to form within 5-10 seconds a cookie shapped puddle (height and all..) the "faucet" looks exactly like i am naming it. it is about a inch out from the car a metal grey/blueish color, and then another inch "elbowing out" and turned to a angle that i'd "face on a clock" at 7'oclock. This "faucet" is facing downward towards the ground, dripping on some parts further under the car causing the drip/liquid to spread out to a few areas, thus why it was dripping by the tire and away from it. I am curious if this "faucet" is supposed to have a cable or tube attached to it, or if it is just a drain of sorts and this is normal. I don't notice anything hanging out or that has fallen. It has been super warm out.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 31, 2014, 7:52 AM
Post #2 of 8
(2149 views)
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Re: 98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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White smoke suggest coolant or perhaps water. If A/C is working hard can produce lots of water to ground normally and harmlessly.
IDK what this "faucet" thing you speak of is about? Perhaps a creation to flush cooling system??
If something dripped that made this "cookie" puddle with depth that sounds more like by guess as you said it's hot out that some engine grease/dirt finally got hot enough to melt off??
I have to suggest you get this looked at professionally. "Faucet" isn't a word generally used in automotive anything I know of. No harm meant but if you aren't even absolutely sure of engine size (printed under hood on a sticker if still there) perhaps this isn't for you,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 31, 2014, 8:50 AM
Post #3 of 8
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Re: 98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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Your "faucet" is probably just the AC condensation drain. That's supposed to drip.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 31, 2014, 9:01 AM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: 98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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Said that it could be water from A/C if it has A/C and works unknown. It was this "cookie" size PLOP and white smoke that didn't add up!? T
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PontiacFan79
New User
Jul 31, 2014, 9:47 AM
Post #5 of 8
(2125 views)
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Re: 98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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it looks similiar to this (not near my car this morning...)
http://www.paulstravelpictures.com/...gging-Guide-006.html
except this one on my car doesn't look rubber.
I think you may be right that its a condensation drain.
I haven't noticed anything inside the car yet.
It puddles out quite a bit when the car is running, eventually it calms down.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 31, 2014, 10:07 AM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: 98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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Right - that was a rubber elbow for condensate drain. If junk in "heater or HVAC box" it could be dirty and they can clog putting water on passengers floor. I suggest if that is the problem somehow not fast enough as in VERY humid conditions clear it out but rather than picture shown use plastic like a wire tie as opposed to metal so you can't damage anything inside.
How it gets to make smoke - who knows unless it spills all at once sometimes. If the exact one on your car is like an elephant nose (like tip on a Whoopie Cushion) you can snip the end a bit so it flows better. They just do that so as little air or heat could possibly get in there and doesn't matter that much. That thing missing or pointing wrong will put ""condensate"" = water anywhere it wants maybe could burn off a hot exhaust pipe or anything hot - that would explain the white smoke if so.
Yes - condensate can be quite bountiful and make a large puddle under car when parked but not more than just water. Ah - haven't you noticed that before if not yours but a car beside you? Alone that's NORMAL..........
T
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PontiacFan79
New User
Jul 31, 2014, 11:10 AM
Post #7 of 8
(2110 views)
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Re: 98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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yah the one I have is metal. its not like the elephant nose which I have seen the pictures of when researching condesation drains. mine looks pretty much identical to the one in the link I posted, just more of a metal faucet look than anything else, looks to be one metal piece. The drips do come from my car. I see it dripping down and onto the ground. I am not getting anything in the passenger side that I see. I will check when I have my car in a few hours. I have checked under my car each time I have parked and see it puddling up. I am just concerned if this is something I need to get fixed or if it is a normal regular thing.. I just haven't had it smoke before, or drip water (coolant yes.. many times.. but that is fixed now..) my guess on the smoke initially was that water hit something really hot and steamed up.
thanks so much for all this information!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 31, 2014, 12:38 PM
Post #8 of 8
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Re: 98 pontiac sunfire leaking water? under hood by tire
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What part of "that is normal" didn't you understand?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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