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sande
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23-08-2019, 02:03 PM
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Water under car

I have a Ford KA (type with Fiat engine) that's 7 years old. Have not normally had water forming on my drive from the car. Local garage looked at it yesterday and said nothing to worry about - just water from the aircon. He said nothing wrong with the coolant either. Having since thought about it - I don't regularly have the air con on. This week it's certainly more noticeable. It's not a huge amount but it's alarming and the water sometimes drops on to different tiles when parked roughly on the same spot.

Most google searches say it could be a drain filter or something else but that's in the context of having the aircon on. If it's puddling when it's off any idea what may be up or do I really need to consult a aircon specialist?
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23-08-2019, 02:09 PM
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Re: Water under car

Might be stating the obvious but..radiator leak?..Cracked hose?..Is it a water cooled engine? That amount of water under the car has almost always been a radiator problem in my experience.
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23-08-2019, 02:22 PM
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Re: Water under car

We have an air con specialist on the forum sande, hopefully he will be along later to give you some advice.
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23-08-2019, 02:23 PM
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Re: Water under car

When I had water on the garage floor from under the engine of my car it was from the reservoir for the windscreen washers. However, when I rang the garage they said that it was probably the aircon. I knew that it wasn't because I had put some paper underneath where it was leaking and discovered that the leak was blue - the colour of the washer fluid. When the garage investigated they found that was the problem after all. They always seem to go to aircon first as the problem!
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23-08-2019, 02:26 PM
5

Re: Water under car

Air con does naturally release water when in use (and just after use) but I'm not sure about when it's not in use. If your cooling system was leaking then your temperature gauge would show an increase in temperature.
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23-08-2019, 02:42 PM
6

Re: Water under car

Originally Posted by Longdogs ->
Air con does naturally release water when in use (and just after use) but I'm not sure about when it's not in use. If your cooling system was leaking then your temperature gauge would show an increase in temperature.
There is often a damp patch under my Golf when parked after air con has been in use, I am guessing that it's condensation. Not seen that when air con is not in use though.

To ascertain if it's a coolant leak ensure the coolant level is correct, use the car let it cool down and then recheck. If level is down below what it was or what it should be then there's a leak in the cooling system somewhere. Coolant also has a distinctive smell due to the antifreeze used.

WARNING – Do not open cap on the coolant reservoir when hot, doing so could result in harming yourself as the coolant would be hot and the system therefore pressurised. Wait until fully cooled down to be on the safe side.
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23-08-2019, 04:08 PM
7

Re: Water under car

might just pay to keep an eye in the temperature gauge from time to time.

One can do a couple of quick checks. on the hoses is there a wet bit when feeling around them or a mark of antifreeze showing.

Bottom of radiator may be rusting away have you looked or the air flow fins in the rad partially blocked

Pressure cap may be failing

it might just be the hoses feeding the heating system
are weeping engine side of the bulkhead

When removing the radiator cap if is there any white stuff in it, sure sign of air getting in.

The thermostat may be sticking. this can be checked by removing and putting in a bowl of hot water to see if it fully expands.

The plastic overflow container needs examining for any weakness on the sides/ bottom
Has the water level when cold altered

yes of course the air con will expel water as will a cold engine from the exhaust until warm.
Also is the air cold when on, it should be run every so often so the seals don't dry out, if warm then they have and need replacing

Another cause may be, strange as it may seem the vents under the wiper blades drain pipes blocked or even the roof channels ,if the car has them the drain holes get blocked

As there are several possabilities when asking questions of this nature you need to be far more precise.

Such as where under the car are you finding the wet patch, have you only noticed it after it has rained, may be just rain from the underside of the car falling off.


Is your car on the level when parked, if on a slope that could mislead any investigation.

One thing you can ask a garage to do is a pressure test on the water system. that would instantly show up any leaks

maybe time for a major service by a really good Ford garage, we have our cars serviced by a main dealer every year
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23-08-2019, 04:16 PM
8

Re: Water under car

yes, buy yourself one of these then slide underneath.

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23-08-2019, 04:30 PM
9

Re: Water under car

Originally Posted by realspeed ->
One can do a couple of quick checks. on the hoses is there a wet bit when feeling around them or a mark of antifreeze showing.
Check hoses? On my VW Golf it's not possible to even see them! All I see is the top of the engine and battery, oil level dipstick, coolant, brake fluid and windscreen reservoirs. Then I shut the bonnet again realising that no longer can I do my own repairs and servicing!

Originally Posted by Longdogs ->
yes, buy yourself one of these then slide underneath.
On modern cars that might just about slide underneath by itself, I would probably have to lose about 90% of my body to be able to slide underneath my car on one of those!
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23-08-2019, 04:35 PM
10

Re: Water under car

Baz he has a Ford Ka not a VW golf. I was just pointing out where he may be able to check.

My first port of call before anything else would be to have a garage do a pressure test on the cooling system, then take it from there
 
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