Coolant leak

11157 Views 19 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Abstract, Jan 30, 2011

Abstract

Discussion Starter · Jan 27, 2011

Hey there folks. I've been having this problem ever since winter started. Whenever I back up the car out of the garage after warming up, I see 2-3 spots of coolant on the floor. It only happens in the morning when the car is warming up. I don't know if it's because of the the cold weather. It seems to be a mixture of coolant and water/humidity. The leak is coming from the driver's side almost besides the steering arm). I don't find any spots after warming up the car when leaving the workplace in the afternoon. I will be taking it to the dealership whenever I get the time to do so.

Another thing that I realize in winter is that on a cold start up, there is this squeaky sound(like a belt) that goes on for like 10 seconds and then goes. Does anybody have any idea on what that sound is? The dealership could not replicate the sound.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

Dustwalker14

· #2 · Jan 28, 2011

That squeaking noise is the belt. Condensation accumulates on the smooth portion of the belt and causes a chirp until the condensation dissipates, this is commonly referred to as tensioner "morning sickness".

Reactions: 1

curtisb

· #3 · Jan 28, 2011

cold walter leak , , leak wen its cold stops when it warm

AKGC

· #4 · Jan 28, 2011

Is the AC on when you warm up? If so, thats not coolant, thats water thats being extracted out of the air by the AC condenser and drained out by means of the drain tube in the trans tunnel.

Its normal.

Abstract

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 28, 2011

Dustwalker14 said:
That squeaking noise is the belt. Condensation accumulates on the smooth portion of the belt and causes a chirp until the condensation dissipates, this is commonly referred to as tensioner "morning sickness".

Thanks for the input!! It definitely makes sense now. The weird thing is that this has never happened on cars that I've owned before.

curtisb said:
cold walter leak , , leak wen its cold stops when it warm

That's what I'm thinking it is. Probably condensation since the engine is cold and water starts dripping when it warms up.

AKGC said:
Is the AC on when you warm up? If so, thats not coolant, thats water thats being extracted out of the air by the AC condenser and drained out by means of the drain tube in the trans tunnel.

Its normal.

I'm quite sure the A/C is off. As a matter of fact, I do think it is condensation. But not really condensation because it is not pure water. When I run my finger on the spot, there is a little green texture in it and it smells like coolant and condensed water. I check the coolant level everyday and I don't see any decrease in it.

AKGC

· #6 · Jan 28, 2011

AC turns on unless you manually turn it off, when you have any combo involving the windshield defrost being on.

Hyundai set it like this, so the AC can suck out the moister out of the air, so it doesn't fog up the windows. Just a little fact. AC doesn't get any lower than I think 34*F. So in cold temps, with the AC on, it still warms up the car.

curtisb

· #7 · Jan 28, 2011

its jus cold walter leak , everything at my work does this them stops

Abstract

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 28, 2011

Here's a pic of the leak to give a clear idea:

I would buy the idea of water leaking because of condensation. But that coolant in there makes no sense because it only leaks in the morning or whenever the car is warming up.

See less See more

2.0_BK_Track

· #9 · Jan 28, 2011

ah thats definately green aka coolant i would take it in to get looked at

Tufast

· #10 · Jan 28, 2011

Like AKGC stated; the defrost operates off of the A/C system & will cause condensation build up, thus water dripping from drip tube on passengers side behind front wheel.

That green fluid is coolant & not a water leak, you have a coolant leak that needs to be fixed. Most common coolant leaks are weak radiator hose clamp & the coolant line going to the turbos on the 2.0t models.

Lauren

· #11 · Jan 28, 2011

Definitely coolant, check the clamps on the upper hoses and such. Not uncommon on any vehicle for that matter in this weather to have the clamps come loose

Abstract

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 28, 2011

^Yup, need to get it checked. Thanks for the input, folks!!

AKGC

· #13 · Jan 28, 2011

Which part of the engine compartment is it leaking from.

You touch anything in the engine compartment?

Towards the back of the engine = heater/back of head

mid engine = turbo (more of the weird jumble of hose that leads to/from the turbo and water pump)

front = radiator or water pump.

mallen

· #14 · Jan 29, 2011

Abstract said:
Here's a pic of the leak to give a clear idea:

I would buy the idea of water leaking because of condensation. But that coolant in there makes no sense because it only leaks in the morning or whenever the car is warming up.

Stick a paper towel into it or put a large white sheet of paper under it. If its clear and does not smell,its probably water. If its colored and/or smells then it may be coolant. Does anyone offhand know what color of coolant hyundai uses?

Red Raspberry

· #15 · Jan 29, 2011

That is definitely coolant.

What side of the engine is it coming from?

Abstract

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 29, 2011

AKGC said:
Which part of the engine compartment is it leaking from.

You touch anything in the engine compartment?

Towards the back of the engine = heater/back of head

mid engine = turbo (more of the weird jumble of hose that leads to/from the turbo and water pump)

front = radiator or water pump.

I didn't touch anything anywhere. It is leaking from the driver's side of the engine bay. I made a general search on the web and some posted that it might be a bad thermostat hose. This might be the cause because it only happens when the car is warming up. So I think that the thermostat is related to it.

mallen said:
Stick a paper towel into it or put a large white sheet of paper under it. If its clear and does not smell,its probably water. If its colored and/or smells then it may be coolant. Does anyone offhand know what color of coolant hyundai uses?

I did that. It is mostly clear, but had a little green texture and a faint coolant smell.

Red Raspberry said:
That is definitely coolant.

What side of the engine is it coming from?

Driver's side of the engine.

Sunchips111

· #17 · Jan 29, 2011

I had to get my clamp replaced on mine in the Fall cause the coolant was leaking. Check the clamps on the hose coming from the top of the radiator. The second clamp in was the one leaking on mine.

Dealership replaced the clamp with a regular gear clamp instead of a new spring clamp.

AKGC

· #18 · Jan 29, 2011

thermostat is on the water pump on the passenger side.

Not saying to, not check it.

Could be the tiny coolant lines that go to the throttle body

Those are on the driver side.

Just stating fact at this point.

Driver side has the coolant return hose from the back of the head, to the radiator.

When thermostat is closed (warming up) the coolant is cycled through the heater (small system), when it's open coolant cycles through the radiator (big system).

jvsantosmd

· #19 · Jan 30, 2011

oint:

oint: Did you check to see if it's not

THE BLOB

coming out from underground trying to steal your car?

Abstract

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 30, 2011

Lol. It's possible...you'll never know. There's a lot of crazy sh*t happening in the world these days already

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.