maryannr

I hit a curb with the front driver's side wheel of my car in the parking lot at my dorms going about 10mph. It slammed pretty hard, but the car didn't go up on the curb. The wheel immediately went flat, I could hear it flattening. Luckily I was in my parking lot already so I just pulled in and assumed I'd have to fix the flat. When I jacked my car up today though, in the middle front area of the car it started leaking fluid. It seemed like it hadn't leaked at all until I jacked it up today, and it didn't leak for very long but it was enough that I realize it's a problem. Any thoughts on what it could be? I'm PRAYING it's not a broken power steering line or brake line, but does anyone know how much that might cost me?

fookoo303

color of fluid?

Sathinas

What did the fluid look like?

Green? Yellow? Red? Reddish? Purple with pink Polkadots? Ok, no such car fluid.

Take a picture and post it.

SunnyRayToronto

Not likely to be brake line since they`re more to the side of the car.

You jacked up middle front area of the car,... did you jack it from the bottom of the radiator (leaking coolant),.... or maybe bottom of oil pan (leaking oil),... or bottom of transmission (leaking transmission fluid).

Cost will really depend on what you broke. Take a look underneath the car and see where the fluid is coming from,... even if the leak stopped, there should be fluid residue-mark dripping from somewhere. Take a photo and post it. Also pinpoint exactly where you placed the jack. `Middle Front Area` isn`t very precise.

Remember when jacking up the car,... always use jack points or strong part of the frame.

W203E35

Hopefully it's washer fluid and best case scenario a hose came loose, worse case scenario you busted your washed fluid reservoir.

maryannr

I actually jacked it up in the correct "strong part" of the frame, right behind the front driver's tire, but I noticed the leak was coming from the front middle area. The fluid was yellowish greenish, kind of like gatorade, and oily-looking. I've been researching this like crazy and I think it's radiator fluid so I'm getting it towed and having them fix my rim and whatever radiator problem is going on. I'll let you know how much it costs

Sathinas

Sounds like radiator fluid. If you really want to make sure, touch an index finger to a wet part where the fluid was leaking from and taste it. If it sweet, it's radiator fluid.

I don't recommend you drink the stuff, just taste it.

I know, you think I'm kidding. I'm not.

Silver C

Yellowish greenish? Should be coolant f/ radiator lfuid.. But it shouldn't be oily though..

Sathinas

I may appear "oily" to the untrained eye. No offense to the OP, but something tells me he's not exactly Caroll Shelby. :lol:

C230 Sport Coup

I hate posts like these.
Climb under and see where it's coming from!
Tranny fluid is greenish yellow too.

Sathinas

It is? I wouldn't know, that's the only fluid I have an indy do, when I have 20K miles on the "old" fluid.

Damned Mercedes and their fluid colors. :lol:

C230 Sport Coup

Tranny fluid oxidizes and turns greenish yellow.
Starts out red.

Sathinas

Never seen that color on used tranny fluid. Then again, changing tranny fluids on all my vehicles at 20K as well, I'd imagine the fluid(s) dont have enough usage to get oxidized.

C230 Sport Coup

I replaced mine and less than 20K miles later it was greenish yellow.
I had the fluid tested, Blackstone is the one that told me it means it's oxdized.

mskembo

I'm going to go against convention, and say it's power steering fluid. Coming from the steering rack... but with this scant amount of information who knows.