Help ID this puddle
 

Hi Everyone.

Probably not the most exciting first post, but hoping someone can tell me what the small puddle of purple fluid is I found where my 2004 E500 was parked this afternoon. It's obviously not engine oil or antifreeze. I'm thinking it's transmission fluid, but I always thought ATF was red. Any help?

Thanks in advance!

are you sure it is purple? Get a piece of white paper and dab some up to confirm. Location is also important. Lastly, smell is a big indicator. The antifreeze and potentially the brake fluid are blue, btw.

I want to help u id.

where is the evidence

Looks like all I needed to do was park it in a place that didn't have a bunch of grime and road salt on the floor to see what the real color was. Looks red now from this angle. That's a little embarrassing.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...031a034253.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4162231f35.jpg

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...tor-2035400053


either that is leaking^ or the pan is not tightened enough. easy fix either way.

its transmission fluid.

Connector 13 pin, gasten the bolts on the pan. Clean first with rag zo u will see and detect location of leak.

Thanks everyone. Looks like I should also be in the market for the missing splash shield so those wires aren't hanging down that low.

Those wires have clips that suppose to hold them attached to the solid parts.
First thing to consider is AC condensation washing transmission dirt and dripping under the car in dump weather.
In summer transmission heat usually evaporates water before it drips.

the source of the leak is not from those wires by the way, it is a separate electrical bundle that has wires passing through it. search forum about it....keep us posted

It's actually at the shop right now. I should probably offer a little history. I just bought this car a couple of weeks ago from a car broker I've been dealing with for a couple of decades. He let me know that he was getting in an 04 E500 4matic with only 55k miles so I jumped on it.

So once everyone helped me narrow down what the leak was, I called him last night and he had me bring it in this morning for to have his mechanic fix it. Worked for me since the oncoming "polar vortex" has drained my enthusiasm from putting it up on jack stands and crawling under it. Hope to have it back later this week.