Is it normal to see small puddle under car?

[E-Jazz]

Hi all,

 

As of topic, this morning I notice a small puddle of water forming up below my car. The location is the puddle is around the middle of the 2 front wheel for 09 Jazz. Is it normal? Or is something leaking?

[Galantspeedz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 12:33 AM, E-Jazz said:

Hi all,

 

As of topic, this morning I notice a small puddle of water forming up below my car. The location is the puddle is around the middle of the 2 front wheel for 09 Jazz. Is it normal? Or is something leaking?

 

sounds like aircon water to me.... condensation... nothing much...

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 12:39 AM, Galantspeedz said:

sounds like aircon water to me.... condensation... nothing much...

 

Thanks. I haven't noticed such things so far. Until this morning, when I stopped my car (stationary position) but leaving the engine and aircon on for about 5-10minutes before switching off.

 

Thanks once again.

[Ichibawa]

Water is OK... as long as its not oil or coolant.

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 12:44 AM, Ichibawa said:

Water is OK... as long as its not oil or coolant.

 

okay, will try take a closer look next time I park on different grounds. very hard to see against the dark carpark flooring whether its oil or something else.

 

thanks =)

[13177]

If it is clear water, it is normal as the water is from air-con condensation. If the water got colour then u have to worry liao.

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 12:55 AM, 13177 said:

If it is clear water, it is normal as the water is from air-con condensation. If the water got colour then u have to worry liao.

 

Noted on the colour part.

 

Thanks =)

[Kb27]

Monitor your coolant level. If it keeps dropping, that's a coolant leak.

I had one hose replaced due to a puncture recently.

 

Aircon condensation water is usually further in near the firewall, unless they run a long hose to the front.

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 1:04 AM, Kb27 said:

Monitor your coolant level. If it keeps dropping, that's a coolant leak.

I had one hose replaced due to a puncture recently.

 

Aircon condensation water is usually further in near the firewall, unless they run a long hose to the front.

 

Hi Kb27, what or where is the car firewall?

[Kb27]

  On 10/6/2010 at 1:05 AM, E-Jazz said:

Hi Kb27, what or where is the car firewall?

Firewall is the piece of metal separating your comfy passenger compartment from the engine bay.

 

The aircon evaporator coil is located there where it is pushing out cold air, and also it has a discharge pipe there for condensed water to dribble out.

So if the water coming out is near there, it's most likely condensed water and nothing to worry about.

 

However, if the water is located nearer the front where the radiator is, then it's possible you got have a coolant leak.

 

As mentioned, checked your coolant level carefully.

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 1:34 AM, Kb27 said:

Firewall is the piece of metal separating your comfy passenger compartment from the engine bay.

 

The aircon evaporator coil is located there where it is pushing out cold air, and also it has a discharge pipe there for condensed water to dribble out.

So if the water coming out is near there, it's most likely condensed water and nothing to worry about.

 

However, if the water is located nearer the front where the radiator is, then it's possible you got have a coolant leak.

 

As mentioned, checked your coolant level carefully.

 

Hi Kb27,

 

Thanks for the detailed reply. The water I notice is more towards between the engine and passenger side. To be more exact, is more like directly below / around the normal areas where you will find the radio in the car.

 

So I guess its the air con water. I'll monitor through out.

 

Am I also right to assume the following:

 

1. If it is air condensing water, after awhile, lets say an hour, it should not have any further dripping and by right, given an entire afternoon of parking and later going back to the car, I shouldn't even find wet puddle on the ground since it should have dried up right?

 

2. If it is coolant dripping, high chance it will remain dripping till nightfall right? So if I go back after lets say 5-6 hours later and still find consistent wet patch on the floor, it means time to send for checking with workshop right?

 

Sorry for the noob questions, I am in fact very noob here, have been picking up a lot of info from you guys so I really do appreciate it.

 

Thanks once again.

[C-K]

Try driving without switching on aircon for half an hr then stop.

 

If there's no water dripping, there's nothing wrong with your car.

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 1:46 AM, C-K said:

Try driving without switching on aircon for half an hr then stop.

 

If there's no water dripping, there's nothing wrong with your car.

 

Cool idea.

 

Thanks C-K

[Kb27]

  On 10/6/2010 at 1:40 AM, E-Jazz said:

1. If it is air condensing water, after awhile, lets say an hour, it should not have any further dripping and by right, given an entire afternoon of parking and later going back to the car, I shouldn't even find wet puddle on the ground since it should have dried up right?

 

2. If it is coolant dripping, high chance it will remain dripping till nightfall right? So if I go back after lets say 5-6 hours later and still find consistent wet patch on the floor, it means time to send for checking with workshop right?

1. It's due to the very cold evaporator coil after using your aircon. It will start to condense water around it and drip it down a discharge pipe. That's where you normally see the water. As it slowly returns to normal ambient temp, it will stop condensing water. So after an hour of non-usage, water should stopped dripping out, but the puddle will of coz still be there until it evaporized.

 

2. If it's coolant dripping, it will continue to drip albeit at a slower rate if the engine is turned off. When the engine is running, pressure will push more coolant/water out. So if you parked your car 5/6hrs, you can check the water puddle, maybe clear it first and see if it still drips after 5/6 hrs.

 

The other test of coz is to run your engine without a/c on. Then parked and watch. If it still drip water, then it's the coolant leaking.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Kb27

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 2:03 AM, Kb27 said:

1. It's the very cold evaporator coil after using your aircon. It will start to condense water around it and drip it down a discharge pipe. That's where you normally see the water. As it slowly returns to normal ambient temp, it will stop condensing water. So after an hour of usage, water should stopped dripping out, but the puddle will of coz still be there until it evaporized.

 

2. If it's coolant dripping, it will continue to drip albeit at a slower rate if the engine is turned off. When the engine is running, pressure will push more coolant/water out. So if you parked your car 5/6hrs, you can check the water puddle, maybe clear it first and see if it still drips after 5/6 hrs.

 

The other test of coz is to run your engine without a/c on. Then parked and watch. If it still drip water, then it's the coolant leaking.

 

 

Thanks man. Appreciate it.

[13177]

Sometimes even if your coolant is leaking, u might not notice it! I have one friend's car, the hose got puncture and the coolant leak until dry also dun know! Only when the warning lights came on then he knows!

Edited October 6, 2010 by 13177

[E-Jazz]

  On 10/6/2010 at 2:08 AM, 13177 said:

Sometimes even if your coolant is leaking, u might not notice it! I have one friend's car, the hose got puncture and the coolant leak until dry also dun know! Only when the warning lights came on then he knows!

 

 

I see, okay thanks for the info =)

[Mini-itx]

  On 10/6/2010 at 2:08 AM, 13177 said:

Sometimes even if your coolant is leaking, u might not notice it! I have one friend's car, the hose got puncture and the coolant leak until dry also dun know! Only when the warning lights came on then he knows!

 

Luckily he got warning light, else engine overheat and need to spend $$$ to repair.