Bright green fluid, antifreeze??? | FerrariChat

Bright green fluid, antifreeze???

Discussion in '348/355' started by Cinemagic, Mar 26, 2008.

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  1. Cinemagic

    Cinemagic Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    325
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Cary Christie II
    I went on a long drive with the Ferrari club on Saturday and the car ran great...until the very end of the drive. After exiting the freeway I noticed that the car had a lot of gurgling noises (Sounded like a coffee maker) and the car did not have its normal pick-up. The temp and oil pressure were fine, the car was just not acting normal, I have not driven it since.

    Today I pushed the car out of the garage so that I could take a look and noticed a flourescent green fluid on the ground toward the right front. It looked like it was exiting between the front and second under panel. I took off the front main under body cover and I cannot see where it is coming from, but I can see a few hoses.

    Any suggestions as to what this might be or where it is coming from?

    Thanks,

    Cary

    1999 355 F1 spyder
    17,000 miles
     
  2. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Yes. Coolant can run all sorts of locations when the body panels are installed. Are you sure it's not coming from one of the side radiators? If not, check all the upper coolant hoses that you can see in the engine compartment. If nothing there, you're likely going to dig deeper.

    There are two big fatty hoses off the pump itself (#15, #31), and one small s-shaped hose (#17). They're all a beyotch to reach --- my money is on one of the upper hoses, just cuz that'll make you feel better and not sweat so much.

    Check the diagram here:
    http://www.ricambiamerica.com/article_info.php?articles_id=1462
     
  3. Cinemagic

    Cinemagic Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    325
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Cary Christie II
    So, do I have to drop the rest of the body pans to get at it???

    Would this cause the gurgling sound, or just a coincidence?
     
  4. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Can you confirm that nothing is coming from the upper hoses?
     
  5. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    I had a similar symptom and it was a small hose inside the heater box. The fluid is coming from the front of your car?
     
  6. Cinemagic

    Cinemagic Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    325
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Cary Christie II
    It seems to be coming from the front right.
     
  7. Cinemagic

    Cinemagic Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    325
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Cary Christie II
    Where is the heater box?
     
  8. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    The heater box is in the front trunk, it is possibly a heater core or hose up the front causing your leak, removing the carpet from the front trunk will allow you to see more of the hoses and if it is inside the heater then you will need to start taking things apart, check for dampness in the trunk area, also I could smell coolant when I lifted the hood.

    Remove the carpet and check it out, if it is not visible from there, I would take the heater apart and check for leaks inside. ;)
     
  9. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap


    James is right on the money I reckon. Sounds like it could be a busted hose on the heaterbox at the front of the car. :):)

    As mentioned, remove boot trim and check it out. If you have to, fill up coolant header tank with water again and start the car to get it warm. Basically, do whatever it takes to make the leak become visible. Once you can see where the water/coolant is coming from, then find it and fix it. :D:D

    Hopefully, its something simple like a heather hose or something. Hopefully you do not have a leaking heater core. :eek::eek:
    I am sure they are NOT cheap to replace!! :):)
     
  10. Cinemagic

    Cinemagic Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    325
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Cary Christie II
    The fluid does look like anti-freeze. I checked the resivor in the rear of the car and there was still fluid, so I did not run it dry.

    As far as the heater box area is concerned I think that is the correct area of the car to start looking. I cannot easily remove the front lower carpet due to the custom stereo...but I do have access and visibility around the heater box. I will fill it with fluid tomorrow night and see if anything comes up. thanks for the replies.

    As far as the gurgeling is concerned, any suggestions? Could it be a simple thing such as a tank of bad gas? I do not want to run the car tracking down the antifreeze leak and hurt something else in the process...maybe I am just over reacting but I lean toward the cautious side.
     
  11. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap

    VERY strange. Just start the car and see how it runs. :):)
     
  12. mksu19

    mksu19 Formula 3

    Jan 4, 2008
    1,864
    LAX / YVR / MNL
    Full Name:
    Capt. K. Banzon
    Gurgling noise is the sound of the alien screaming and puking its guts out as its dying when he ran it over! The green stuff is its blood! Carcass is probably stuffed in the wheel well :D
     
  13. Night life

    Night life F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2007
    7,288
    The city that rhymes with fun in Canada
    Full Name:
    Roberto
    #13 Night life, Mar 27, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BWA HA HA HA HA HA
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  14. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,958
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    +1-----Be careful, the weatherstriping has to come out to pull the carpet back--I pulled mine apart when I first got my car because it had a similar leak exactly where yours is...Turned out to be nothing, I think is was a little residual coolant laying somewhere from the major that was done 2 days beforehand. Never leaked since...
     
  15. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    When the stereo was installed (was it a prior owner?) was anything screwed into the front wall (heater box side) of the trunk?
     
  16. Cinemagic

    Cinemagic Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    325
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Cary Christie II
    285,

    Thanks for the heads up, but I already learned that lesson the hard way...I now have a new trunk gasket in the box waiting for installation this summer when the car is being re-done.

    Jack Russel,

    From what I can see, without taking the stereo out, they siliconed blocks to the firewall then screwed the amplifier board to the blocks. If not, it could be a screw that worked its way through a tube.

    I probably will not get a chance to work on the car until next week, but hopefully I can at least idle it for a while to check for leaks prior to that.
     
  17. mksu19

    mksu19 Formula 3

    Jan 4, 2008
    1,864
    LAX / YVR / MNL
    Full Name:
    Capt. K. Banzon
    You sure it wasn't an alien? :D
     
  18. Cinemagic

    Cinemagic Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    325
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Cary Christie II
    #18 Cinemagic, Apr 11, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Finally got under the car to take a look. The fluid is coming out of a flat tube, which almost looks like it is torn, on the bottom of the heater box. I did not find any tubes that were not connected, and there is no fluid in the trunk. This is between the front firewall and the trunk area, where the heater box tubes run.

    Any suggestions before I take the heater box apart?

    Also, I have to dirve the car for 10-15 minutes to get the area to leak, just idleing there were no drips on the ground.
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  19. fcmotorsports

    fcmotorsports Karting

    Feb 4, 2008
    103
    Garage
    Full Name:
    michael
    That is a rubber flap(nipple) that is to let condensate from the a/c coil drain out. If anti freeze is leaking from the flap you will have to disassemble the box. The pump which is on the outside of the evaporator box should be off when center console switch is OFF or on A/C. The pump comes own depending on temp settings and control function at the center console. The pump then circulates hot coolant to front of car for heater.

    There are 2 hoses that go unto the lower left side(driver side) of box( that have a wierd clamp.....check to see if it is leaking there and somehow entering the plastic box....doubt it, but check anyway.
     
  20. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    Leaking heater core perhaps.......:(:(
     

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