High Intensity Discharge Unit (HID):Usually, an automobile does not require this unit, as an auto’s batteries and relays are enough to produce power for a normal headlight. HID is required in vehicles having headlights that create high light beams like xenon, Hella, ballasts, etc. These extremely high beams of light can be very dangerous, as they can cause visibility problems for other drivers on road causing motor vehicle collisions. This is the reason why traffic laws in most countries restrict the use of HID headlights and recommend a normal headlight for auto safety.
Radiator: An auto’s engine gets heated up very fast and can reach temperatures of about 90 to 150 degrees centigrade within minutes, so a radiator works as a coolant to remove the heat and maintain a standard temperature. The temperature gauge indicates the heat of the coolant and not auto engine’s temperature. If the temperature gauge reading crosses red level, then the auto has to be stopped and given some rest. Some new Indian cars like New WagonR does not have a temperature gauge since the car can go up to 1000 km nonstop. For auto safety concerns, never attempt to change the radiator coolant oil on your own. Always consult with an experienced auto mechanic or contact your auto service center for the same. On an additional note, if your car gets heated while driving, never try to open the coolant box as it can cause fatal injuries to your body with very hot coolant splashing on eyes, face, and other upper body parts.
radiator coolant
Source: soni2006 car pics
Electrical ORVM with indicators.
Source: soni2006 gallery
Car's Relay and Fuse Box
Source: soni2006's car gallery
Radiator Coolant: Most people know that radiator coolant helps reduce auto temperature in extremely hot conditions but they do not know that it also maintains the temperature in extremely cold climates, as it does not allow itself to freeze and therefore allows the car to start at even extremely cold temperatures circulating at a temperature of 90 degrees centigrade and more. The most dangerous part about coolant oil is that it is extremely poisonous. This is the reason why it is always recommended to get the coolant changed by an auto service center. Some people try to add water to the coolant but they do not know that doing this leads to the coolant losing its compound mixture which results in loss of cooling properties. Most cars are equipped with a temperature gauge that indicates when the coolant is getting overheated.
ORVM (Electrical): Every car has an ORVM (outside rear view mirror) but the top end car models come with an electrical adjustment. The usefulness of these mirrors is that you can adjust them without opening the windows. Electrical ORVMs are good for long distance highway drivers and add up to the list of car safety devices.
Relays and Fuse Box: This system prevents the electrical system from excess currents. Each and every component has different current ratings so they provide different fuses. The big blue boxes in your car are relays. These are the excess fuses provided in case any present fuse fails, but one should never try to interchange the fuse ratings on own, as this can lead to malfunctioning of system components compromising auto security. Also, don’t try to open relay and fuse box, as it should only be done by an experienced auto mechanic.
What is that fluid leaking under my car?
A car leaking fluid could become a dangerous situation if not repaired promptly. In this article I will cover the 6 most common fluid leaks form a car, from the fluid leaks that will leave you stranded, to the ones that should be leaking. Yes some fluids should leak naturally from your car and we will cover that as well. With that being said, let’s try to figure out what fluid is leaking from your car and what you should do about it.
Is that your car leaking fluid?
First and foremost, make sure the fluid leak is coming from your car and not the vehicle that was parked in that spot before you got there. Just get down on one knee and look under your car, grab a flashlight and take a good look, you don’t want to worry about a fluid leak if it’s not even coming from your car. If the fluid is coming from your car, we need to determine the fluids color.
The best way to figure out the fluids color is to slide a white piece of cardboard or a piece of plywood under your car and let it drip. Once your car has leaked fluid onto the board, it will enlighten you in two ways, one, it will reveal a color and it will give you a good idea about where the fluid is leaking from. First, without moving the board, notice where the drips are on the board, from this you can look up under your car and see exactly where your leak is coming from. Once you have a clear view of where the fluid is leaking from, remove the board and check the color.
6 most common fluids that leak from a car
The 6 most common fluids that leak from a car are; oil, transmission, coolant, water, differential and power steering. I left brake fluid out because it’s not common for it to leave a puddle under your car, if you think you might have a brake fluid leak, see my article on 5 most common brake problems, it will give more than enough information on common brake issues. Just for quick reference, brake fluid color is clear to amber and it has a smell like fish oil. It may sound weird but it’s the only way for me to describe it. Take the brake fluid reservoir cap off and smell the cap, does it smell like fish oil? Well it does to me.
Oil dipstick
Notice the color of the motor oil or engine oil.
Source: eddiecarrara
Oil leaks
If you have an oil leak, oil is light amber to dark brown, depending on how well you maintain your car. If there is an oil leak, chances are that it will be under the engine, I know common sense tells you that, but now you have to know where your engine is located. Don’t laugh, on a front wheel drive car, your engine could be located on the front left or front right, depending on where the transmission sits, heck the transmission could be in the rear of the car if you’re driving a Porsche or a VW bug or blah blah blah. Once you figure out the oil is dripping from the engine, all you have to do is locate the leak, you might want a mechanic to look at it if you can’t find exactly where it is leaking from. Oil leaks can get pretty involved sometimes like a crank shaft seal under the timing cover, and other times they can be easy to spot like a valve cover gasket.
Honda coolant or anti-freeze
Heed the warning!!!
Source: eddiecarrara
You should see coolant when you look inside the radiator.
Source: eddiecarrara
Honda coolant or anti-freeze is blue.
Source: eddiecarrara
Coolant or anti-freeze leaks
Coolant is very tricky now because of all the colors it comes in, it use to be green in most cars but now it comes in a variety of colors, it all depends on manufacturer or vender of the coolant. Honda uses a blue coolant, Mercedes uses clear, Toyota has red coolant and I have seen orange and green and all the colors of the rainbow. Coolant has a sweet smell and also a sweet taste, not that I want you to taste it because it’s poison, I have had the experience of tasting it a few time in my career, not by choice. A coolant leak could be anywhere because of all the coolant hoses that surround your engine, you even have coolant hoses that enter your car. The most common coolant leak is your radiator and that would be located behind the grill in the front of the car. If you suspect you have a coolant leak, you will usually smell a sweet smell in the air like candy, take a quick glance at the coolant overflow tank, it is usually see-through and it has high and low markings on it. If it’s empty, let your engine cool completely and look in the radiator, if you don’t see any coolant, you may have a leak. (Do not remove the radiator cap on a hot engine, it could blow hot coolant or steam in your face and cause severe burns)
Honda transmission fluid
Transmission fluid dip stick, notice that the fluid is red.
Source: eddiecarrara
Automatic or manual transmission fluid leaks
Automatic transmissions use red or pink fluid, a good sign of a transmission leaking is the transmission will start to slip and eventually the car will not move at all. Manual transmissions use gear oil or just regular motor oil, Honda cars are the only cars I know of that used regular motor oil in their older standard transmissions. The new Honda standard transmissions use Honda Standard transmission fluid. Honda also has their very own automatic transmission fluid, if you don’t use Honda automatic transmission fluid in a Honda automatic transmission, you will compromise shift quality and void your warranty, so I recommend following Hondas guidelines and use their recommended fluids to avoid problems.
The most common transmission fluid leak on a front wheel drive car is from the axle seals. On a rear wheel drive car it would be the output shaft seal. If you see red or pink fluid under your car, pull the transmission dipstick and check your transmission fluid level. Check the owner’s manual for the proper way to check transmission fluid, different manufacturers have different ways of checking transmission fluids, some manufacturers don’t even let your check the fluid, like the last Honda passport model had no way of checking the transmission fluid, weird!
Axle seal leak on a Honda tractor
No axle seal leak
Source: eddiecarrara
Leaking axle seal, see how the dirt sticks to the rear diff fluid, it's a sure sign of an axle seal leak.
Source: eddiecarrara
Differential fluid or hypoid leaks
Differential fluid, hypoid or gear fluid is very thick , it looks like honey but it smells like a heavily greased Mac truck sitting at a truck stop. If you get this stuff on your hands the smell doesn’t go away for days. Gear oil is dark brown or dark amber if it’s new or clean. If your rear differential is leaking or your standard transmission has a leak, this is the fluid you will find dripping. Gear oil can also leak at the wheel bearing seals or rear axle seals, sometime you will see oil being slung from the center of the wheel all over the rim of the vehicle, dust will collect on the wheel and turn black. If you have a 4 wheel drive, gear oil can leak from the front axle as well. The smell alone will enable you to determine if it’s gear oil or not.
Power steering fluid is very hard to describe because some manufacturers use transmission fluid and some use their own brand of power steering fluid. Honda recommends their brand of power steering fluid and its color is light amber. Power steering fluid has a unique smell; it smells a bit like burnt oil. If you think you might have a power steering fluid leak, the first place you should look is at the reservoir. The reservoir will have high and low markings and you should easily notice if the fluid level is low, also a good sign of low power steering fluid is; the power steering pump will whine when trying to turn the steering wheel, or the steering wheel will feel tight when turning in a parking lot or at low speeds. The most common place the power steering will leak is on each end of the steering rack. The steering rack has end seals on both sides of the steering rack; they are the first to start leaking because they go through the most wear and tear.
Duel climate control display
2011 Honda Pilot recirculation button, it should always be on when using air conditioning for maximum efficiency.
Source: eddiecarrara
2011 Honda Pilot duel climate control with rear climate cotrol.
Source: eddiecarrara
Water dripping from your car
The three H’s, hazy, hot and humid, is what causes the most common complaint of fluid leaking from a car. Just like the air conditioner hanging out a window of a home or business, it needs to drain the moisture it removes from the air. An air conditioner in a car works the same way; it removes the moisture from inside the vehicles passenger compartment and drains it on to the ground under the car, via a rubber hose. This hose is usually located in the foreword end of the passenger compartment on the passenger’s side (near the passenger’s feet area) or the middle of the cabin. If you have a newer minivan or large SUV with front and rear climate control, it’s possible to have 2 evaporators and 2 air conditioner drains, one in front and one in the rear.
On very humid days, the water will pour out of the air conditioner drain like a faucet until the cabin humidity is almost gone. It’s best to keep the recirculation button in the on position whenever you use the air conditioning system (see my hub on How to defog car windows fast) If you leave the fresh air button on, it will continue to drag humid air in and overwork the air conditioner. This won’t cause any problems, but the air inside the vehicles cabin will never reach optimum temperature. Sometimes when it is extremely humid, the air conditioner will be on high and you can actually see fog coming from your vents. If you ever experience this phenomenon, reach over and push the recirculation button, you’ll be glad you did. It’s not a problem; it’s just humidity coming back into your vehicle’s passenger cabin, if you recirculate the cabin air through the air conditioner, it will have less humidity each pass through the evaporator, and your air conditioner will be working at maximum efficiency.
Regards
M.Shahid Zahid
This is my article and My pictures! I would appreciate it if you would take it down because you have broken the Copyright Laws, if this is not taken down I will have no choice but to pursue legal action, Thank you in advance.
ReplyDeleteA car leaking fluid could become a dangerous situation if not repaired promptly. Great Hub. Now I know what to look for when I bring my car to the dealer and he tells me I need new transmission fluid.
ReplyDeleteRadiator Fan & Condenser Fans