I sware... I really wish I hadn't bought my Alero when I was in grad. school. Damn thing is giving me nothing but trouble.

The scenario.... Wife comes home yesterday, and I walk out into the garage …

As I walk past the right side of the car, I look down and see green fluid. Quite a bit of it under BOTH right-side wheels. Upon further inspection, I look under the car and see both wheel-wells are SOAKED with this fluid. It's sort of oily... A peak under the carriage of the car reveals it's all underneath there too. :o

So I open up the hood, and look at all the fluid levels. At first I thought it was coolant, but the Olds. uses "Dex-Cool" which is pink. So I take a look at the power steering, and then the brake fluid. AH HA!!! The brake fluid is green. A match.

The level in the reservoir is not low. It is right in between the high and low mark on the tank. I marked it with a pen.

So I cleaned up the fluid that was on the floor, and let the car sit for a few hours. I came back out, and there wasn't any additional fluid on the floor.

So I took it out for a drive, and parked it overnight.

There were to SMALL drops on the floor under the passenger’s front wheel. Nothing in the back.

So I'm thinking to myself. Either she drove through something that was either brake fluid from someone, or it's antifreeze that just so happens to be the same color as my brake fluid... or there's a problem.

Obviously, I don't want her driving it, as a sudden lack of brakes could be a problem.

But my question is... If there really WAS a severe problem, wouldn't more have leaked out overnight when it was sitting? Or would engaging the brakes have something to do with it???

Regardless, I'm going to have it taken in, but I'm curious what others think.

Thanks!

 

do u still have a warranty on it??

 

did you check and make sure your bleeder valves are tight and not covered in brake fliud?

 

I would start the car and apply the brake with a constant pressure for a few minutes. Make sure the brake padel doen't stink slowly to the floor. If there are no addition fluid on the floor, the padel doesn't sink and have a firm pedal. Your brake should be ok and removal of wheel would be needed for further diagnoses. But don't listen to me I don't know shit!. You should have a mechanic look at it ASAP.

 

It is still under warranty, but christ... If it's not electrical, it's something else. This car...

I'm going to take it in ASAP as it is having ignition problems too...

I'd really like to dump the car and get a small SUV, like a CR-V or a RAV4. If we weren't fucking buying a house in four weeks, I'd have the cash to do it.

Ah well.

 

Hope you cleaned up that brake fluid real well my friend... it is HIGHLY corrosive... it will chew up the paint on ANY painted surface..(rims, undercarriage..etc.)

To cneutralize brake fluid... HOT SOAPY water... and rinse it well after your wipe it all down.

 

Yeah, I got it all up.

Thanks Carl.