[Casualspeed]

Hi. New R129 owner here. On my drive home from picking this up in NY, the coolant light came on.. It was about 85 degrees Celsius on the gauge. I stopped to look for leaks.. Nothing.. Coolant in reservoir was low. I continued on the last 130 miles or so. The temp Gauge didn't move. When I got home I found this after ten minutes or so. Assuming it's coolant, though has not much smell. Very slick like hydraulic fluid. When I went to pop the hood, the same fluid was on the handle and the parking brake pedal.. I'm baffled. Thanks for any insight. I'll have a bunch more questions about this new car I'm sure.

 

[e-420]

coolant with any antifreeze in it usually has a distinct enough smell that at least for me, a few drops of hot coolant and I can smell it from a car parked next to me. that big a puddle should have a very distinct antifreeze smell to it.

give the location and lack of smell and the clue of it inside the car, I suspect what it may be is brake fluid. It would be very near the ABS system and near the brake fluid reservoir.

check brake fluid level, and if there is any brake fluid that leaked, another clue is it is a great paint remover.

although loosing much brake fluid should trigger the brake warning light as well.

 

[rorypff]

Coolant and brake fluid will wash away with water. Engine oil, power steering oil and transmission oil will feel greasy and will not wash away with water.

It could also be mineral oil from the roof mechanism and heaven forbid if you have it - could be oil from the ABC suspension system.

All these different fluids also have very distinct colours.

Could even be fuel from the carbon filter canister.

 

[Casualspeed]

Thanks for the quick replies and suggestions. I'll be looking into it tomorrow when I can take it to work. I'll post up anything I find.

I don't think it has the ABC system? How can I tell?

The color is clear/ maybe a tint of yellow.. hard to tell.


Thank you again.

 

[chasteen1156]

My SL 500 just did the same thing last week. It was the heater hose. Check the heater hose under the hood next to the brake master cylinder. It is hard to see but I bet there will be lots of fluid sitting in that area.

 

[Casualspeed]

ok, will do. I'll look when i get home tonight. Thank you.

 

[Richard F]

A paper towel will help you i.d. the colour. I tend to use smell and taste as well.

 

[Casualspeed]

New car Leak by front wheel ds.

Ok, it's coolant that runs up into the windshield? I took what I could apart to verify. The PO had a new windshield put on before he sold it. Could the installer have broken something while doing the repair? He broke nearly every clip holding down the cabin air trim. Just how [email protected]%*#* am I here? I put a new hose clamp on just for a prayer.. But it's coming from. Above that under the dash.

 

[aam]

There is a heater element that runs across the windshield.

Try to cut a VERY short piece of the tiny hose end, so the clamp has a better/cleaner bite.
(The end/tip, usually drys and splits.)

That may do the trick.

Or you may have to replace the heater hose.
Its a special MB Y hose. $150.X2.

The other side is worse. Haha.

Don't blame the mechanic.

Comes with age.

Regards,
aam.

 

[Casualspeed]

I had it apart enough to cut the tip of the hose. added a new clamp.. it's literally pouring out from above the plastic housing, not the hose clamp area. wishful thinking.

i contacted the PO and will take more photos to document as he had it done through his insurance and indy glass company not even a month ago. i'm going to use hose crimps on the inlet and outlet so that i can at least drive it. Right now it's to the point i'm loosing a a quart in less than 2 miles from this leak.

 

[rorypff]

Unfortunately the guys who replaced the windshield probably broke the small pipe - so they must be liable. In the mean time you can block off both rubber hoses where it joins the pipe to prevent further loss of coolant. Once sorted ensure you use a good quality Mercedes approved coolant in the system.

Good luck

 

[Casualspeed]

Ok. That's what I figured. I'll tackle that tomorrow.