Hi guys,
So I just noticed that my 1994 Geo Prizm is leaking purple fluid behind the rear wheel on the drivers side (back left wheel). It appears that it's dripping from a small tank. I've been trying to find schematics to figure out what is back there but have been unsuccessful. Here's a picture of it (the car was moved so ignore the tire, that's not where it's actually leaking from, just wanted to give you guys an idea of what the fluid looks like):
http://imgur.com/cInRshm
Anyone know what it might be? I have to use my car for work tomorrow and am planning on making a two hour drive on Monday. Will it be okay to drive?
Thanks!
Does it have a rear wiper/sprayer? Other then the gas tank I can't think of anything that would be in the back of your car. Have a picture of the tank?
Your car is a 94 'Rolla. The only fluids back there are brake fluid and gasoline. Pick one. If it doesn't smell like gasoline, I'm going with brake fluid. I would not drive it with brake fluid or gasoline puking out. Disk or drum brakes? A new caliper is not that expensive, nor is a wheel cylinder. Either should be available along with a bottle of DoT3 from any auto parts store.
No wiper on my rear window. The fluid does not smell like gasoline so I suppose it could be brake fluid? I'll go snap a picture of the "tank" really quick.
Talked to one of my friends and he thought that it was possibly strut fluid and told me to replace the shocks before my drive on Monday. Doesn't really make sense that it's leaking from a tank though.
Edit: Okay, here are two photo's of where the fluid is leaking from:
http://imgur.com/MpVISMx
http://imgur.com/EguAunG
If you look closely you can actually see where the fluid is leaking from. It's leaking from that little black dot towards the front of the tank (bottom of the picture).
m4ff3w
UltraDork
10/5/13 8:04 p.m.
Is that a spare tire well in the trunk? Look in the well in the drivers side of the trunk.
Any chance you spilled something in the trunk and its just leaking out?
DOT5 brake fluid is often purple. I doubt that a geo uses DOT5, or that it should be leaking from the trunk floor . Seriously, check the cracks and crevices of the trunk and under the back seat to see if there is a bottle of something that is long lost & forgotten that has sprung a leak.
Ahahahahahahahahaha. Hah. Ah. Hah. I'm an idiot. Laundry detergent in the trunk that didn't have the cap screwed all the way on. While I feel like a moron I can't help but feeling like:
http://i.imgur.com/WlGyp.gif
Glad that it's a "quick fix". 
Laundry detergent should at least make your car smell better.
this is why you always look to see what's on the other side of the sheetmetal first..
Oil is often called dinosaur juice.
The important part is that you noticed something out of the ordinary and investigated it. Not doing that leads to Very Bad Things.
Kudos to you for actually caring and finding the source of the problem, not to mentioning being willing to "risk it all" by asking advice on an internet board. Lucky for you this is the right place to ask such questions without too much fear of ridicule. I have a 1990 Prizm and before I could comment on the rear finder wells collecting fluid you found the issue. Happy motoring.
At least it was not fabric softner
