car leaking something

vikingaero

Could be the rear shock absorber/damper leaking. With a X-Trail you should be able to get right under the car and look up at the shocks.

KillerWatt

mpg wrote: »

How does it push the piston against the pad then against the brake dics.

Depends on the system employed.
In cars with rear disc brakes, the handbrake either actuates the disc caliper (obviously with much less force than the hydraulics can) or a small drum brake housed within the hub assembly.

Not all cars have the handbrake on the rear wheels either, Saab 99's, 900's, and the Citroen Xantia are notable exceptions as the handbrake on them is applied to the front wheels.

ali-t

strider590, I mentioned in my OP that I didn't think it was the air con due to the staining.

Maninthestreet, the stain is close to the exhaust pipe but not the end of it. I had to reach under the car to put the bit of paper under it to catch the stain. the drive is on a slight downward slope but this would mean it dripped towards the end of the pipe rather than further away from it (if I am understanding you correctly).

JimBMS I have everything crossed you are right as I have only owned the car for 3 weeks.

Boyse7en and Pew pew pew lasers I will check the fluid levels tomorrow and have a nosy underneath to see if it is obvious where it is coming from - if it isn't glaringly obvious I have no chance of identifying it.

Mpg, the fluid feels slightly greasy or oily to touch and dried like oil on the bit of paper. A bit like cooking oil or chip fat goes like if it is spilt on paper.

Vikingaero I have no idea what shocks would look like if I was to get under and have a look.

I think the safest option is to take it to the garage and hope that whatever it is isn't serious and is covered under the 2 month warranty I was given.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond.

johnnyroper

mpg wrote: »

How does it push the piston against the pad then against the brake dics.
Its mechanical right up to the caliper then its hydraulic


What does the liquid feel like??

On an x-trail i am fairly sure the handbrake is shoes inside the discs so does not use the pads? That is the reason I questioned what difference it made leaving handbrake off made

ali-t

vikingaero wrote: »

Could be the rear shock absorber/damper leaking. With a X-Trail you should be able to get right under the car and look up at the shocks.

Well done Vikingaero, I took the car to the garage and they phoned tonight and said it was a leaking shock absorber.

Tomorrow I will pick the car up and fingers xed it will be covered under the 8 week guarantee they gave me with the car.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

You should get both shocks on that axle changed, preferably all four should be done. Shocks deteriorate with age, your new shock will be markedly better than the existing one on the opposite wheel. This will have a noticeable affect on handling, particularly when cornering.

mikey72

For once pew pew is right.
They should change both shocks at the rear.
Depends on how worn the other side is.

ali-t

I didn't get much info from the boy that phoned, he just said they couldn't deliver my car back to me as everyone was away home and that it wouldn't be the next day either. I have been reading some horror reviews tonight about the place I bought it from so have everything xed they don't try to get out of covering the cost of the work.

I think getting them all done is likely to be totally beyond them so I may take it to an independent garage for a quote and assessment about how essential it is to get the others done now and how long it can wait. Thanks again for the input, every bit of knowledge helps me out.

mikey72

If it drives ok, it's not essential, so I woudn't worry.

ali-t

Jeez, I have learned more about cars in the 3 weeks I have had this car than in the 5 years I had my last one! The last one was a honda bought new from the main dealer so any funny sounds, smells, noises it went back to the dealer who generally fixed it for free and gave me a car to run about in. Changed days but I guess you get what you pay for!

I am really starting to think taking out an independent extended warranty would be a great idea despite the general consensus they are a rip off.

Just out of curiosity, what is the fluid that leaks out of the shock absorbers?