j30 leaking from the back? help!

[anthony312]

I am new to this board and know nothing about cars. My infiniti j30 is leaking from the back. Just from what I"ve researched online, the location of the leak is around the u-clamp that conects the rear muffler pipe to the front muffler pipe. I can't tell if it's water (condensation) or some type of fluid. Can somone please advise. My mechanic is closed on the weekends and I want to know if I should rent a car and how much I'm looking to get reemed for when I get it fixed. Thank You.
Modified by anthony312 at 12:47 AM 7/21/2007

[anthony312]

I am new to this board and know nothing about cars. My infiniti j30 is leaking from the back. Just from what I"ve researched online, the location of the leak is around the u-clamp that conects the rear muffler pipe to the front muffler pipe. I can't tell if it's water (condensation) or some type of fluid. Can somone please advise. My mechanic is closed on the weekends and I want to know if I should rent a car and how much I'm looking to get reemed for when I get it fixed. Thank You.

[gr8scott72]

There's only two things back there that could be leaking, the gas tank or the rear differential.

Does it smell like gas?

You are the only one that can tell if it's just condensation or rear diff fluid (very strong smelling oil), or gas.

[anthony312]

Thanks for your reply. It does not have a strong smell and is definitely not gas.

[gr8scott72]

Thanks for your reply. It does not have a strong smell and is definitely not gas.

Might just be condensation. What color is it? Put a piece of paper under it so you can tell.

[anthony312]

Yesterday I noticed a large puddle in my garage. I realized it was coming from the back of the car. When I checked the puddle it was black but not oil. Then I pulled the car out of the garage and it leaked a little on the driveway. That seemed to be clear like water. Usually the condensation from my car leaks on the front right side from running the a/c. Last night I placed newspaper under the car and it has not leaked since. The initial puddle I saw was pretty large so I'm still up in arms. The drip was coming from around the u-clamp that connects the rear muffler clamp to the front and that spot is nearly dry now. I am driving another car today to avoid a breadown etc...I just hope it's nothing major. I have 145,000 on the car and I have it tuned up regularly. What do you think. You mentioned rear differntial and I have no idea what that is and what the sypmtoms would be. If you have the time please fill me in. Thanks

[gr8scott72]

You would be able to see oil residue on the rear diff if it was leaking.

A by-product of the catalytic process is water so if it was clear then that's probably what it was.

[anthony312]

I really appreciate your help. This is helping figure out what to do and expect come monday morning. I do have some residue around the rear differential. But if it was leaking it stopped and whatever was leaking from the car dried up on my garage floor. Isn't differential fluid thicker than oil? If it is the differntial, being that I'm a little paronoid about the costs, how would I know if it's blown or just a broken seal? For example, would it be making some kind of terrible noise, would it be driveable. Is it o.k. for me to drive it to my mechanic monday morning, who is only 1/2 a mile away. What should I expect to pay to replace the differntial? Thanks,Anthony

[Ebbtide]

Good thing for you, oil takes a long time to dry. It sounds like it was condensation from the exhaust. Soot from the exhaust would make it look black in color. To ease your mind, take it to the garage and have them do a once over. You could have them do an oil change and ask them to check your diff. fluid. If you tell them your leaking story thay might try to hit you with a dignostic charge, and who needs that?

Good luck.

[anthony312]

Thanks Ebbtide. I'll take it in first thing in the morning and chime in when I get some kind of news/estimate from my mechanic.

[anthony312]

Turns out it was condensation from the muffler. They said it's no problem. However, when I get my next service in about 1500 miles I need new front radius arms, front brakes and to fix the fuel injectors from a check engine light thats been on for a while. Any advise let me know and thanks again.