Daughter has told me that on several occasions there has been a pool of liquid under the rear of her 2007 C70. She noticed it when gassing up but also just randomly. I haven't seen it yet and it seems to have stopped.

She knows what gasoline smells like and also that trans fluid is red, coolant is greenish, etc. She dipped her fingers in it and said it had no smell, and seemed like water.

I thought, ok, condensate from the AC, but at the rear of the car? Nothing spilled in the trunk, the top wasn't down in the rain, just a mystery.

It happened again today. She texted me that the car wouldn't start immediately as usual but had to crank it a couple of times. She was low on gas, 40 miles to empty, so she filled it up. Noticed the liquid again, but no gasoline smell.

I won't be able to check it out till Friday but unless there's a leak in the muffler and condensate is dripping out, I have no idea what could be coming from the rear.

Erwin
'88 745T 200,000+ miles
'95 855T (My favorite) 200,000+ miles
'01 945T 200,000+ miles
'07 C70 98,000 miles
'08 V70 3.2 (Superb highway muncher) 110,780 miles

This is an old thread but the "mystery liquid" turned out to be water. The seal and channel at the base of the rear window gets clogged with debris from trees and clogs the drains. The water goes into the trunk.

This was discovered this year when the top stopped working and I found the hydraulic pump, which is under a cover in the trunk, rusted out from water collecting there.

If you have a C70 with the hard roof, keep your drains clean!

Erwin
Memphis
'88 745T $
'92 945T $
'95 855T $$
'08 V70 $

Trust your daughter's assessment that the liquid is water. The touch and smell test is usually quite conclusive. I like to go straight for the taste test myself.

As for where it's coming from, you might research what drains exist for the power hardtop? Unfortunately I've never laid eyes the mechanism but there must be a low point that is open to the elements. Perhaps there's some water trapped by a clogged drain and it's slowly or periodically freeing itself from the coddled confines of the C70. Check the carpets carefully for water also.

If you're (un)lucky there's a leak in the cabin draining onto the fuel pump controller (PEM) under the left rear seat and that's what's causing the hard starting. <--- A true armchair diagnosis right there, YMMV, refer to my earlier taste test statement...

Here's to hoping for an easy diagnosis and even easier resolution to your mystery!

-Will

Good tip on the power roof drains. Right now the trees are shedding all sorts of debris and while she rarely lowers the top (I do every chance I get!) it's very possible it's a clogged drain. The trunk carpet is dry, need to check the back seat area.

Thanks.

Erwin
'88 745T 200,000+ miles
'95 855T (My favorite) 200,000+ miles
'01 945T 200,000+ miles
'07 C70 98,000 miles
'08 V70 3.2 (Superb highway muncher) 110,780 miles

It could indeed be water from the AC drain. I noticed my wife's BMW X-1 peeing all over the driveway when it is really humid - 2 spots, one where you expect it and the other farther to the rear where it runs along the parking brake cable.

Let's hope it is not hydraulic fluid from the top.
--
Keeping it running is better than buying new

Thanks Klaus,

That C70 is just a few inches off the ground. Even on ramps it's not easy for me to get under it.

Erwin
'88 745T 200,000+ miles
'95 855T (My favorite) 200,000+ miles
'01 945T 200,000+ miles
'07 C70 98,000 miles
'08 V70 3.2 (Superb highway muncher) 110,780 miles

Erwin - Your post reminds me of days of yore - In the 60's we used to punch a hole on the back of a new muffler at the bottom in hopes of draining water out to extend the life of the muffler!

If I remember my molar chemistry correctly, (I got a C) the theoretical formula for burning a gallon of gasoline producer 22 gallons of water in the form of vapor.

BTW - your daughter is a good driver, looking under the car occasionally and being curious about what she finds. I also tought our daughters to smell at the car's grill when the car is hot occasionally to see if anything smells odd, such as antifreeze, oil, etc.

Thanks James. Yes, she's becoming quite the junior DIY mechanic. She replaced the rear shocks on my 855T with only my over the shoulder instructions. Also changes tires, checks all fluids, air pressure etc. Fixes her own bicycle flats on the side of the trail. For Christmas she wanted a large toolset which she keeps in her dorm room. Fixes other students stuff.

Cheers,

Erwin
'88 745T 200,000+ miles
'95 855T (My favorite) 200,000+ miles
'01 945T 200,000+ miles
'07 C70 98,000 miles
'08 V70 3.2 (Superb highway muncher) 110,780 miles