so i'm out of state on business (it travel quite a bit) and my gsl se just came out of hibernation. the wife went to move it yesterday and suddenly there was a puddle under the car. I instantly went into panic mode until she said the brakes are really hard to press and you have to put them to the floor. how common are brake issues? seems odd it would just go out after sitting like that. Even though it's a northern car I have no rust as it's never seen winter.




haven't even gotten her settled in at the new house yet.

 

Really depends on what the puddle was and where it was located. If under a corner of the car, it's likely a broken brake caliper line. If under the rear wheels (and sprayed around the tire circumference), then it's likely a bad parking break seal which leaks brake fluid into the rubber boot which eventually fails dumping the fluid out. If it's under the engine - I would tell her not to move or try to drive it until you can take a look.

These car's don't deal well with overheating if it's coolant. Most common coolant failure is the heater hose from firewall to below the oil filter pedestal as the oil drips down onto the heater return line to the block and it gets mushy. Also check the other heater feed line from lower radiator hose to firewall, and then coolant lines coming out of the water pump area going to the throttle body.

Aside from that, an oil leak would be unlikely but could be the oil cooler or lines. Take care, and good luck

 

Thanks for the advice, it was a mild master cylinder leak I must not have seen while it was sitting for a little over 6 months. The lines were coated. I cleaned them up and put fluid in and haven't had a problem since. However concerned it's dripping back onto my trans but thats a different issue.