Leaking clear, odorless fluid...water?

[jackman61]

Noticed today that there is a leak coming from underneath my 2010 corolla le by the drivers side door. It's a clear, odorless liquid, and it starts to leak when engine warms up and the car is parked and idle. Didn't use the AC or anything like that. Any ideas on what it could be? I think it is water but why the heck is it leaking?

[cabur]

Was it raining or you've just washed the car?
It could just be the drain from the vents below your wiper.

[joeylgarcia]

did u use the heater?

[SuperchargedMR2]

There are drain holes all around the car so if the car was parked on a slight incline it could have just been some water that ran to that side of the car & drained out. Just keep an eye on it to see if you can figure it out, I'll bet it's no big deal.

[Dimaoala]

Originally Posted by cabur

Was it raining or you've just washed the car?
It could just be the drain from the vents below your wiper.

Originally Posted by SuperchargedMR2

There are drain holes all around the car so if the car was parked on a slight incline it could have just been some water that ran to that side of the car & drained out. Just keep an eye on it to see if you can figure it out, I'll bet it's no big deal.

+1

[FlameyFart]

The AC will turn on if the following 2 conditions are met even if the AC button is off:
1. fan is set to blow at the windshield, and
2. temperature is set to cool (blue, and maybe even some portions of white)

If that's the case, then the liquid is just condensation. Nothing to worry about.

[metalbones]

Originally Posted by FlameyFart

The AC will turn on if the following 2 conditions are met even if the AC button is off:

2. temperature is set to cool (blue, and maybe even some portions of white)

Not true. The system will simply force in air from outside at the lowest temperature available (i.e. unaltered air from outside). The compressor does not run.

Edit: After re-reading FlameyFart's post I realize I missed the key word and between the conditions, which considerably alters the meaning. My apologies to you, FlameyFart. Jeff has already explained the topic so please disregard my post.

[Jeff Lange]

Temperature control never does anything other than temperature control. It will not change from recirc to fresh either. It only controls the temperature damper.

A/C is activated by the A/C button or by having the vent selection on defog/foot or defog. Fresh air is forced with the vent control set on defog/foot and defog.

Jeff

[cabur]

Originally Posted by metalbones

Not true. The system will simply force in air from outside at the lowest temperature available (i.e. unaltered air from outside). The compressor does not run.

Are you sure?
This was discussed extensively in '08 when the 10 gen first came out. Unless Toyota changed; compressor runs all the time when defrost is selected even when the A/C light is off.

[Jeff Lange]

Cabur: that is correct. (Unless other factors turn A/C off -- pressure switches, etc. as part of the A/C system).

When you have the vent selector on foot/defog or defog, it is the same as having the A/C button pressed in. The only difference is your A/C light is not on.

Jeff

[joeylgarcia]

now the question is why was there an odorless clear fluid underneath the car of the OP? where did it come from? he said he did not use the AC. maybe the OP used the heater?

[CraigW]

Maybe it was in "floor/def" or "def" mode when this happened ??

A quick way to test is set it to "floor" and see if it drips after warm up.

My 00 Corolla worked fine by leaving it on floor, enough air flowed through the top vents to keep the windshield clear and the compressor off.

[rolla-XRS]

Possibly just condensation? Nights are cool, days warmer in Ontario (similar to OP in New York) and condensation can form.

Damn horrible dew points...always messing up my clean car and windows.