Puddle on the floor.

[AB]

On my way out before, glanced at my Z4 and noticed a puddle on the floor spread out under drivers door and onto driveway. The smell test makes it smell like petrol, but i can't be 100%

It's lowered and does sometimes scrape on speed bumps.

Question to those in the know as I'm mechanically challenged, is what could i have damaged under the car to make it leak? Also, what would be leaking?

[TheEnd]

If you haven't driven it recently, then look into it.
Petrol should evaporate quite quickly, by the main source of puddles is aircon condensate.

[AB]

Drove it about 3 hours ago.

I guess if petrol evaporates quickly then it could have been doing it a while and I've only just noticed?

[VeeFour]

Could be condensate from the air-con?

[edo]

VeeFour said:

Could be condensate from the air-con?

+1, but that should just be water.

[skip_1]

Heater matrix?

Although that may also be in a footwell - damp carpet.

[AB]

I thought carpet just gets damp when it rains, but makes sense?

Hmm, we'll see how it goes.

Am I likely to be compounding a problem by leaving it?

[thinfourth2]

There is an easy way to tell if the puddle is petrol

Light it

I suggest you move the car first

[parapaul]

thinfourth2 said:

There is an easy way to tell if the puddle is petrol

Light it

I suggest you move the car first

[AB]

Did it. It didn't light... Not petrol then.

[AB]

... Oh and does the fact it's still there this morning for me to try and light suggest it's not petrol?

[VeeFour]

AB said:

... Oh and does the fact it's still there this morning for me to try and light suggest it's not petrol?

Yes - it'll be the condensate from the air-con.

[MarsellusWallace]

I dont think that you would get a pool of water from the aircon at this time of year-tends to be in the warmer weather.

My guess would be that if the fluid is fresh water(ie it doesnt contain antifreeze or screenwash)then if one of the drain holes is partly blocked then it may just be rainwater or water from when the car was last washed that has been sitting somewhere within the car and has just found its way out.

[VeeFour]

MarsellusWallace said:

I dont think that you would get a pool of water from the aircon at this time of year-tends to be in the warmer weather.

You still get it in this weather - especially if the air is a bit damp and / or the car interior has got damp - which is quite possible with any ragtop.

[MarsellusWallace]

VeeFour said:

You still get it in this weather - especially if the air is a bit damp and / or the car interior has got damp - which is quite possible with any ragtop.

Maybe a little drip but not a puddle-at least not here in the cold northern part of the UK!Many people dont have the ac switched on at this time of year and the fact that is is on one side of the car rather than in the middle where the AC drain usually is makes me suspect a slow rainwater drain.

[*Al*]

Taste it! You know it isn't petrol, a little dab on the tongue is enough to tell if it's anti-freeze, screenwash etc. Feel it between your finger tips, is it greasy?

[.:ian:.]

Are there any local cats/dogs/tramps? If so, think twice before tasting it..

[AB]

*Al* said:

Taste it! You know it isn't petrol, a little dab on the tongue is enough to tell if it's anti-freeze, screenwash etc. Feel it between your finger tips, is it greasy?

Didn't taste it but did feel a bit greasy and did smell a bit 'petroly'.

[jeff m]

MarsellusWallace said:

Maybe a little drip but not a puddle-at least not here in the cold northern part of the UK!Many people dont have the ac switched on at this time of year and the fact that is is on one side of the car rather than in the middle where the AC drain usually is makes me suspect a slow rainwater drain.

AC operates when demist is selected on many cars. Check to see if the AC clutch solonoid is in.

Or maybe the paperboy took a leak by your car this morning