I made two stops yesterday, both stops I was away from
My car may an hour and a half. The size of the wet spots was about the size of a donut tire. Then after it was parked in my garage a few hours, I went to check and the spot was about the size of a dinner plate maybe a bit smaller.

 

See that's what I love about asking you guys. What a great idea I will definitely give it a taste as soon as I get back out there and also do the white cloth test. Simply genius!!!!!

 

open your radiator cap when your car is cold and see if you can see the coolant in there

 

Wouldn't you know it!!! I went out to taste the oil and do the white cloth test and it's all gone. Not a drop of anything left!!! Do u think if I ran it down the road just a couple miles that it may heat it up enough to get it to leak a bit so that maybe then I could do your test? Or would that b a bad idea ?

 

OK Guys, I opened radiator cap and I do see green coolant. When u look inside, u know how there are these ( I'd call them ribs ) going down, to the driver side
-
-
-
- kinda like that, well the coolant starts at the seventh rib.
Also I checked the power steering fluid and it's so low that it barely ready on the dip stick.

 

The coolant level in my radiator is down a few inches from the top when cold. The power steering fluid when cold will cover the end of the stick it should say "Cold" and have another line for when its hot. It does not take much fluid to bring the level up.

 

Have you looked at your transmission fluid? Curious about the color it should be red. The filler tube/dipstick is on the passenger side at the back of the engine next to the firewall. To check the level the car should be at operating temperature and just driven and check with the engine running.

 

Well that is good and bad news. Good news is that it is from your radiator. Oil will not dry up. Any kind of powersteering, transmission or other petroleum based lubricant in your car would still be there as it will not evaporate. Gas is the only thing that would evaporate and there is no mistaking the odor of gasoline.
Antifreeze/water mix on the other hand will evaporate. So the bad news is it your radiator. But also good because it has the greatest capacity of anything else that leaks.
Top off the radiator with water, start it up and it will get up to temp just idling.
That should provide enough pressure to get it to leak again for confirmation.
Then before you shut it down fill your overflow reservoir if it has one. It is located on the passenger side under the hood kind of tucked under the fender well.
Topping that off will allow it to suck water into the radiator as it cools after you shut it off.
Then next time, after it's cooled, before you drive it to the mechanic, check to see that the radiator is then full. If it's not top it off before driving it 40 minutes. Keep an eye on the temp gauge on the way to the mechanic to insure that your leak didn't suddenly get worse and dump all your water out causing the engine to overheat.
Once you get it fixed then make sure the antifreeze/water mix is replaced to the proper level. Your mechanic should insure this for you.

If your really concerned about the leak suddenly worsening while driving it to the mechanic get it towed there.

 

Kathy, welcome. One of the most useful tools that you can own is a mirror. I keep one in my tool cabinet that is about 8 inches square. It is very helpful for diagnosing leaks. I would suggest that you start your car and then angle the mirror such that you can view the area in question as it leaks. A mirror is also a great tool when evaluating the frame and underside of a car. I would also suggest that you consider joining a Corvette club in your area. Being in a club is a lot of fun and there is always someone that can lend a hand. I find that being in a Corvette club enhances the ownership experience even more. Good luck.

 

If you're watching it drip...and its dripping...40 min would be too far if its transmission fluid. Its under pressure and will spurt out quicker. If the hose clamps are loose, they could be tightened. If they are cracked and that's where its leaking, they could blow and you would have a total failure.

If you have a Pep boys, Autozone or other franchise auto store that is close...like minutes, you could drive it there and have one of the guys check it out. They usually have basic tools and could do a quick fix.

 

No I haven't checked that. Do you think I need to since the color of the leaking fluid I have is clear/slight yellow tint? Well if nothing else, all of you have taught me a lot in the last few days and I am thankful for it. I hope one day I might know as much as all of you. I drive my car every day, and every night I polished it up. During the summer I live in Destin Florida, and make several trips back and forth, just me and my little dog. It would give me added confidence to know that I can fix my car if needed.

 

I have a new truck, Ford diesel. It's not like I don't have something else to drive, but honestly, I wanted a C3 since I was five years old. It's the only car I have ever wanted. Now that I have one, I love it even more then I could have ever imagined. I just don't want to drive anything else. I used to say, " you can't buy happiness". I was wrong 😄

 

Actually it's my local Corvette Club that recommended the mechanic that I use now, and he's great. The best I've tried since I got my car. I think the world of them for sending me to him, but no, I haven't seriously thought of joining the club. I am not much of a social queen. I kinda keep to myself, but lately I have been entertaining the idea. It would be nice to know a local person that might be able to give me a hand with things like this.

 

There is an Auto Zone pretty close by, but a couple of weeks ago I stopped by there to get a bulb for a burnt tail light, and the only person there was a young girl that knew nothing. Thank goodness, I do know just a little bit. I knew how to change the bulb. You must be blessed with a better Auto Zone than I have here.

 

I used to credit myself for having common since but lately I am beginning to wonder. The way you eliminated fluids because oil doesn't dry up. You are so right!!! I knew that, why didn't I think of it. As soon as I read it, it was like a bell went off in my head. All I could think was, DUH!!! Once again simply genius. I guess common since is not as common as it once was.
Again I must thank you and everyone here on the forum for sharing with me your knowledge (and common since,) giving your time, and putting up with me in general.

 

Now that my battery light is on, what now? If I just bought a new battery, would that be a quick fix?

 

Ok I just went out and I checked the fluid in my radiator, all is good there and there's not wet spots on the concrete. So I cranked it up and let it idle maybe five min and then looked under for a wet spot and yep there's a small wet spot and dipping about one drop per four seconds. So that's the confirmation I was looking for, right? So no doubt, it is my radiator?
Now what about my battery light coming on? If I just go buy and new battery, would that be a quick fix?

 

Just for clarification this drip is in the front not over to the side like near the passenger front tire area. And your A/C is off, also you do not have the defrost selected?
The reason I ask is that the A/C evaporator is cold and water vapor from the air condenses on it when your running the A/C or the defroster, and then it drips that water out under the car near the front tire area.
Drip is green liquid and not clear? Tastes bitter sweet?
If yes, then it is your radiator, or I should say it is radiator fluid. It could be a loose connection or a hose with a leak, or the water pump, but at least you know from which system it is coming.

Your battery light is indicating that the alternator is not charging correctly.
Does it come on strong at idle and not go off or does it sort of glow/flicker and either go off or dim when you rev it up a little?
Usually it is just the brushes on the alternator are worn out.

with the engine off, check that your alternator connections are plugged in firmly.
Alternator is on drivers side, belt driven, has wires coming out the back.
While your there check to see that the belt is reasonably tight as well.

 

The leak is in the front on the passenger side, directly under the radiator. The taste is bitter sweet, the color had a slight yellow tint. There was no green color. My A/C is off and the defrost also. It's not the drip I always see from my A/C
I checked my radiator coolant this morning and it's full the overflow is at the cold mark. My transmission oil is full. I checked the belt on the alternator and it tight and all the connections are all plugged in nice an tight.
The battery light is dim, stays on, and stays dim, even when I rev it up. The gauge on the dash reads 8, on the drivers side, then 13, in the middle, then 18, towards the passenger side. It is pointing almost in the red on the passenger side, the 18. Would that mean that the alternator is over charging my battery?
I am going to take to out this morning. Going about 15 miles then gonna stop there for an hour or so and drive back. I'll let you know how it does.

 

Sounds like your alternator is toast. I wouldn't drive it anywhere until you get that fixed.