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I have a whirlpool window air conditioner that has gone out. It smells like transmission fluid is leaking and it stinks up the house when it is on so we can't run it. Is the repair cost going to be cheaper or is it better to just buy a new unit. The unit is 2 1/2 years old. I live in Southern California so I have to have the air conditioner. Does anyone know what it is so when I try to have it repaired I know what I am talking about
When you smell something like that it only means your unit is leaking.the freon/refrigerant is what you smell.so i suggest compare a brand new one with the labor cost for repairs in your area.
could be ruptured start capacitor. look inside the sheet metal box where the controls are for evidence of oil. Not too difficult to replace but you should have some electrical familiarity. Cost for new part $15-25 or take one from a junker. Value should be close but it doesn't need to be an exact replacement.could be ruptured start capacitor. look inside the sheet metal box where the controls are for evidence of oil. Not too difficult to replace but you should have some electrical familiarity. Cost for new part $15-25 or take one from a junker. Value should be close but it doesn't need to be an exact replacement.
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Park your vehicle overnight on a clean patch of pavement or a large, clean piece of white paper.Either tape some sheets of paper together or buy a roll of plain white commercial wrapping paper. Newspaper is too absorbent and can change the color of the stains.
Place marks on the paper.
Show where each of the four wheels is resting, and indicate the front and rear ends of the vehicle.
In the morning, move the vehicle and look for small puddles or traces of liquid on the ground or paper.
Touch and smell each puddle or trace of liquid.
Here's how to decipher the evidence:
If it's clear, watery, and under the air conditioner: It's probably normal condensation if you've used the air conditioner recently.
If it's black or dark brown, greasy, and located under the engine area:It's probably oil. Figure out which part of the vehicle was over the spot. Look under the hood around the oil filter and the engine and under the vehicle for leaks around the oil drain plug, the crankcase, and the oil pan below it.
If it's thick, black or tan oily liquid: Gear oil may be leaking from a manual transmission, the differential, an axle, or the steering gears. Any of these leaks needs immediate attention.
If it's red, pink, or reddish-brown and greasy and you have an automatic transmission: It's probably transmission fluid. Check the transmission dipstick, and if the level is low, top it off with the proper transmission fluid. Then check the dipstick again in a day or two. If it's low again, have a professional check the transmission to make sure that the seals are intact.
If it's watery or slippery; green, red, blue, or yellow; and is coming from under the radiator or engine: It's probably coolant. Check the radiator, pressure cap, engine, and hoses for leaks.
If it's oily; pink, red, or clear; and you find it toward the front bumper (usually on the driver's side): It's probably power-steering fluid. The power-steering system is sealed and shouldn't lose fluid.
If it's a light-colored or clear fluid: It may be brake fluid. Even if the leaks have dried, the stains should be visible. Leaky brakes are too dangerous to leave unattended. Have a professional repair any brake fluid leaks immediately.
If it smells like rotten eggs: It's battery acid. Avoid getting it on your hands or clothes and have the battery replaced.
If it smells like gasoline: It probably is! If the smell is coming from under the hood, check around the fuel pump and the fuel injectors - or the carburetor if your vehicle has one. If the leak seems to be under the center of the vehicle, check the fuel lines. If it's under the rear end, check the fuel tank.
Most power steering pump's fluid doesn't run thru your cooler, there is a transmission cooler in front of your radiator or built into you radiator. If there was a leak there you'd see it under the truck around the transmission lines.. or around the metal lines than run into your cooler/ radiator.
Liquids in an auto..... Antifreeze (greenish/clear, watery, with slight oil feel to it, smells somewhat sweet), Power Steering Fluid (very thin oil, usually red tinted), Brake Fluid (very thin oil, clear), Transmission Fluid (very thin, red and kinda of sweet smelling), Motor Oil (amber colored or black, medium viscosity, usually smells acidic), Washer Fluid (usually water). Only other fluid is condensation that drains from the air conditioning drain pan after driving the car and the air conditioner has been on.
It can only be one of the above, really need a lot more information, to even begin to make a guess.
you must have a leak somewhere. Your coolant will not boil unless you have a leak. Check for leak traces of fluid the color of your anti-freeze. Your radiator cap is spring loaded and with time the spring gets weak. Check that area for leak traces. The easiest way to check for leaks is to look at your driveway. if you have a coolant leak the fluid traces will be on the driveway. Don't mistake your air conditioner water leak as being the coolant fluid. The anti-freeze coolant has a sweet smell whereas the air conditioner fluid is just plain water being removed from the air inside of your cab.
First check the level of fluid in your transmission, if its an automatic , there will be a dipstick on top of transmission and there is a line on dipstick when its warm running usually in neutral.( will say on dipstick if you run vehicle in neutral or in park), if car is a standard, theres a plug on side of trans. usually have to do this under vehicle. pull plug with car level and put finger in hole and if you cant feel fluid on finger its low. also in automatics if fluid is dark and not clear or bright red and stinks (with a burnt smell ) its usually means you have transmission problems. if fluid is low you have a leak and if went to long low on fluid chances are transmission is bad.
That is the area the air conditioner vent drains. There aren't a lot of fluids possible - coolant, power steering fluid and transmission fluid are the only ones that would be in that position unless your windshield washer fluid leaks from the tubing. Brake fluid would be closer to the wheels. If the air conditioner runs at all it removes moisture from the passenger compartment and drains near the passenger side firewall. All the other fluids would hae a definite smell.
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