2002 Rav4 leak

[MarylandMagnav45]

Thought I'd try posting on here to see if any of you guys have an idea what might be wrong before I go join a rav4 forum.

My dad noticed a leak under his 2002 Rav4, and asked me to take a look at it.  I'm not sure what part of the car it is (what's it called), but I'd like to try to find out.  We checked the oil, and its fine (I didn't overflow it).  My only thoughts is it was used less in the winter time, and now used more in the summer..and maybe increasing temperature, harder use, etc...could cause the leak?

The leak is next to the left hand side front of the car wheel.

I've uploaded pictures that I took today.  Let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance!

[hootmon]

What does it smell like??? What color is it???
Could be a brake fluid leak (thin lighter tan clear liquid - does NOT smell like oil),
Could be a transmission or Power steering fluid - Usually pinkish / Red in color
Could be Transfer case oil (IF you have 4X4 or AWD) - like oil but usually thicker
Could be Anti-Freeze (Usually light/dark Green or Pink or Purple)

[MarylandMagnav45]

What does it smell like??? What color is it???
Could be a brake fluid leak (thin lighter tan clear liquid - does NOT smell like oil),
Could be a transmission or Power steering fluid - Usually pinkish / Red in color
Could be Transfer case oil (IF you have 4X4 or AWD) - like oil but usually thicker
Could be Anti-Freeze (Usually light/dark Green or Pink or Purple)

It was brown/golden in color.  It smelled like engine oil but I can't be sure. 

It def. was not transmission/pt fluid or transfer case oil.  I don't believe its anti freeze either.

Thin lighter tan for brake fluid?  Maybe.  IT has a golden brown color so I'm unsure.

[hootmon]

I was betting Brake fluid in my head as it is dripping down what looks to be your Brake lines in picture two.. Check your Brake fluid level (maybe smell it too and see if it smells the same as the leak) and look good around the Brake booster/master cylinder (Brake booster is directly behind the master cylinder which is where you check your brake fluid, all of which is on the back right side if you are looking into your engine compartment (Big round drum looking thing with a chunk of metal sticking out the middle. (sorry if I am insulting your mechanical intelligence)..

The black round thing in the back in this photo.. (The fluid is housed here and is pushed to all the wheels from here)

[MarylandMagnav45]

I was betting Brake fluid in my head as it is dripping down what looks to be your Brake lines in picture two.. Check your Brake fluid level (maybe smell it too and see if it smells the same as the leak) and look good around the Brake booster/master cylinder (Brake booster is directly behind the master cylinder which is where you check your brake fluid, all of which is on the back right side if you are looking into your engine compartment (Big round drum looking thing with a chunk of metal sticking out the middle. (sorry if I am insulting your mechanical intelligence)..

The black round thing in the back in this photo.. (The fluid is housed here and is pushed to all the wheels from here)

I'm beginning to think that you're right. 

Could it also be clutch fluid? 

Any idea what it would cost to repair at a service shop?  The car is my parent's, and if it were mine, I would start taking it apart, and trying to solve it myself...but they want things fixed in a "jiffy" shall we say...so I might have to take it to the shop .

I'm hoping they can at least give me a week to try and figure it out.

[Charles S Otwell]

If it's brake fluid the paint on those lines should be loose and coming off..

[hootmon]

I doubt it has clutch fluid, but it could..
Check for the bubbling paint as Charles suggested.

[dgc67]

Hard to get perspective on the pics, especially the ones of the lines.  but 2 of the pics are of the power steering.

[MarylandMagnav45]

I'll report back after today.  I have a friend who's a mechanic that's going to stopby my place and take a look.  He works on Lexus's.  He's a Toyota Master Mechanic etc...

Anywho, he should know, and i'll let u guys know how it all comes out.

[MarylandMagnav45]

I'll report back after today.  I have a friend who's a mechanic that's going to stopby my place and take a look.  He works on Lexus's.  He's a Toyota Master Mechanic etc...

Anywho, he should know, and i'll let u guys know how it all comes out.

Power steering.

The fluid was actually low.  I'm surprised I didn't see it b/c I swear I saw it.

He said about 1k to repair it at a shop.  He's going to cut me a deal. 

He wants me to find a refurbished powersteering rack to put into the car.

On the hunt..

[dgc67]

Power steering.

ding ding!  sorry you have to go through it.

[MarylandMagnav45]

Power steering.

ding ding!  sorry you have to go through it.

I just added Prestone's power steering fluid with Stop Leak.  I'm monitoring the car for results.

If it stops it, I'm going to bide my time prior to repairing it.