I have a 2010 Buick Lucerne, 67,000 miles, automatic. I last drove the car around on a trip that was approximately 400 miles; last driven on Sunday, September 26. I was going to drive it today, Oct. 2, backed it out of the garage and noticed a spot on the floor about 3.5 inches in diameter, red (like a light red wine red) that came from the front of the car on the driver's side. I wiped it up; I didn't notice any particular smell to it. I looked under the car and toward the center behind the radiator, there is definitely something that leaked. I have white paper under that spot to see if it will leak again. Are there any photos of what the underneath part of a 2010 Buick Lucerne looks like. So far, I haven't been able to find one. It's pretty obvious I need to take it to the dealership for repair but I want to know what's going on so I don't get oversold/overcharged for the repair. Thank you for your help.
is it watery or oily?
That's probably automatic transmission fluid. By the sounds of it, the cooler lines are leaking. It should be a very quick and inexpensive fix at an independent mechanic. If you go to the dealership, they're going to come up with all sorts of things they want to do to your car. I wouldn't go there.
If you haven't already, you should replace the automatic transmission fluid. This is the perfect opportunity to do it.
Never take it to a dealership. Find an honest independent mechanic. Hopefully, a radiator hose came loose and needs to be tightened. Is the coolant in the recovery tank red or green? Is it below the level it should be?
I've had the same thing happen when trans cooler lines develop a leak. As others have noted, it should be a pretty simple and inexpensive fix IF you don't take it to a stealership or chain.
Could also be power steering fluid - driver's side front of car.
GM PS fluid is yellow
Assuming she is using GM PS fluid in her 11 year old car.