1996 GC. As I was pulling in to the parking lot at work this morning, the check gauges light went on followed shortly by the check battery message. The voltage meter was at the far left (zero). The power steering was lost, not sure about power brakes since I was going really slow anyways. The radio stayed on and the car continued to run. As soon as I stopped and turned off the car, I restarted it to quickly check if my battery was shot, but it started up like normal and I noticed the power steering had returned. When I got out of the car, however, I noticed something smoking from the hood. When I opened the hood, I noticed that something was leaking and had sprayed inside the engine area, which was causing the smoke as it was being heated. Something was also leaking under the car. I only had a chance to quickly look as I had to get to work, and will check later, but it does not appear to be a thick oil like fluid nor radiator fluid. Ideas?

 

Had time to quickly check a few things on a break. Whatever leaked, did not leak much as there is no big pool under the car. The power steering fluid is full, the oil level is fine, but the coolant level is low. The electrical door locks worked fine. In a few hours, I'll have a chance to start the car and watch the engine as it runs, and will update then also.

 

did u have yoru ac on? Sounds like something locked up that was driven by the belt, the smoke was a result in that, and the loss of p.s. and volts was due to the belt slipping most likely. The fluid u seen may have been p.s. fluid, if u steer a p.s. system without power assist, the fluid can spray out the top.