Trying to help out my daughter who just bought 2000 Chevy venture 130,000 miles other wise pretty good condition. She just needs this auto for a couple of months until she can buy another. Problem is she keeps seeing water like substance under car. she has not used air conditioner , it doesn't work. She noticed that it doesn't heat up right away and the defogger wont clear the windows properly. Some one told her it could be a heat coil? Someone else told her it looks like coolant dripping on the engine. She notices a smell like a burning smell. Don't know about cars either of us. The person wants $900.00 for the car and we are afraid that this is a major problem. If anyone can suggest what they think it might be please let us know or in simple terms what to check. If it was something major wouldnt the check engine light be on? PLEASE dont know if it is worth it or not to buy it but in desperate need of transportation right now until the late winter

 

the water under the car must happen when the defrost is on right? when the heater is on defrost it kicks the a/c on for a few seconds a minute to help with the drying of the air.
now when the heat doesnt work right away, is the vehicle warm first? u arenty talking about instant heat at start-up right? i couldnt say what the burning smell is, but carry a fire extinguisher just in case, it is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. 900 seems like a good price and if motor runs smooth and shifts smooth, it may be a decent temp vehicle, my uncle got 350k km out of a 2001

 

No, the car took a long time to heat up and didnt seem to be clearing the windows. She thought it may be a coolant problem. Even when she would go into her garage when the car wasnt running it seemed to be smelling of like a burning or gas smell. the needle for the hot and cold started to go to the H put did not overheat and then it showed low coolant,and the tank for it was low. put some in and now the needle doesnt do that. was thinking possibly coolant leaking on engine. would you see it wet when running if that was happening?