Possible clutch fluid leak?

99BettySE · 10-22-2008, 04:51 PM

Okay, I've been noticing a few things. One, no matter how mucky it is outside, my driver's front wheel well always seems to have splatters up underneath, and I don't notice any under the passenger side. Also, at the right angle from the outside I can see little blue-ish spots on the bottom inside of the windshield, near the defrost vents.

My clutch fluid is at an okay level, but seems a few millimeters lower than I remember it (not low enough to explain how much splatter I see in the wheel well). Also, the fluid buildup in the well seems to stem from a small panel leading directly underneath of the clutch master cylinder. However, the cylinder and the lines leading from it are bone dry.

I also noticed starting after I had my alternator replaced (around the same time I noticed the splatters), a funky sweetish-musty kind of smell coming from the engine from time to time. At the time I thought maybe it could be the new rubber of the belt they replaced, and I have not noticed it for a while now, but I don't know if it could possibly be the smell of clutch fluid or whatever could have been coming in from my vents.

Does anyone have any ideas if these symptoms could be related, what could be causing them, or what could be causing them individually? Also lemme know what else to check for, this odd combination of symptoms puzzles me..

Gtpowered4.6l · 10-22-2008, 05:37 PM

I have a leaking drivers side axle. But it of course is tranny fluid not clutch fluid...

99BettySE · 10-22-2008, 06:41 PM

I haven't confirmed that it's clutch fluid, it just seemed possible it was coming from a clutch line. But does the axle leave similar splash marks under the fender? I've never seen any puddles or anything where the car is parked.

Feldman · 10-22-2008, 06:55 PM

my vote is for transmission fluid, leaking from the driver side diff seal. If you look under your car i bet you will see a bead of fluid sitting on the bottom edge of the tranny near the drivers side wheel.

This is most likely caused by a bad seal or bad diff bearing assuming that is the problem.

if you had a clutch leak bad enough that you were noticing drips i would think you would have a mushy pedal pretty quickly

99BettySE · 10-23-2008, 06:02 AM

Not that it's light out and I've had time to look up underneath, I found it. CV boot torn wide open. I haven't had any clicking or driveability issues, do you think it's too late to just do the boot and not have to replace the whole axle? I don't have the money or time to replace an axle right now, and I'm wondering if that will at least be a quick fix for a short while so it doesn't completely go on me until I can replace the axle.

Granted, I doubt this would get in my defrost vents, so there might still be that mystery...