2006 TL 6MTCame home from work today just fine. Left a couple of hours to head to the gym. We just got the first snow of the year and when I got in the car later ,I thought the fluid on the garage floor was melted snow. When I couldn't get the car in gear and the clutch pedal didn't rise off the floor, I realized it was clutch fluid, not melted snow.

Is there anything that could be that catastrophic that drains the fluid from full to empty in about an hour? I can get it up on Jack stands in the morning, but haven't had to deal with clutch fluid lines before. Wondering if this is a common issue. Probably something a real mechanic would be much better at. Maybe I can get it started and limped to a shop.

 

If you're talking about the brake fluid that is in the line from the master cyl to slave cyl, check the piston and seal on the slave cyl. it could have been pushed out too far. slave cyl is not too bad to swap, but bleeding it can be a pain.

 

I would put some fluid in the system and see where its leaked. Since you mentioned snow I am assuming the clutch line are corroded.

 

Wow! That's just what happened to me the other day! Turned out, my 5-year-old slave cylinder decided to leak. On 2nd replacement in 17⅔ years. I did replace those lines the last time around though.
.

 

If you can get to the auto parts store somehow and pick up a can of DOT3 or 4 fluid and fill your reservoir, you might get lucky to gain clutch pressure back without needing to bleed it. Then you can limp to a mechanic for him to diagnose if it's your slave, master, or the hydraulic line.
If you look under the dash where the clutch pedal goes thru the firewall, if you see fluid dripping from the piston rod, there's a good chance it's your master cylinder (and you might as well do the slave while you're at it).

 

Interesting, the brake fluid is low, but the issue was the clutch. Are they connected in any way? I filled up the brake fluid last night and it was low again this morning. It is very peculiar.

 

The systems are totally separate.

However, you use brake fluid in both.

 

The damper plate on the clutch master cylinder tends to leak. Look for the origin of the leak...start at the clutch master cylinder and work your way down.

 

You can visually inspect most of the Clutch Hydraulics without lifting the vehicle. Take a peek and start inside the car at the clutch pedal, then at the Clutch Master and follow the line/hose under the Airbox to the Slave Cylinder.

 

It also may not have lost all its fluid at once

Maybe its been getting low for a while and it finally got low enough to affect the pedal travel.

 

If it turns out you have to replace the Master Cylinder, get a NISSIN, the Japanese OEM supplier for our cars. They work the best from my experience and you can usually find them on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26418497403...0AAOSwY8NcXEnm
.
.