brake fluid leak?

[g-boy]

have dmapness in driver footwell.

does brake fluid smell a bit like screen wash? it definitely isn't water anyway.

any other suggestions? could it actually be the screen wash reservoir leaking?

also, had leaking in passenger footwell that has mostly dried up since i got a car cover, does this suggest it was just a rain leak previously?

[dnb]

Driver's side is probably clutch fluid leaking. Mine did that shortly before the seals in the clutch master cylinder gave up and I found the clutch stopped working...

It's £10 for the seal kit if you do it yourself.
Don't worry - it's not expensive, and it's not a particularly difficult job.

[GreenV8S]

If the fluid is hydraulic fluid then be aware that it is extremely corrosive as well as being flammable - if you get it on your shoes and then tread into the house you are in danger of finding footprint shaped holes in the carpet in a months time. It's nasty stuff and you don't want to give it any chance to get on you or your clothes.

[tvr_nut]

dnb said:

Driver's side is probably clutch fluid leaking. Mine did that shortly before the seals in the clutch master cylinder gave up and I found the clutch stopped working... It's £10 for the seal kit if you do it yourself. Don't worry - it's not expensive, and it's not a particularly difficult job.

I thought it was a real bar-steward to get to? Headfirst down the footwell even less of a joke with your head in a puddle of spilled brake fluid (bald spot - NAH, just where me hair got corroded away!).

Did the job on my old Wedge which was easy. That lost the entire reservoir contents down the pedal over about a week. The floor mat survived undamaged, once washed and the smell had worn off.

[dnb]

In the grand scheme of things, it's not difficult - compared to say replacing the radiator, fitting a full set of polybushes, rewiring the car or fitting an aftermarket ECU...

You can drain the cylinder and take it out of the car so you don't have to grovel in the footwell.