Hey I need help in a diagnosis. There is a black fluid dripping from the bottom of my transmission, near the clutch housing. I know it isn't tranmission fluid because I drained it and checked and its still golden brown. Could it be clutch fluid? I checked the resovoir and the fluid is up to the top still. Any ideas on what it is and what the problem may be before I take the tranny out of the car for inspection?

 

Sounds to me like engine oil running down the back of your engine and making its way onto the bottom of the transmission housing? Any gasket leakage on your motor? Do you smell a hint of burning oil when the car is running (indicating oil might also have dripped onto the exhaust)?

 

I don't smell any oil, and I checked the color of my oil, and its still golden brown as well. The fluid was like jet black. any other ideas?

 

You cannot compare the color of leaked fluid with what's in the casings. Leaked fluid, by the time it gets down to the bottom of the car, will take on the dark color because it has squeezed through whatever orifice it came out of and also attracted all the dirt and crud along the way. You need to go "upstream" and trace where the fluid came from. It could be old engine oil, tranny fluid, clutch fluid, or engine mount fluid.

 

try the highly scientific smell and touch test...does it feel like oil? water?
you can also try the very scientific taste test to figure out what it is

 

either the transmissions front shaft seal, engine rear main seal, or slave cylinder is failing. slave cyl is easy to take off and see if its leaking, the other 2 will require removal of the transmission.