[ex1z7]

Weee! I'm not the only one..

The fluid on the floor mats is from your slave cylinder. Foci's brakes and clutch run off the same reservoir, so if you're leaving hydraulic fluid (dot 3 brake fluid, or dot 4 if you actually listen to the manual for canada.) on your mats, that's why. I had the same problem, 300 dollar fix + parts.

If your clutch doesn't come back off the floor, it's a few things.. You have 0 fluid left and theres no pressure to do anything..

Or.. your clutch itself is toast, but don't count on that.. it takes a while for a clutch to die usually..

Beg it isn't the master cylinder, anything but the master cylinder.. That thing is a PITA to swap, and costs an arm and half, or the whole leg..

A problem we have with our tranny's is the cold, the fluid itself becomes thick like honey.. The fluid actually acts alot like honey - if the car is warm, it'll melt around and be cool, if the fluid is cold, it'll stick and not move easily..

mmm..honey..

But seriously, I've got 81k on my car and I've had the slave cyl replaced, and everything else is fine, and first / reverse is annoying for me in the cold.. I just let my car warm up in neutral sometimes before driving it - when it's super cold at least..

If you're having trouble with reverse.. A trick I use ALOT is stick the car in first, lift the clutch enough to engage first gear and normally move, then stick it into reverse.. shouldn't have a problem if you do that. I have to do it all the time cus I leave my car in second gear cus my driveway is on a hill.. and the car's already gone into the house once.. (Totally my moms fault man.. I swear).

Check your fluid levels to see if you're low... is the first step.