Ok so I have a big problem on my hands. Today when I got in my car to drive it, I noticed that the clutch pedal felt very, very loose. Then when I tried to put it into reverse to back out, through the shift lever, I felt the gears spinning and grinding. I couldn't get it into gear, or any gear at all. I don't know anything about clutches. Does anyone know what this could be? And also, how much would the repair cost?

Thanks everyone.

 

Also, it was working just fine last night.

 

Sounds like a clutch hydraulic problem. I would try pumping the clutch pedal multiple times to see if the pedal stiffens up a bit. I would take a look at your clutch slave cylinder, and clutch master cylinder. It is very likely one has failed.

To be on the safe side, since our cars are getting old, I would personally replace both at the same time. Black dragon automotive lists:

Clutch slave - $30
Clutch master cylinder - $50

Overall the system is very simple, when you press on the clutch pedal, a rod presses on the piston in the clutch master cylinder. Creating hydraulic pressure through the clutch line down to the clutch slave cylinder, which has a rod connecting onto a pivot connecting to the throw out bearing. As you press and release the clutch, the throw out bearing engages or disengages your clutch against the flywheel. Since you don't have enough hydraulic pressure, the gears are grinding because you are basically trying to shift with the transmission engaged to the engine.

Hope that helps simplify it a bit, let me know if you have any other questions, or are confused with what I mean.

 

ALWAYS replace them together but it sounds llike you problem you can try pulling the fork by hand if it is still really stiff you pressure plate should be fine if it moves by hand easy then you have issues

 

I just had the same issue and it was a hydraulic issue. My master cylinder was leaking (see inside the firewall behind the clutch pedal). I replaced both cylinders. I recommend that you replace both cylinders while you are at it. It isn't much more money or much more time. FYI, make sure you clean where you connect the hose to the release cylinder really well before remounting the release cylinder. I didn't do this and made a new leak and had to take the system apart again to fix it.

 

I want to know what issues you have if the fork moves by hand easily. On my newly aquired 84 I am having strange clutch issues. Nothing is visibly leaking. The clutch is working fine for a few times then I get a sound like a spring popping. When I look the slave has slipped off the fork and the fork moves back and forth very easily. I can re-align the slave and the fork, push on the clutch pedal a few time and build up pressure and it works for a while and then the sound happens again and the process all over again. Also my clutch pedal just stays at the floor sometimes and I have to lift it with my foot.

 

Pushing the rod by hand towards the body of the clutch slave indicates how much clutch life is left. If the rod is bottomed out in the slave cylinder (can't push it back further), it means your clutch is worn out and requires replacement.