Clutch issues..i think

[heelfan92]

unfortunatley i dont know really anything about manual transmissions. So my mechanical help to my mom is limited, but anyways to the problems.

for the last couple of months the clutch has sounded very squeaky when depressed, i figured it just needed wd40 but try explaining that to my mom is no fun, (so nothing was done about it, i still dont know if its an actual problem or just squeaking). so after that she said the clutch pedal just started feeling off, like it was to loose(not really catching). Then this morning when she went to take me to work, she goes to start it but it just cranked then died, like stalling at a stoplight or something, because it didnt seem to change gears. then later today she goes to visit family and she said it acted funny, like it was hesitant to start, but never stalled.

Now since i dont know anything about these could it be the clutch itself, or the clutch cylinder(which by the way if someone could explain to me the clutch cylinders that would be great) or could it be something entirely different than the clutch?

thanks for any help
chris

[pulsar86]

The not starting problem could be connected to the switch that sits on the clutch pedal ,it completes a circuit when the clutch is depressed and allows starting. It is a safety switch to prevent starting in gear, it may be sticking. It should just sit against the pedal and moves forward when clutch pedal is pushed in. See if you can push in the clutch and move switch plunger in and out with your finger. The clutch squeak is usually only the nylon pivot bush on the clutch pedal, they respond well to a spray of white lithium grease. Any major clutch problems are usually felt as a shudder when you release the clutch pedal. Hope this helps.