Sounds to me like your hydraulic fluid is low, or the clutch cylinder is
leaking. Check for fluid dripping around the clutch slave cylinder, and
check the fluid level. This will make the gears hard to change as the clutch
is not fully disengaging due to either of the above problems.
Courtney
----- Original Message -----
From: "aj" <ajay@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 2:29 PM
Subject: symptoms of a failing clutch

> Can someone describe the symptoms of a failing clutch.  In the last few
> days  I've had to floor the clutch pedal in order to shift gears.  The
> gears engage when I release the clutch pedal  about an inch or so from
> the floor.  There is difficulty in shifting gears.  How does one
> troubleshoot this problem?  Is it the clutch, the clutch hydraulic
> system,  the linkage.etc.etc.?  I would appreciate any information about
> this problem. TIA. alex
>