Hi Alex,
When you think about this, what's happening is the pressure plate isn't
getting pushed far enough away from the flywheel/clutch disc when you
depress the clutch pedal.  The most likely culprits are the clutch master or
slave cylinders.  If they lose their seals, fluid pushes by, and they don't
disengage the clutch far enough.  Eventually, you will seem to have no
clutch at all, and you get to learn to drive clutchless, a la the broken
clutch cable in an old beetle.   :)

In any case, look around the master and slave cylinders for leaking
hydraulic fluid--if you see either one leaking, it probably needs
replacement.  The slave is located on the driver's side of the
engine/tranny--you can see it from the engine compartment, or from
underneath.  There is a hydraulic line going to it, whitish color.  The
master is up above/behind the steering column, just follow the clutch pedal
arm.  It's a little harder to see.  The master takes about 1-2 hours to
replace, the slave about the same, depending on tools and experience.

There are other things that could cause these symptoms (bent pressure plate
fingers, breaking/broken cross shaft arms that hold the throwout bearing,
etc.), but they are far less likely.
tx,
bmc  :)

Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com

Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA  95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com

> From: aj <ajay@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US>
> Reply-To: aj <ajay@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US>
> Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:29:01 -0500
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 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