My son just called from the side of the road. can't get clutch to engage to move car. Riding along normally, slowed around curve in neighborhood, and downshifted, then nothing there. Speedo shows speed as engine turns and car sits. Does this have to be clutch gone, or something much simpler? Nothing hanging below or at CV boots. Could be 125,000 miles on this manual clutch. How to troubleshoot on location?

Thanks

2000 1.8T manual.

 

when my clutch went out, the pedal depressed all the way in and wouldn't come back out. I'm not sure if there are other symptoms of a shot clutch, but that was my tell-tale sign.

hopefully this is something a bit easier/cheaper to repair...

 

Does the car go into gear while the engine is off?

Does it go into gear with the engine on?

How does the pedal feel?

 

so when you rev the engine while the car is sitting still, the speedometer says you are moving?

check all your half shafts (shafts that connect the wheel to the transmission) every once in a while someone has one fall off, and when that happens 100% of the power is sent to that wheel with the disconnected shaft and you dont move. sometimes the bolts fall out, sometimes the shaft can snap.

edit: like this

 

Yep, found a half shaft problem. much cheaper than clutch. thanks for all the responses.

 

The half shaft splines were stripped in the hub. ever heard of that? I had changed the outside boot 6 months ago, and torqued the collar bolt down right, I thought. New half shaft, $300 later, on the road again. out of town so had to pay the man.

 

still much cheaper than replacing a clutch though

 

did you replace the collar bolt? That's a stretch bolt and is only meant to be used once.


sucks though.

 

Yes, when I replaced the boot I bought the kit with the collar bolt. yes, cheaper than clutch.