clutch issue?

[origamitect]

I have an 83 240D body/4sp manual tranny w/ an 84 300sd engine. If I sit with the car idling with the clutch in for a long light or for a couple minutes waiting for someone, the pedal stays stuck down and I can't shift into or out of another gear. If I can let the car roll a little or turn the car off then on, the pedal will release slowly, and then I can shift normally. Normal driving, there seems to be no difference in pedal pressure/speed, no clutch chatter or noise. This just started when the weather turned very cold here (10 deg F) Where do I need to start looking for problems? Thanks in advance for your help.

To begin with, when having the car stopped for anything more than a second or two, you should slip the trans in neutral and release the clutch. Once the light turns green simply, kick in the clutch, throw it in neutral and take off. This will save an ENORMOUS amount of wear on your throwout bearing and is also much easier on your hydraulic system.

As far as your problem, it is most likely hydraulics bleeding off pressure somewhere. Pull the floormat and inspect the floor and cylinder itself for leaking oil. If it is leaking at the master cylinder get a rebuild kit and a cylinder hone. Make sure you get ALL the pits out during the rebuild. If you don't find anything wrong at the m/c then check the slave. Slip it out carefully with lots of light available and see if it is wet in the cylinder past the piston. If so, rebuild it the same way.

Good luck,

[t walgamuth]

disagree with larry, but in this case i might. i have had leaking clutch slaves before and if it is bleeding past internally, as it will if it is the clutch master, the car will begin to take off as if you are letting out the clutch. is yours doing this?

if not maybe there is water in the system and it is freezing and sticking the cylinder in place.

tom w

[origamitect]

pulling forward when the clutch was pressed in and I was trying to start it. (Didn't want to do it @ 9 deg F!)