Originally Posted by nhdoc

I've got a problem...the wagon was all ready to be sold - I had a couple of interested prospects - one from NY who saw it a couple of weeks ago and wants it but when I drove it yesterday I noticed I could not get it into reverse. It would grind like the clutch wasn't completely disengaged. I worked around it by shutting it down and putting it in reverse with the engine stopped, then pushed the clutch in and started it and it was OK. Then, I could not shift from 1st to 2nd - it was also grinding. I could go from 1st to 3rd OK and then into 4th though getting into any of the gears seems a little harder than it used to be. So, reverse and 2nd seem to be the most sensitive. It doesn't matter how long I hold the pedal down for either, it will just grind if I try and put it into them. I figured I'd try bleeding the system, but it releases normally, an inch or two from the top of the pedal's travel just like it always did. I suppose there is an outside chance the slave cylinder isn't extending to its limit for some reason and I will get under it and look at it when the weather here clears but I really suspect the clutch. I read there was a failure mode like this - where full disengagement wasn't possible because a finger or two on the pressure plate could be broken...is that what this sounds like?

Obviously the sale is on hold pending resolution - I don't want the new owner to have a problem with it.