clutch issues

[bigskip13]

I have a problem with my clutch which is a big issue because I normally love driving my mustang but not lately. It grinds often when I go to put it in third gear and sometimes in 4th. The clutch pedal is all the way down and there seems to be just as much pressure in the clutch pedal as would be normal. If I shift slower than a normal rate then it won't grind but will go in... still pretty rough. It feels like it takes a few seconds for something to stop spinning so that I can slip the gear in. I don't have the know how to fix it so I will be taking it in, just want an idea of how much it may cost and what exactly is going on. Thanks for any help.

[inafogg]

could be the clutch is just worn out.how old is it??
year of mustang would be a help,miles would be helpful too
do you know if its a hydrolic set up??
more car info please

[speediva]

Please provide us with the year of the Mustang, mileage, if the clutch is original or a replacement - and if a replacement, how many miles on the clutch. It would also be helpful to know "how" the car is typically driven to know if it may have premature wear from spirited driving or even racing.

[bigskip13]

it's a 1998 mustang GT, with 139,000 miles. I recently bought the car from a private owner and so I don't know how old the clutch itself is. Talking to the seller I don't believe he drove very spirited or racing. He was an older guy, but still I can't say for sure. I have had 2 clutches wear out on other cars and it was very different. In those cases the clutch pedal lost pressure to push it down and eventually it would not shift into any gear. In my current case I can sometimes just shift normally. But if I do that once in a while, maybe 1 out of every 10 shifts, it will just grind as I go to put it in gear. I then have to back the stick into neutral and then retry very slowly. Once the gears are engaged, it drives normally. And pretty sure it's not hydraulic.

[inafogg]

skip,it sounds like the clutch is worn.it should be a hydrolic so the clutch
pedal will feel ok.you can check the fluid but its probably ok

[MagicRat]

Skip, you have a self-adjusting cable clutch. You describe worn-out synchro rings in your transmission, and not a clutch problem at all.

I suggest look at the transmission fluid level on your car. There is a fill plug (should be 3/8" square drive on the passenger side of the car) or drain the old fluid and refill with ATF (Dexron III).

It can't hurt to drain and refill and see if that improves the shifter feel any. If it doesn't, you are looking at either a rebuild.... or just take it slow on the 4th and 5th gear shifts.