Clutch/Transmission Issues

My father owns a 97 Ranger 4x4 5 speed. He experiences sporadic issues with the trans. The first issues is that when he goes to start the vehicle (not every time) the clutch pedal is hard as a rock (to the point he thinks he's pressing on the brake) The odd thing about this issue is that with 3 turns of the ignition swith, the issue goes away. The second issue is that the clutch will slip from time to time, the problem goes away with "pop". Any thoughts? I read another post that indicated it could be related to dust build-up on the input shaft.

Thanks in advance

A friend of mine used to own an early 90s Jeep Wrangler and during cold winter months he would have problems with the hydroulic clutch. He3 would have to allow it time tobecome properly operational and add brake fluid from time to time. funny thing is that when the weather was nicer the problem would go away untill mid fall.

Your post reminded me of his situation, he never fixed it and I am curious what could couse this to happen? I am guessing your problem is with the hydroulic clutch system (if it has one). I am interested in how you resolve this strange problem.

Yea me too - I read a similar post with similar symptom that indicated a build of cluch dust on the imput shaft may be the culprit (which makes about as much sense as anything else I've heard). I've ridden in the truck since my orginal post, I boy is it annoying. Reminds me of the aamaco commercials. It going in the shop next week, so I 'll be sure to post the outcome.

Maybe the clutch master cylinder doesn't have any fluid in it. It takes dot-3 break fluid

Seems it was the slave cylinder (maybe) the garage replaced all of the "minor" parts of the drive train (Clutch, pressure plate, t/o bearing, slave and master cylinder) - and surprise it fixed the problem. Unfortunalty, by replacing all parts at once we're not able to find the exact culprit.