98 Jetta Clutch Issues(newbie)

[justinWants2know]

Ok..I have a 5spd.I had a new clutch installed on my car about
35k miles ago..I noticed over the past few weeks a little bit of shake in the front end around 25-30 mph..RPMs around 3,000..I thought it was a strut or something but,the other night i was driving home and it made a grinding noise..It kept doing it and kept getting worse.i was a mile from home at the beginning of a hill and i just lost everything...no reverse..no gears at all..doesn't seem to be leaking anywhere and the clutch arm seems to be moving fine...Maybe the pressure plate???

Thanks,Justin

[boschmann]

Check if they tightened the axle nuts. One may have been loose & stripped the splines out in the hub & now will just spin in the hub. Or, it could be in the clutch.

[justinWants2know]

Originally Posted by boschmann

Check if they tightened the axle nuts. One may have been loose & stripped the splines out in the hub & now will just spin in the hub. Or, it could be in the clutch.

Ok Thanks For in the info. I chickened out and decided not to do it on my own. I found a cheap mechanic that hasn't really worked on a volkswagen but, he said we can learn together..i bought the chilton book and studied it...the only problem the will come in to play is the special tools to do it...

Thanks ,Justin

[boschmann]

If it's the clutch theres only one special tool for aligning the clutch disc on the pressure plate, it may come with some of the complete clutch kits.

[justinWants2know]

Well it turned out to be the Trany...It wasn't worth getting it rebuilt..plus no one wanted to do it...
so i got used one with 60k on it with a warranty for $850..when its said an done im lookin about $1,100
I helped do some of the work so they cut me a break in labor...

[justinWants2know]

Originally Posted by boschmann

If it's the clutch theres only one special tool for aligning the clutch disc on the pressure plate, it may come with some of the complete clutch kits.

Ok we got the tranny in..tried to crank it over...but no luck
Checked wireing for the starter...strarter is good..
the problem is the flywheel, it will not spin at all when we get everything together.took it apart several times..checked it all out..still no good
we tried just about everything..could it just not be connected right in the hub..any suggestions?

[boschmann]

Are you sure you got the flywheel mounted onto the pressure plate correctly? There are dowel pins that only let it go on in one poosition.