Clutch not disengaging

[vwdevotee]

My mothers clutch ('89 Escort LX) doesn't seem to be disengaging all of a sudden. When the car is in gear with the parking brake off and I start the car it lurches slightly. Also, putting it into first and second it seems to be very stiff going in, and when I try to put it in reverse it grinds. It not like it's grinding a bit as the gear shafts match speed, but it's a steady grind as long as I try to put it in gear. I've tried using the built in adjustment thing (lifting the clutch pedal) and it doesn't help. I tried putting in a new (used) clutch cable from a wrecking yard, but no dice. My mother is going to replace the car soon, so I don't need a permanent fix, just something to keep it drivable for her for a few months. Does anyone have any clever suggestions?

Also, when it's in gear I can feel a slight pulsation through the brake pedal. I can also feel pulsations through the clutch pedal when my toe is just barely touching it. I think the dragging clutch might have warped the flywheel. Does that seem like a reasonable conclusion?

[mightymoose_22]

Did you do any kind of maintenance prior to this happening, or did it just suddenly start?

If you didn't do any maintenance, when is the last time the clutch was replaced, and how many miles?

Is the clutch on that car hydraulic?

Chances are, whatever the problem, the clutch is going to have to be taken apart. Whether the problem is with the clutch, pressure plate, or the flywheel, it all requires the same work.

However... if you have a mechanical clutch, just check to make sure that it isn't out of adjustment.

[vwdevotee]

There was no maintenance done recently.

The clutch is cable operated. When I switched out the cable I did adjust it using the self adjusting quadrant. Basically you just pull the pedal backward and the spring loaded bit tightens up.

Crap, I was hoping to avoid having to tell her that it needs big/expensive work when she's looking to replace the car soon anyway.

[Franco2112]

Most transmission shops will do a free diagnostic check. I would start there.

[Davescort97]

Yes. Take it to the tranny shop. One of the trans/motor mounts may be bad causing the pulsation through the pedals. A bad mount could affect the disengagement of the clutch.

[racerxpl]

How about checking the bushing on the stablizer bar for the shifters. Also may be a bolt come loose on the tranny itself. I have had both of these problems with Escorts and the symptoms are the same