after not moving for a couple of months, my Pinto & 5 speed box have started misbehaving...
the car starts OK in neutral, but the clutch seems not to be engaging when i press the pedal
with the engine running, and the clutch down, trying to put it in gear results in the car trying to drive forward.
likewise, trying to start the car in a gear, results in the car jumping forward, with the clutch down.

Help??

The plate clutch is stuck by rust to the flywheel the tradditional garage mechanic way of freeing it is brutal --- start car in gear and drive with the clutch held to the floor snapping the throttle open and closed. Usually the clutch frees after 10 yards, This always works but is err sligthly illegal even perhaps a bit dangerous., but after all it is only for 10 yards or so.

If you jack the rear wheels up clear of the ground you might (!) be able to free it by doing this without actually actually drivig the car.

Another way is to slacken the bellhousing bolts to allow the gearbox to droop at slight angle to the engine and turn the engine over wit the cluctch depressed.

A variation on the theme, jack up the rear of the car, start in 4th gear, run to 60 mph on the speedo, simultaneously floor the brake and throttle, never fails

I found that with a decent charged battery and in first gear, feet of all peddles, flick the ingition key repeatly to the start position a few goes can sometimes free it as well, if not try gentle brake pressure.

Thanks from the States. I tried the droop-the-transmission method on my '68 Rover 2000TC and it worked. Tried it first tilting the transmission up, then down, 2nd method worked but maybe only because I used a jack under the oilpan and got more separation, about 1/4 inch. Important to snug the starter.

[Edited on 20/7/06 by dsayars]

[Edited on 20/7/06 by dsayars]