Is something wrong with the clutch?

My wife has a 2000 GT Convertible with about 66,000 miles on it. The clutch pedal seems very hard press in and the clutch does not grab until the pedal is almost all the way out. My question is, do you think the clutch is going out, or could the clutch cable possibly be stretched? The clutch doesn't seem to be slipping and it never smells like it is burning. I would have thought that the clutch would be slipping if it were going out. But then again, why does the clutch not catch until the pedal is almost all of the way out?

Thanks for your help!
Chris

BTW, if it is going out, anyone in the NoVA area want to help me change it?

todd4566 said:

The factory setup does have a "self adjusting mechanism" which is supposed to adjust the clutches friction point as the clutch wears.. If the friction point used to be much lower and has gradually moved outward, then I'd say a new clutch may be coming up. Otherwise, the high friction point could just be a setting. When my Gt had the clutch replaced, the tech set the friction point very high as you have described. Additionally, if you want to change the friction point, you could buy a "fire-wall adjuster" which allows you to adjust the friction point *I think Steeda makes this part.

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Thank you very much for your help!

I was aware of the "self adjusting mechanism" and have tried pulling the pedal out to try and make it adjust, but I think it has adjusted as far as it can go for now. We have only had the car for about 6 months, so I am not sure if it has gradually moved outward or not. Is there any other way to tell if it needs a new clutch, or just needs adjustment of the friction point? I would hate to install a new clutch just to discover that I still have the problem. Or, purchase a "fire-wall adjuster" just to discover that I need a new clutch.

Chris

todd4566 said:

Allow me to refer you here.

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55592&highlight=clutch+test

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Great, thank you!