Clutch Hard to Engage After Driving

Hello everyone,

Lately, I've noticed that after driving for a long time without using the clutch (e.g., on the highway, >20km), the clutch pedal feels noticeably harder to press when I first use it.
The effect increases with rising outside temperature. A higher driving speed (which leads to increased heat generation?) also intensifies the effect.
The clutch behavior itself remains unchanged. The clutch appears to be disengaging properly, and the subsequent engagement also occurs without any noticeable changes.
If the clutch is pressed a second time immediately after the first engagement, it returns to its "normal" state. The clutch behavior is not different.

The vehicle (Golf4, ASZ) has 42,000 km on the odometer. No slipping clutch, clutch failure to disengage, or jerky shifting behavior was observed.

Does anyone have a tip?

Perhaps there was some creaking that could be heard to help locate the source of the problem.

1. Possible cause: The donor cylinder may become stuck due to heat.
2. Or, the clutch may have been installed incorrectly on the splined shaft, possibly with poor-quality grease.
3. Defective print bed.

To properly diagnose the issue, the transmission unfortunately needs to be removed.

Therefore, it would be a good idea if you would occasionally press the clutch and listen to the transmission, maybe you'll hear something.

Okay. And where can I find a dwarf who would voluntarily lock themselves in the engine compartment for fifteen minutes?

I could observe whether the problem also occurs after half an hour of inactivity. However, I don't think that would be the case.

Why "dwarf"?

You're driving on the highway.
Before the rest stop, downshift to 5th gear WITHOUT using the clutch, and completely brake the car using only the brake pedal.

Now the car is parked in the lot and is detached. It drove away for 20 minutes (exactly your scenario).

Engine off, woman on the clutch, ear to the gearbox, let her press the pedal, listen - done.



m;

dieselmartin wrote:

Why dwarf ??? You're driving on the highway. Before the rest stop, downshift to 5th gear WITHOUT using the clutch, and completely brake the car using only the brake pedal. Now the car is parked in the lot and is detached. It drove away for 20 minutes (exactly your scenario). Engine off, woman on the clutch, ear to the gearbox, let her press the pedal, listen - done. m;

Okay, I'll translate it for you. Just provide the text.