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I was driving on the highway in my 1995 5 speed VW Jetta in 4th gear. When I tried to go into 5th, there didn't seem to be any pressure behind the clutch pedal, and I could not switch into any gear like there was a 'wall' blocking me from shifting into it.

The clutch pedal will now stick to the ground when pushed in and can only be brought back up when you pull on it.

I believe I need to replace my slave cylinder but I cannot find where it is. I have searched online for hours and cannot find any pictures of this either.

Can someone please help? It would be really nice to have my car back.  

nope...

there is a eccentric plate on the driver side of the transmission under the big cover that split...

it takes the rotary motion of the throw out shaft and converts it to push motion on  the throw out bearing to release the clutch.. its NOT hard to change if you have any mechanical skills at all...

the replacement versions from VW have a thicker section so they don't crack again...

i changed the last one i did in 20 minutes... but don't forget i have been doing this 4 30 years...

more to come... stay tuned...

by the way.. can you narrow down the model and engine ID


JETTA III GL
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA

JETTA III GLS
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA

JETTA III CELEBRATION EDITION
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA

JETTA III CITY
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA
L4_2.0L_ABA

JETTA III GLX
V6_2.8L_AAA
V6_2.8L_AAA

this part splits.. Vw and imported parts stores have them.. and dorman sells them through normal parts stores ask for dorman motormite.. 14045... under 20 bucks usually..

 

She's a Jetta III GL, 4 valve, 2.0 engine  

Is this what needs to be replaced:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/1995-Volkswagen-Jetta/Clutch-Push-Rod-Lever/_/N-j1qhxZ8ik03?filterByKeyWord=clutch+lever&fromString=search  

Also, does this gif show what needs to be done?

http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/39-11722-95572-889/clutch_levr.gif

Thank you so much.  

yep....

jack up the drivers side front of the car.. support it so the wheel and front drivers side area are free to access..

remove the left front tire...

use a flat long screw driver to unscrew the weird discs that hold the mud splash guard up...

you can now see the big green seal plug in the side of the transmission.. probably 3 or 4 inches in diameter..

you need to pry that out after wiping the surface around it..  use care.. it is just barely in there.. so you can reuse it..  if you don't tear it up...

this lever is on the clutch release shaft..   looks like your car has a hydraulic clutch...  so you will have to figure out how to loosen the slave cylinder so you can remove the shaft.. i have not done this one.. i worked mostly on the cable type..   once you free the clutch lever...  you can use that same long thin screw driver to pry out on the clip that covers the bottom part of the lever and keeps it centered on the shaft..     you can now.. closely look at the big spring.. the lever...   lift the shaft lever slightly and start working it out..   the spring and the lever will fall out.. when the shaft is removed..   you can make sure the spring did not pick up any dirt..  hold the new lever in place with the spring.. reinsert the shaft.. working it into place.. it will only slide in ONE way.. DO NOT FORCE it..  wiggle..  you might have to reposition the lever on the shaft slightly..  but it will fit.. .. once inserted.. put the double clip back in..   the green cover..  the clutch slave cylinder..   i hope that you did not loosen the hose .. i have not done this..

you should now have a repaired clutch.. that other people have been crying about.. and spending HUNDREDS and thousands to shops saying the transmission or clutch is bad..  

best of luck.. post photos to photobucket..  use the 4th link down to post individual images here.. its free..

i will be away from the computer sat morning.. but be back in the late evening.. i hope.. sunday i will be here also..

bmaparts has the levers also.. if you get in a bind..  

thank you...    you DO NOT HAVE to pull the transmission..

only the green plug carefully..  the clip #11.. the lever #9..  and the flap under the inner fender to get at the green plug..

i don't see the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder.. and i normally have to use an adjustable wrench on the TAB below the 9--- to hold the lever up to reinstall the rubber parts for the clutch cable...    i have also use a bottle jack to hold it up.. with a block of wood on top to reach it..



clip 11 centers the lever on the shaft..  between the 2 coils of the return spring..  

Thank you so much for the help!

I'll do my best to get the lever out this weekend but since my anniversary is
tomorrow, I may not have time. (Luckily I have my sister-in-laws car for the next week to use)

Anyways, once I get some progress made, I'll upload some pictures and give updates.

Also, it turns out that the 1995 Jetta does not have a slave cylinder.  

I was actually able to find 30 minutes away from the Mrs. and was able to pull the lever out.

Unfortunately, the lever is not cracked and doesn't show much wear.

Any other ideas?

Thanks  

operate the lever with the green cover off.. do you feel the clutch cover when you apply twist to the lever..

you can with the throw out bearing removed.. possibly get to the push rod.. check the ends for wear..

there used to be problems in the late 70's front drive models with push rod wear problems..   perhaps they have raised their dirty head again...

or something is wrong with the hydraulics..     you should be able to raise the lever and disengage the clutch...

do you have hydraulic.. or is it a cable operated clutch...  perhaps the automatic cable adjuster failed...     some times you can replace the auto adjusting cable with a manual adjust cable.. with the different ends...