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I always park my car in first gear with the parking brake on. Lately, when I've started the car by pressing the clutch and brake while in first gear, the engine will start and abrubtly begin to vibrate badly and then cuts out and stalls.

This only happens when the engine is cold; if I make several trips in one day it will successfully start in first gear each time, however if I leave the car parked overnight and try to start it then, it stalls.

Also, it wont stall if I start the car in neutral and this is what I've been doing lately.

Can someone tell me if this is a clutch-related problem?

It does sound as if your clutch is not fully disengaging - I can't think of another explanation.

I have heard of clutch disks sticking to the flywheel, instead of coming free when the spring pressure is relieved by pressing the pedal. Maybe that's what's happening?

If that's the problem, you would need the flywheel surface skimmed, and probably a new disk. And the "glueing action" may be due to carbonised oil from a leak from the crankshaft bearing.

But I'm far from convinced - with the car in gear, you'd expect one jerk and the disk would come free.

Alternative thought:
This isn't what you said, but if the problem is happening during cranking (i.e. before the engine fires) then it could be intermittent contact in the clutch switch. You need either the clutch switch or the neutral switch closed to allow the starter to run.

<small>[ June 20, 2004, 04:08 AM: Message edited by: IanL ]</small>