ford fiesta clutch sticky first gear

[Stevieholmes]

My 1996 Ford fiesta clutch sometimes get stuck in first gear when I start it up. Same if I need to reverse straight away or pull out at a junction. The cluthc pedal stays down and slowly releases itself, until it comes fully up I cannot change gear. It's just been serviced and had new oil and what not.

[essex bloke]

If its 96 on then the clutch is operated by a cylinder on the pedal sounds like the seal has perished causing the cylinder to stick

[Birt]

There was a problem with the earlier fiestas with hydraulic clutches. The peak torque limiter valve sometimes sticks causing the pedal to stay down intermittantly. Any new slave cylinders purchased should be supplied with a conversion pipe to do away with this valve. A Fault in the master cylinder could also give a similar problem though.

[Stevieholmes]

Thanks it sounds from research that it may well be something to do with the master cylinder, although I've been able to drive it the last day by slightly over-revving it and getting the clutch to bite really high. (just need to get it through Xmas then I can get it sorted!)