[DonDavis]

1999 Subaru Legacy Outback, 2.5, 5 speed. 294,000 miles. Engine sounds great, it's all there, good overall condition. Paid $600. Car has "good bones".

Here's the thing. They said the clutch is bad and it cannot be driven.
Hydraulic clutch, pedal feels so-so. Feels like it engages toward bottom half of overall pedal travel.
I can see the clutch fork moving on top of trans when pedal is pressed.
Hydraulic fluid level is proper, but dirty.
Car has spent a LOT of time in Baja California and it's very, very sandy.

The car acts like the clutch never disengages. With engine running I can row through all the gears without touching the clutch pedal. Feels like I'm engaging all gears, I can see the shift linkage moving underneath.

It seems like the clutch is stuck ENGAGED, as in pedal pressed, trans disengaged from engine.

Typically, we see clutches fail in the opposite manner. As in, cannot put into gear with engine running, else the car would begin moving.

This is the other way, seems like the clutch is pressed all the time.

Owner stated no history of transmission issues or noises. My OBW has plenty of driveline whine, she rode in it and said hers never makes anything like that sound.

Have you ever heard of a clutch being stuck ENGAGED?
With the car in gear it rolls freely. Looks like all axles are intact and rolling as well.

Did I mention it's very, very sandy? I'm wondering if sand has contaminated the clutch and it froze when depressed.

Long shot, I know.

What say yee?