Why does my Vauxhall Astra 1.7's gearbox crunch when I engage first gear?

My 2006 Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi crunches hard when changing into first gear unless I hold the clutch down for a few seconds. It seems as though the clutch is sticking or just not releasing quickly enough. Please help.

Asked on 24 June 2010 by seanburns

Answered by Honest John
That's right. It's called clutch drag, probably a worn clutch release bearing.
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