Clutch sticking/not releasing/engaging - 1999 Kia Sportage

Release bearing and or Pressure plate sticking, damaged or worn. How to Repair Clutch Problems
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If you have a cable operated clutch then the inner cable is jamming bin the case and not allowing the clutch to engage. If hydraulic then the compensator port in the clutch master cylinder is blocked holding off the pressure plate and so the clutch is not engaging.

Check the spring to see if it has snapped anywhere within it's coil.

Remove the cable and check operation of the pedal and spring mechanism.
If all is well, then with a lever, check that the clutch release arm on the gearbox is operational. If that is also sticking, then you will have to remove the gearbox to investigate further.
If not sticking, then also remove the clutch cable outer sleeve, and replace.

Try to double clutch the clutch pedal. How to double clutch; push the clutch in moving the stick to neutral, then release the clutch and then push it back in and shift into first or second gear. If it works then it is not the shift linkage and could be a clutch adjustment. First how far do you have to release the clutch pedal until the clutch plate starts to engage? If only an inch or so the clutch pedal needs to be adjusted, which is an easy fix (this is more common). The other possible problems could be the clutch plate, throwout bearing of syncros could be bad. If it is one of the previous problems double clutching should buy you some time.

A high clutch pedal is good.
There should only be about a half inch of pedal freeplay, before you start to feel resistance.
So the clutch should not engage until it is almost fully released, near the top.
The makes shifting the easiest.

If the shifting is difficult when cold, then put the transmission in neutral and let the clutch out when you warm up the engine.
That will warm up the transmission oil.

Of course you could also check the transmission oil level and change it.
But your question makes me believe you may need more experience on a stick shift. Make sure you do the H pattern carefully, and do not get lazy and turn it into an X pattern.

clutch release bearing/pressure plate going fast,you need to replace asap or be stuck...change all 3 components at same time,

If your clutch won't release properly, it will continue to turn the input shaft. This can cause grinding, or completely prevent your car from going into gear. Some common reasons a clutch may stick are:

• Broken or stretched clutch cable - The cable needs the right amount of tension to push and pull effectively.
• Leaky or defective slave and/or master clutch cylinders - Leaks keep the cylinders from building the necessary amount of pressure.
• Air in the hydraulic line - Air affects the hydraulics by taking up space the fluid needs to build pressure.
• Misadjusted linkage - When your foot hits the pedal, the linkage transmits the wrong amount of force.
• Mismatched clutch components - Not all aftermarket parts work with your clutch.

Another problem associated with clutches is a worn throw-out bearing, sometimes called a clutch release bearing. This bearing applies force to the fingers of the spinning pressure plate to release the clutch. If you hear a rumbling sound when the clutch engages, you might have a problem with the throw-out.

i would put car in 2nd and turn/hold key over to move car about 6/10 foot it should release when you next press clutch pedal....

the clutch is roasted, and its not the farmers fault.

could be a couple of things check release bearing is not binding on output shaft or the arm which holds the release bearing is not bent or worn where it pivots also check where the arm pivots point is not worn out if all checks out replace the clutch pressure plate,clutch discs,throw out bearing and pilot bearing,one more thing is a clutch disc has some springs mounted to it to absorb some of the pressure when engaging the clutch and i have seen these springs come off and get in between the clutch assembly but usually when this happens you can feel and hear some grinding metal noise.but to check all the above the transmission will have to be removed.