Clutch Gone Bad GTI Mk2 Cable, Master Cylinder or in the tranny?

Hey guys!
My clutch up until this was working great and had good pressure. My friend was driving it and I wasn't in the car and when I got back in it the clutch just stopped working. He said it was sudden, like, working perfectly and then he smelled smoke and then stopped working. The pedal is soft and like a feather to push down. The spring looks like it bends upwards instead of just in so did the pedal just brake not giving the cable enough pressure?

If I try to turn on the car in a gear it jumps forward so the clutch is engaging?

Most other people with this exact issue (can go into gear parked but not running) come to the conclusion it is slave or clutch disk but sense it was driving so well up until this I want to hope it isn't? I can't take apart the transmission and replace the clutch so before I go waste money and time taking it to an overpriced mechanic are there tests or other things I can try to rule out other things or be able to fix anything else not in the transmission?

16 valve mk2, thanks so much. 

I think these have a cable clutch, so the first thing I would do is get someone to operate clutch pedal, while looking under the bonnet to see if the lever on the gearbox is moving.

Hey, thanks. Yea the lever is moving and it's straight. The cable looks like it has full strength. I pushed the car and it slid right into first and drove fine. Is that a sign of anything good?

You'll probably find the clutch finger has cracked, it's behind the green plate on the end of the gearbox and is simple enough to replace. GSF had them at one time and they also sold the green cover plates.

griffinmalone

If it smells of burning it sounds like the clutch has gone.
A stretched or busted cable doesn't smell.

You can drive a car with no clutching at all if you know how to do it and control the revs correctly!

But I'm no mechanic!


Sent from my Smartphone

That's right but lets hope it's only the lever, here's what you need.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-MK2-MK3-CLUTCH-PUSH-ROD-LEVER-GREEN-CAP-RELEASE-BEARING-A1132/192048960877?epid=2100382646&hash=item2cb702956d:g:fp0AAOSw5cNYSqK~
These people are really good and that is an exceptionally good price, GSF are asking £50 for the lever.