Toyota Repair: toyota corolla difficulty engaging 2nd and 3rd gear, clutch slave cylinder, toyota corolla

Question
Hi Ted,
I have a toyota corolla 1.4 2000.  I purchased the car 2 weeks ago and have found it has problems.  The immediate issue was an engine warning light that came back on as I was driving it home.  I think it's been resolved by an oil change and sensor filter clean - fingers crossed.  This leaves me with the gear selection which was perfect when I test drove it, which I find odd.  I now find that at times the gears grind, sometimes I can't get in to 2nd or 3rd and it gets stuck in first but not often.  

When I bought the car they told us the clutch had been replaced a year ago. The clutch bites quite low and I wondered if this is either an adjustment problem or low transmission oil? If the engine management light doesn't come back on and if they really did replace the clutch then I think this could be a fantastic car.

Please could you tell me how to check the oil as I can't see how to do it and also how I would go about adjusting the clutch pedal.

Many thanks

Nell

Answer
The problem is probably not the transmission oil levle. Check the fluid level under the hood in the cluck fluid reservoir, see if it's low, if it is there is most likely a clutch hydraulic leak in either the master cylinder or the clutch slave cylinder. The master cylinder may be leaking fluid inside under the dash where it attaches to the firewall, the slave cylinder is located on the side of the transmission bellhousing.