Squealing noise! Clutch maybe?

[aemb]

Hello, My W reg Honda Accord is making a loud metalic squealing noise on start up but not all the time, when I just put a small amount of pressure on the clutch pedal it goes. I thought it could be the belts so I put the heating & aircon on when the car was squealing but the noise didn't change & when you listen to it under the bonnet it appears to come from the clutch side of the engine. The clutch isn't slipping at all but if I take off from a standstill I get a squeal from the car unless I do it carefully. I am hoping its a new clutch needed & nothing else as the car has done 66000 miles. Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers.

[BritishRacinGrin]

If it sounds like a belt an it occurs mostly on cold start...

[aemb]

I thought it might be a belt except the noise is coming from the other side of the engine where the transmission is & this noise sounds too metallic.

[Locknut]

Sounds like a clutch release bearing, however some of the symptoms don't match.

aemb said:

... when I just put a small amount of pressure on the clutch pedal it goes...

What happens if you press the pedal to the floor in this situation?

[aemb]

Nothing happens. the squealing noise goes away but you only have push it about an inch. The biting point is high on the clutch though so I only have to push the pedal down about a 1/4 of the way to change gear.

[Locknut]

aemb said:

... The biting point is high on the clutch though so I only have to push the pedal down about a 1/4 of the way to change gear.

I think it's time for you to start saving up for a clutch job (sorry) but at least the squealing will be taken care of during the work.