clutch issue

[Strohmboli]

My 2004 Mazda 3 was running fine. Stopped to get gas. Shut off the car. Had car in neutral. When I went to start it, the clutch pedal went to the floor. Pulled it up, pumped the pedal. Got pressure. Seemed a little stiff. The car wouldn't go into gear. Turned the car off and it would shift perfectly. Tried to start the car in gear and would vibrate terribly. Any ideas?

 

[loosenut]

Check the clutch slave cylinder mounted to the front of the transmission. If the seals let go then your pedal would go to the floor and you wouldn't have any clutch disengagement. The car will attempt to start because it sees the clutch pedal pushed down. This would not inhibit changing gears with the engine off, that would all act normal. The slave cylinder can be seen in the engine bay under the air box, mounted to the side of the transmission. It has a black or red dust boot that if the seals are gone, then fluid will be leaking out of the boot. Have somebody push the clutch pedal and watch for movement of the slave cylinder. If the slave moves and holds as long as the pedal is pushed down, then something internal to the transmission/clutch assy has failed.