Manual Transmission Question - Known Issue?

[circninja]

I drive a 2010 Mazda 3 S Sport. Bought it new almost exactly a year ago and it's got about 12500 miles on it. Two oil changes.

The other day it seemed like the manual transmission locked up. Was driving home and couldn't get it to shift above 2nd, and the clutch would engage very, very, low in releasing the pedal. Eventually I was able to get the stick to loosen up a bit and get it into 4th or 5 (residential street, couldn't try 6) with some effort - no grinding. Couldn't get it in R.

My guess is it's hydraulic somewhere because if I pump the clutch pedal about 50 times it seems like I build up pressure and it frees everything up and I'm good to go for a ways.

I don't abuse it, drive like an idiot, or ride the clutch - so I don't think the clutch plate itself could be worn, but is it reasonable to suspect a bad cylinder somewhere? I can't detect any leakage and the fluid reservoir is full. Taking it into the shop tonight, but want to prepare for what they might find. This seems a bit early for a hydraulic issue - is this it? If it is, what do you think could have caused it? And finally, any other owners have this happen?

 

[nate0123]

I'm going to guess slave cylinder. You can try bleeding the system to see if there's air in it.

 

[nate0123]

Whatever it is should be covered under warranty.

 

[circninja]

Good

Yes that was my main concern - the warranty. As long as it's covered I'm not too worried. I can't think of anything moronic or abusive I could have done to cause the slave cylinder to fail. Thankfully my days of running over construction cones or doing 180s are a decade or so behind me.

 

[_Chris]

That sounds a lot like the slave cylinder to me also. More then likely the seal in it went.

 

[circninja]

Update on this -

Dealer called back and said they couldn't get the problem to replicate, but they bled the lines and said that the clutch looks good otherwise - but they will make note of it and if it reoccurs we'll see what happens then.

I am somewhat dubious about how much effort they put into getting the issue to reoccur, but we shall see I guess.

I'll keep everyone posted.