I backed out of my parking spot and tried to put the car into first gear. I could NOT get the shift into gear. Because I was blocking traffic and stopped on a slope, I pressed the clutch in and rolled 5 feet back into my spot.

Now here is the problem:

Stick is in neutral.
Clutch pedal is STUCK depressed 90% to the floor
I still have to press the clutch pedal to start the car
once the engine is running, I cannot get the shift into any gears
pumping the clutch pedal does not cause it to release
if I try to shift into 1st, I cannot
if I try to shift into reverse, the gears grind
If I release the clutch while the engine is running, it continues to idle

this happened after a 30 minute drive on the highway in rush hour traffic, parked the car for 20 minutes and the started it up....
W T F?

 

Your clutch is shot.

Edit: Got to thinking about it a bit more. Didn't think about it at first but the guy below me may be right that your clutch slave cylinder has failed. Used to mechanical clutches on older cars.

 

Master cylinder.

 

thanks,
I'm going to check the clutch fluid level and the clutch master cylinder...

 

can you pull the clutch pedal up with your foot and it start working?
mine has done this before.

 

either your clutch master cylinder is bad or slave cylinder is bad. If you refill the master with fluid you should get some pedal back and be able to put it in gear.

 

could be your throw out bearing.

 

I had this happen to me on my 2nd old Integra and it was the clutch master. For me the clutch pedal was dead (sat at the bottom) but the clutch was fully engaged. I drove it to my friends to get it fixed. I had to put it in gear 1st and the start the car. Keep in mind I was just going around the block. Once you turn the key you're gonna start driving and you'll have to pop it in netural to stop safe. I would just get it towed if you're not fixing it yourself. if you would've forced your car into gear it would've stalled or started driving off.

Dave

 

had very similar problem on 89 miata, fluid was leaking i was told its the slave cylinder, and i think it ended up being the master, but both were changed. good luck man.