Please help! I drive a 2012 Manual Fiat 500 Pop. Today when I started my car it went into reverse like normal then into first and i left my driveway. As I got onto my main street, I noticed my clutch felt strange— almost like it wasn’t engaging until it got about an inch or two from the floor. As I went to clutch and change into second gear, I realized my entire gear shift was stuck. I panicked in the moment and kept my foot on the clutch while frantically trying to pull it unstuck. I shut my car off and the gear shift fell into neutral and I was then able to move it freely; however, the *second* I cut it back on, it was no longer moveable. In order to get home, (please don’t shame me I know you’ve all been there) I managed to start it in second gear and apply enough gas to get it to go. I have NEVER had any issues with my car in the past and it is absolutely scaring me that this is happening.

Hi

It sounds as if you have a clutch problem

Open the bonnet.. look under the battery .. does it look wet and oily?

varesecrazy said:

It sounds as if you have a clutch problem

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It's not technically the clutch that has a problem (don't scare the OP, Charlie), but more of the hydraulic clutch drive system problem (wich is part of the "clutch").
The clutch cylinders sound to be broken, probably the master cylinder and the cylinder can be broken even if you are not losing clutch fluid.
Don't be scare OP, it's an relatively easy fix. You will have to change the broken cylinder/cylinders and bleed the system of air.

alexisterry said:

Please help! I drive a 2012 Manual Fiat 500 Pop. Today when I started my car it went into reverse like normal then into first and i left my driveway. As I got onto my main street, I noticed my clutch felt strange— almost like it wasn’t engaging until it got about an inch or two from the floor. As I went to clutch and change into second gear, I realized my entire gear shift was stuck

Click to expand...

Do let us know what you find

Mike1alike said:

It's not technically the clutch that has a problem (don't scare the OP, Charlie), but more of the hydraulic clutch drive system problem (wich is part of the "clutch").
The clutch cylinders sound to be broken, probably the master cylinder and the cylinder can be broken even if you are not losing clutch fluid.
Don't be scare OP, it's an relatively easy fix. You will have to change the broken cylinder/cylinders and bleed the system of air.

Click to expand...

Not quite true.

If the clutch diaphragm spring has broken then this will be depressed and thus not be springing back to force hydraulic fluid back up to the mater cylinder to raise the pedal.

A way to check this is to lift the clutch pedal SLOWLY and then depress again feeling for resistive force and of course disengagement.

Diaphragm spring breakages are quire rare but do happen. Had this on my Croma 2005 at Dover waiting to embark on ferry to Europe.

What was bad about this was the that recovery company (had a Green Flag single trip cover) did not believe me. They recovered us to their depot but all their mechanics were at lunch. Waited over an hour before somebody looked at the car. Went away and came back with a pressure bleeder. 30+ minutes later concluded I was right. We then had to wait ages for recovery back to Southampton getting home long after local garages closed.

Certainly messed that holiday up!

That is true about the diaphragm spring.
But I think is not the case here.
It is a possibility though.