So I bought an used Mazda Rx8 2004 Manual transmission last summer, which is my first car ever. Since I bought it I have always heard a squeaking noise on the clutch pedal after driving it for about 15 minutes and never thought much of it. Recently( two days ago) I was driving to class when I heard a snap when I depress the clutch pedal and switch gear. I got super scare and thought I had broke the clutch pedal or something. So I made it to school finish class and drove back home with no problem but felt the clutch pedal a little different. Next day I'm drove the car very careful while depressing the clutch pedal and switch gear. I made it to class again and back home but when I stop and put the car on neutral and open the garage and try to put the car in first gear it wouldn't go on first gear or any other gear! Then I turn of the car and I was able to switch gears but felt like if it was grinding a bit. then turn the car on and try to put it on first gear again and it wouldn't go. Finally some how I got it to work and was able to move forward but couldn't reverse back into the garage. Next day I turned on the car and it was hard switching gears at first after a 15 minutes drive the shifting felt much better but with some grinding from shift to shift. Also now I feel like I have to press the clutch pedal all the way down so that I could switch gears. So my question is what can I do about this ?? what could had gone wrong ? and show I keep driving the car ?? any diagnoses of what could be happening ?

 

Your clutch pedal assembly probably broke. It's a known issue with this car and the dealer will fix it under warranty with no cost to you depending on what your mileage is. I don't advise driving it much though if this is the issue. You could severely damage your transmission or your body. When this happened to me Mazda hooked me up with a free tow . Call and tell them you think that the clutch pedal broke, its under warranty, and you would like a compensation tow. They're not required to do it but if they're nice enough they may.

 

They extended the warranty to 8 years / 100k miles(whatever comes first), same as the engine, so chances are pretty good he is not covered right now.

He could just buy a new clutch bracket and have it welded like some threads suggest to reinforce it and install it himself to save some money.

 

Yes I'm not cover any more. I'm thinking of just buying a new clutch set taking it to a mazda dealer and have them install it. does any one know what clutch set would be good for the car and if it will solve my problem now by buying a clutch ? thanks.

 

Like I said in my last post you most likely just need a clutch bracket unless you somehow managed to mess things up. If you want to buy a whole new everything you are free to though. Go in and get it checked out though, or have somebody come over and look. If you search for threads about it(I believe there is a sticky thread) you can see pictures of what to look for so you can diagnose it yourself.