2000 mustang 3.8 manual transmission
So car seems to be stuck in 2nd gear. Stick shift is Loose but can't be put into any gear. I let go of Clutch and car moves forward a little and locks. Starts smelling like burnt clutch. . Want to clarify stick shift is loose and seems to be in neutral but can't be put in any other gear?? Anyone know what it could be. Bad clutch maybe?

 

This is my 2000 mustang. Just want to get it back on its feet again.

 

Probably needs a new clutch. Do yourself a favor and change out the clutch cable and quadrant first though. I started having issues and found that my cable was frayed down by the headers. A new cable and I was good to go. I highly recommend the Maximum Motorsports clutch quadrant and adjuster, go with a stock non-adjustable cable. The adjustable ones stretch out and you'll have to replace it much sooner than you should have to.

If that's the problem you've saved yourself $800, if not a new cable is a good investment anyway.

 

don't drive it, go to AutoZone (or other parts house) and get a clutch cable and change it, the sticking is a sign that the cable is becoming far too stretched and you are running the chance of snapping the cable.

That should get you going, as for the clutch, if its starting a burning smell you may need to replace that as well, I know that AutoZone sells the clutch kit for about $150 ish, good stock replacement, American Muscle (tell Alex Jim Sent you) sells kits too.

This kind of thing happened to my Stang and I had to slam into each gear when my cable went out, so if your slamming into gears its far too gone...and definatly time for cable replacement, the way I see it is if the part is old enough to vote its time to replace...