Clutch pedal went to the floor and now it will not start

[mjeter]

The car has been sitting for about 5 weeks while I was out of town, when I got in it this morning to start it up, the clutch pedal was a little stiff but seemed ok. I started the car and let it run for 5 minutes or so, then pushed in the clutch to shift into gear and it went to the floor. I got out and checked the fluid and it seemed ok, but the pedal goes to the floor with no pressure and now it won't start. Any ideas? Wrecker is on the way now to pick it up.
Mike

[Injuneer]

Is it possible that when the pedal went to the floor, it bent or damaged the button on the switch at the top of the clutch pedal assembly, that will not allow the engine to start unless the clutch is fully depressed?

[mjeter]

I don't think so, sounds like the starter is trying to turn, but something is jammed or stuck. It won't turn over, but the starter is engaging.Never had this kind of problem before, seems like something to do with the slave cylinder or clutch is come loose or jammed.

[00 Ragtop Z]

old school comment--30 years ago I would say it would be the throwout bearing or linkage-but I don't even know if it applies to these transmissions.

[Injuneer]

Hard to figure out what the problem is when the only info supplied is "now it won't start"

Sounds like the clutch is engaged, and the tranny is in gear. Does putting it in neutral change anything?

Probably doesn't matter, since it looks like you're going to be dropping the trans. Pull the slave cylinder off the side of the bellhousing, and see if there is a leak, check the release fork to make sure its no broken of popped off the pivot, might be able to use a mirror to check the T/O bearing. But the strange part is that the tranny seems to be stuck in gear.

[mjeter]

Got the car back to the shop, battery was weak so they charged it up and now it turns over, still will not start. Car rolls in neutral, no problem there. Slave cylinder maybe the clutch problem, did not see any fluid on the pavement under car, but it had been sitting for a while there and there was not any fluid in the reservoir.

[DeWynter]

Sounds like the slave to me. Same thing happened to me when I blew my slave (89 formula). You Clutch is way different than mine so I can't offer much more than that. No pressure on pressure required to push leaver to floor sure sounds like its outa oil, and that usually happens when the slave goes. On a side note, the reason my slave went was due to the pivot ball bolt coming loose on my Trany whis in turn was causing my slave to be maxed out before my clutch pedle reached the floor, so I basicaly pushed the cylinder out the end of the housing.

[Izzy]

sounds like the slave definetly ... found a replacement for mine for $40. my clutch was very hard to push ... changed it ... now its like butter. without that working you are getting no clutch play what so ever...

[mjeter]

I got it fixed, clutch was worn out, not slipping yet but in need of replacement. The rod came out of the slave cylinder. Replaced the slave, clutch and pressure plate and all is well again.

Thanks for the advice.
Mike