I own a 2004 HCH-I with 5 speed manual and roughly 75,000 mi.

I got stuck in traffic down in Providence on Saturday, and then when I got back up to highway speed, it starts revving like crazy. The upshift light comes on -- when I'm in 5th gear (I've got no more gears, sorry!) I couldn't get it above 30 MPH without redlining the engine.

I got off the highway and it was revving in every gear. It felt like even though the clutch pedal was fully out, it was stuck pushed in or something. I pulled over to check it out. I opened the hood and saw nothing, but I smelled a nasty smell like burning rubber. I was almost to where I was going, so I tried to pull out, but the car would not move. It kept redlining in first gear and not moving at all.

I called Triple A and had to wait an hour for the tow truck, and had to have someone drive me home... they won't even look at it until today (I need to call the garage). Fortunately it has been relatively nice weather, so I've been riding my motorcycle as substitute transportation.

I suspect, from people I've talked to, that the clutch is shot and I'll need to have it replaced. And since it was towed to a mechanic I didn't know, as I was in Providence, they can bend me over. I have no idea what I did wrong, and this happened with NO warning signs whatsoever -- just that I was caught in traffic and therefore shifting a lot.

The only time I ever really ground the gears much was when I first got the car and was still learning how to drive stick, but after a few months I got pretty good at it. Has anyone with an HCH-I 5MT had to have this kind of problem? What's going on?

Thanks.