Had something interesting happen to me today.

I was pulling up to a stop sign on a hill with a car in front of me. I wasn’t paying attention and when I stopped to roll up to the stop sign I embarrassingly bogged it pretty bad and almost stalled, but I recovered it. The strange thing was when I recovered I was not able to bring the clutch pedal back up. It stayed down disengaging the clutch so I could not put it in gear. I was able to roll to the side of the road where I let it sit for a few mins and it then worked fine.

This is my first year driving a stick so I tend to make the rare mistake now and again but I never experienced anything like this before.

 

the clutch is not electronically controlled in any way....if your pedal stayed down and the vehicle wouldnt move with a gear selected you should see your dealer.....

 

it works fine now, hmm no idea what went on then.

 

I'd still take it into the dealer and have them check it out, especially if it does it again. As Maven mentioned, the clutch is in no way electronically controlled or linked to the ECU/PCM.

Chances are there's a problem with the clutch itself, probably with the hydraulic system. I've heard of this happening on other cars and having the system not recover, definitely take it into the dealer and have them take a look at it.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

 

lol well that scares me a little, I'll have them look at my clutch when I have the oil changed. I also have to show them my paint defects. It seems pretty common for cobalts to have spots in the paint.

A kid in my town has a red SS and he pulled up at the gas station where I was filling up and we talked about the cars for a few and pointed out the defects in the paint on each of our cars.

 

Sounds like air entered the system or the cluctch itself got hung up.

The 1998-2000 F-Bodies had junk Hydraulics and during spirited running the clutch would get stuck on the floor.

The 2005 Cobalts do have a program that decreases performace when the computer senses constant abuse. But your problem is unrelated.

 

really??
what is the criteria for that?

 

Limp mode. A couple people have reported it. Basically if the car senses trouble with the engine/powertrain it reduces the output of the engine. I am not sure what the criteria for the status of the engine must be before it's engaged, but I think it basically keeps you from going over 1/4 throttle.

I don't think it's abuse related, more of the engine is too hot, or there isn't enough oil pressure, ect.

 

However, doesn't the Cobalt have the requirement for you to press the clutch to start the engine ? so is it not true that the computer does know if the clutch is pressed or not? (indicating at least a sensor of some sort does monitor the clutch itself or the clutch pedal so that it will not crank unless it is pressed.)
I agree that there wouldn't be any type of control that would ever 'hold' the pedal in...
in any case, I hope it doesnt become a problem, and I also would say if it ever happens again to take it right to dealer if possible.

_

 

I believe all MT cars need to be started with the clutch in. Not sure why.

 

I'm sure it's to prevent what we used to call "lurching" the car when you start it. Imagine being in the mall parking lot, in a hurry. Jump in the car, hit the ignition and bam the car jumps forward into the car parked in front of you. A funny (as long as it's not you) experience that was not uncommon to see back when I first started driving.

 

i had an old 87 comanche dessert runner that started without clutch depression

 

The Anti-Abuse programming has preset conditions to determine if a abusive manuver is being performed. The Cobalt SS has it just like the 1998-2002 F-Bodies did.

 

Under the clutch pedal is a little switch which gets depressed when you push the pedal down, called the neutral safety switch. The engine will only start if that little switch is depressed. So it is not actually part of the clutch.

 

also note, some cars have a clutch override button that you can use to start it

although i have no idea how that works

 

I have never understood GM's clutch override feature on some vehicles, but its just a button that when depressed allows you to start car w/out pressing clutch.....kinda dumb...I mean you have to push the clutch to get into to gear and to get going smoothly once your started so the switch always seemed like an EXTRA step to me...whateva'