My wife has been driving our '03 Vibe with the 5-speed manual transmission sense we acquired it in 2015. Other than wheel bearing and half shaft replacements, it has been a nice workhorse commuter car for her.
The other day, while driving in 5th gear at probably 45mph, it started some serious thumping and she had to pull off the road. The engine was still running but it was in neutral and no way to get it into gear. The clutch didn't seem to do anything. We had it towed, and when we pushed it into position for the tow truck it winch it onto it's bed, about every 1/3 rotation of the wheel, there would be a serious "thump" that seemed to be coming from the front driver side wheel.
When I got it home, I pulled the wheel, the bearing seems fine. Pulled the drive shaft, that seems fine. Checked the clutch mechanism, it seems to work as it should (at least mechanically). But the clutch does not seem to actuate anything in the transmission. Can't get it into any gear other than reverse.
When I drained the transmission oil prior to pulling the shaft, it was dark, like used motor oil dark, and seemed thin.
Thoughts? Words of wisdom?
Thanks All!
P.S.
It has a rebuilt transmission installed at about 80,000 miles in 2014ish.