Rep Power: 0

Hello folks, First time poster, long time browser!

Well my 2001 civic has been having some issues, and I can't get anyone to take a look at it until Wednesday. And I'm a bit broke, so if anyone feels like they can tell me ANYTHING on the amount of labor, whats broke, or share a similar experience, I'd sure appreciate it to ease my mind. As in topic i suspect the stick shifter or clutch... or... both... or i guess, something else worse!!

OK, so, few weeks ago I started noticing that when I lifted my foot off the clutch pedal in 2'nd gear, the gear would grind unless I was REALLY careful to get the stick shifter all the way into the 2'nd gear gate. It became a real pain, and would sometimes grind no matter what, and I'd get going again by wiggling the stick.

ALSO and I think this is normal, on very cold mornings sometimes the stick shifter is stiff (frozen) usually by the time I get my morning Coffee it is loose and acting as it should.

SO, this morning when I got in the car, it seemed VERY stiff, the car had been parked overnight in 2'nd gear, I couldn't budge it, eventually I wiggled it out, however the stick will only move forward to 1'st gear position, NOT sideways in any way (i.e. to the 3'rd 4'rth 5'th or Reverse gear positions). And will not shift out of 2'nd gear no matter where the stick shift is anyways. So in summary. I am stuck in 2'nd gear, the stick shifts moves forward and backward (not sideways), but will not disengage 2'nd.

I have very little money to invest in this car, Will be getting an estimate Wednesday. Does this sound like an expensive fix? To me seems like it could be something like the linkage for the stick shifter, possibly a malfunctioning clutch?

Any advice/tips/similar experiences would be GREATLY appreciated.

I'm not very handy, and would just like some info so that they don't try to take advantage of my ignorance at the garage.

Thanks so much!