my car will only shift into gear when car is off

Sounds like a bad clutch. It won't shift out of gear because the clutch will not disengage the trans from the engine to allow for the changing of gears. I won't make any promises on it being the clutch, but it'll be a good place to start.

if you put it in gear and start it does it move? Is the shifter not moving into any gear or does the shifter move but nothing happen? Any grinding? when? How does the clutch pedal feel?

Yes the car does move a little when its started in gear. It will only go in and out of gear when the car is off. If I try to switch gears while the car is on it doesn't want to move. The clutch pedal doesn't have much of a spring to it either.

Failed clutch system. Pretty sure u have a hydrolic clutch. Check clutch fluid and top off if needed. Check for leaks. Clutch Master cylinder or slave cylinder may be leaking.

i have the same problem i was driving my car everything was fine and i was on the free way and it stoped running i tryed to accurate but it just idled i come to a complete stop. turned of the car then turned it back on and but it into gear and it wouldnt move itz a honda prelude vtech engine

Same deal, check the cluch fluid, if it ran out then you have a leak somewhere most likely at the master cylinder or slave cylinder.

Check your Slave cylinder might be bad.

High humidity locales can cause the clutch disc the rust to the fly wheel which can give similar symptoms the other gents sound very close to the mark,slave ,and or master failure.

we're on the same page have a 24k 2003 Honda accord and the car starts without having to press down on the clutch, on would only go into gear when its off

i have 2015 wrx, i was driving normally whole day, then i was going into work, i stopped at the stop light put it in neutral and once i tried to go into first gear i felt some resistance. now my car won't into any gear even reverse. but when my car is off it goes into gear fine. only different that i have done to the car is that, previous day i installed cold air intake and cobb access port with stage 1 tune. any ideas ?

I have a question if someone can help? I have a 99 Toyota 4Runner sr5v6 automatic trans and when I’m driving and I turn on my headlights it kicks it into first gear but still says I’m in drive. The lights on my dash say I’m in park and drive at the same time and sometimes reverse and drive at the same time????? I am so confused?? I thought maybe a wiring problem but I’m completely stuck?????

One day I'm shifting fine. About 2 hours driving, then I turned it off. I turned it on, put it in gear and drive about 30 feet to a stop sign and put it back in neutral, I thought I heard a sound. I go to press the clutch pedal and I couldn't press it down with all my force so I rolled backwards into my parking spot. Fuilds were there, no leaks. Shifts fine with the car off. I've since replaced the slave and master with brand new fluid, same stiff clutch pedal. Changed the transmission fluid, no shavings, not even really dirty. The clutch, flywheel, Tob, and pressure plate was changed about a month a two before. So, I drained the clutch fluid out so I can put the pedal down to start it, rolled down a hill and it went into first with no grinding. Went to about 3500 rpm, put it in neutral and down to second, same thing. It goes through all gears including reverse as long as the RPMs match the gear I'm going to. What could this be? Clutch cables looked fine, but if they were bad I wouldn't be able to get in and out of every gear consistently with no grinding or play. I need help because I'm tired of sinking money into this and don't want another car because I love this one. 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT.