Question on Shift Cable Replacement

I have a 2004 MCS that has about 175,000 miles on it now and was driving on the highway approaching a toll booth. When I took the car out of gear to coast to the toll I immediately noticed a sort of clunk and new something didn't seem right. Once I paid the toll I tried to get back into gear and had a hard time shifting into 1st. Tried 2nd and got nothing, and when I finally got it back into 1st it didn't seem to engage, I just got high rpms and no torque. It did seem to slowly creep a bit and managed to pull over in a safe place. After reading a bunch it seemed like it could be a cable that broke when I pulled it out of gear. I had it towed and the garage told me my clutch was shot, but I'm not sure how they determined that without pulling it apart. Obviously I would prefer to replace a cable than a clutch. Any thoughts? Could the clutch have gone so suddenly without any sign of wear? Thanks

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[Nick at Pelican Parts]

If the cables are connected and the hydraulic system is OK, the only part left is the mechanical clutch components. it is common.

- Nick

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

High RPMs with no torque, but still moving a bit, sounds just like a clutch. A failure in the clutch linkage (which is hydraulic, as Nick was pointing out) could do that, as could a failure of the clutch itself. But I cannot think of any way that a problem with the gear shift linkage could produce those symptoms. I can't even think of a reasonable failure of the transmission itself that would do that.

--DD