'92 MX5 Won't Engage Gear When Running

[JRH1]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this section!

I've had my MX5 1.6 the sum total of 36 hours, and on the way home tonight, it stopped working. Sat at some lights, no prior warning, all of a sudden my car won't engage any gear. I've had to push it down the street and leave it for now. I'm not the most mechanically minded of people, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the problem might be? I can engage all gears when the engine is not running, but the minute she's turned on,the gear stick won't budge!

She has been sat for quite a while before I got her, but had a nice long run yesterday with no hiccups. I'm not very good at spannering, and really can't afford to go replacing lots of parts (unemployed very-recent-graduate ) so I'm hoping it's nothing too drastic!

Any help or advice from anyone would be much appreciated!

[appletonn]

Sounds clutch related, possibly the clutch master or slave cylinders - is there any sign of fluid beneath the car?

[Oldandslow]

Can you start it in gear?

Can you start it in neutral and then put it in gear?

Slave cylinder does go but symptoms I've seen were crunching going into gear, not had it locked in gear. Worth checking fluid level and slave cylinder to see if wet with fluid.

[mneame]

Possibly the slave cylinder. About £15 for the part, £5 for fluid and a hour or 2 tinkering.

[mazdajason]

Yea sounds like the clutch slave cylinder. Easy enough job to do on the drive way.

New clutch slave cylinder, remove front drivers side wheel and you will see it directly in front of you.

[roverspeed]

try pumping the clutch.

Check the Clutch Master cylinder to see if there is actually any fluid in it.

Its not a big job to change it. But it certainly does sound like its the clutch slave cylinder.

[JRH1]

So, changed the slave cylinder. Problem still persists, so I've been advised that it's something to do with the clutch plates, so the clutch will need changing

[MX-5 Lazza]

Before changing the clutch; you now know where the slave cylinder is and how it works so get the front wheel off so you can see it properly and get someone to push the clutch pedal. If the master & slave cylinders are working properly you will see the clutch slave cylinder push the clutch fork. If it doesn't move or not very far then it's likely you still have a problem with the master or slave cylinder.

[Richair]

Slave cylinders are all ticking bombs on 5's if they've not been replaced already. As said above it's the first and cheapest place to start and it will probably need replacing any way... It takes less than hr to replace (with the right tools).

If that doesn't sort it then the clutch is caput!

[Steve_D]

JRH1 said:

So, changed the slave cylinder. Problem still persists, so I've been advised that it's something to do with the clutch plates, so the clutch will need changing

As you have already mentioned you do not have great spannering skills can I ask if, and how, you bled the system after replacing the slave?

Steve

[JRH1]

Steve_D said:

JRH1 said:

So, changed the slave cylinder. Problem still persists, so I've been advised that it's something to do with the clutch plates, so the clutch will need changing

As you have already mentioned you do not have great spannering skills can I ask if, and how, you bled the system after replacing the slave?

Steve

My dad did it. I know he bled the system but I'm not sure how!