I have no gears!!!!!!

[m3coupe]

Well I suppose after 10 months of trouble free motoring, a breakdown was bound to happen at some point, lol!

Two days ago, when I first started the tuscan it wouldn't go into 1st easily when I went to pull away but was fine after that. Clutch pedal felt fine and after the initial problem, every gear felt normal.

Yesterday on my way to work, it was fine for the first couple of minutes but then the biting point suddenly got scarily close to the floor, and all gears were stiff to get in.

Drove it home this morning and first was out the question when the engine was turned on and others were stiff. By the time I got home, (20 min drive with hardly any gear changes) I wasn't really getting anything and the clutch wasn't dis-engaging properly when pressed as you could feel it catching slightly.

It seemed to go all of a sudden, no working up to it. When the engine is turned off, it was going into gear fine though second was still stiff.

I have a receipt from the previous owner showing slave cylinder replacement and clutch work done in 2006 at 15,600 miles, it's not covered 20,000.

Not had a chance to look at the car yet to check for any leakages but anybody got any ideas?

[andyoleary]

Are the brakes behaving ok? Sounds like the main clutch has gone - mine did exactly that when a spring or two broke inside it. Changed it for a Raceproved version (master & slave) and (barring the friction plates getting worn and needing changing) it has been fine ever since.

I could be wrong though and it might just be a seal problem - not many miles on it though eh?

Andy

[m3coupe]

Brakes seem fine, going to check tomorrow to see if I have lost all fluid but i'm bracing myself for the worst.

Looks like it might be going back to Green Star again.

Ahh well, fancied another trip to Blackpool anyway, lol!

Who needs a grand or so a couple of months before Christmas anyway?

[GreenV8S]

As far as I can tell from your description, the problem is simply that the clutch isn't releasing. You still have drive in all gears, just having trouble selecting them with the engine running. In that case I expect it's simply a failure in the clutch release mechanism and not any major problem in the gearbox or the clutch itself.

[m3coupe]

GreenV8S said:

As far as I can tell from your description, the problem is simply that the clutch isn't releasing. You still have drive in all gears, just having trouble selecting them with the engine running. In that case I expect it's simply a failure in the clutch release mechanism and not any major problem in the gearbox or the clutch itself.

That would be cracking if it was the case, see where you are coming from. You're right, when I can get it into gear, all is fine and works no bother, it's just getting it into gear in the first place that is the problem. It comes out of any gear fine and normal when you go for a change.

Hopefully find out either way in the next few days.

[Whitey]

I understood although the brake and clutch share the fluid reservoir if the clutch slave leaks fluid, there is some sort of failsafe to stop fluid loss from the brake circuit, so it's not dangerous ie you will not lose your brakes.

I'm sure someone can confirm that.

If the slave cylinder is leaking, you may see the brake warning light(handbrake light) come on(indicating a lowering of the fluid level in the reservoir) along with a small puddle of fluid under the gearbox.

[Mick G Star]

Steve, from the reading it seems like a finger has snaped of the clutch cover or slave cylinder rubbers have gone/slave cylinder its self has scored and damaged rubbers. Check master cylinder is full of brake fluid if so then its clutch cover at fault if empty its slave cylinder fault, either way its gearbox out sorry to say. Did you check any drips from bell housing? John G Star.

Edited by Mick G Star on Saturday 4th October 17:06

[MJW1977]

Mick G Star said:

Steve, from the reading it seems like a finger has snaped of the clutch cover or slave cylinder rubbers have gone/slave cylinder its self has scored and damaged rubbers. Check master clynder is full of brake fluid if so then its clutch cover at fault if empty its slave clyinder fault, either way its gearbox out sorry to say. Did you check any drips from bell housing? John G Star.

Edited by Mick G Star on Friday 3rd October 21:41

Spooky, mine did exactly the same yesterday... Its now sat at my local dealer and I've been told to expect the clutch to have gone and have a quote for £1000 in my hand...marvelous

[Mick G Star]

[quote=Mick G Star]Steve, from the reading it seems like a finger has snaped of the clutch cover or slave cylinder rubbers have gone/slave cylinder its self has scored and damaged rubbers. Check master cylinder is full of brake fluid if so then its clutch cover at fault if empty its slave cylinder fault, either way its gearbox out sorry to say. Did you check any drips from bell housing? John G Star.





Just to add Steve, if it is Clutch slave cylinder and not clutch unit you will save £600ish on the job due to not having to buy the clutch.

[m3coupe]

Mick G Star said:

Mick G Star said:

Steve, from the reading it seems like a finger has snaped of the clutch cover or slave cylinder rubbers have gone/slave cylinder its self has scored and damaged rubbers. Check master cylinder is full of brake fluid if so then its clutch cover at fault if empty its slave cylinder fault, either way its gearbox out sorry to say. Did you check any drips from bell housing? John G Star.





Just to add Steve, if it is Clutch slave cylinder and not clutch unit you will save £600ish on the job due to not having to buy the clutch.

Cheers for that John, it's been raining so not had a chance to look at the car.

I was going to lay the car up for the winter months anyway and Santa is bringing me some new toys for the car so I think i'll wait till early next year to get it fixed and get you to do all the work at the same time since it will need MOT's then as well.

May decide that I can't be without it for that long though and book it in earlier though, lol.

[yzf1070]

Whitey said:

I understood although the brake and clutch share the fluid reservoir if the clutch slave leaks fluid, there is some sort of failsafe to stop fluid loss from the brake circuit, so it's not dangerous ie you will not lose your brakes.

Very true Whitey it's as simple as the fact that the master cylinder take off pipe from the resevoir is above that of the take off for the brake master cylinder.

From the authors description it sounds like the fingers on the pressure plate have begun to break off, a typical fault with the standard clutch. If so, sadly as the other chap mentioned it is a gearbox out job.

[shortlad]

Mine is doing this as well. I have a feeling I'm loosing fluids.

If so can I top up to keep her moving forward for a while and what do I top the fluid up with... Grade, brand, etc.

Or am I just asking to be let down by the side of the road by pushing my luck?

[Mick G Star]

[quote=shortlad]Mine is doing this as well. I have a feeling I'm loosing fluids.

If so can I top up to keep her moving forward for a while and what do I top the fluid up with... Grade, brand, etc.

Or am I just asking to be let down by the side of the road by pushing my luck?[/quote


Just ask for any make, DOT 4 brake fluid and if its dripping, yes it will let you down.

[Noisy]

Sounds like the seals have gone in the slave cylinder, although you may be lucky and find it the master cylinder which is a much cheaper part and easier job, I've done the slave cylinder several times now due to complications, also fitted a whole new assembly lately as well dues to issues with the replacement. Good news is I will have a spare when I get it back.

I also had the gearbox rebuilt by Gearboxman at the same time, so hoping now the clutch/gearbox shouldn't need touching for a while.

Paul

[MCT]

I had the same problem whilst in France - afraid it was a recovery and back to Seibring international - and out came the gearbox.