oh ohhhh. bye bye clutch?

[Jace]

might have just said goodbye to the clutch in my NA6.
symptoms: won't slot into gear nicely while moving (harshly, to the point i feel like the box is going to drop out from under the car), or while the engine is running, both with the clutch depressed. will slot into gear when the car is off with the clutch in, not without it ever.
but when it's cranked over, there's a fine zzzzzzz noise (you know what i mean) finer than the noise you hear when you watch someone grind there car's flywheel away trying to start it when it's already running, but similar sounding.

just drove back from melbourne, 5th gear, 100-120km/h no worries.
first time i try to downshift to third to take a green turning arrow (roughly 50km/h) coming into Geelong, it's like i'm pushing the shifter up against a brick wall, roll to a stop in the middle of the road.
push off to the side. wait for a bit, then use the above method to get started again. taking off, crunch it into second somehow, cruising along at 5000rpm in 2nd, trying to not have to stop the car.
forced to stop at a round about, nice lady in a tarago (who said she has an mx5!) helps me move it off to the side again, big thanks to her. then get going again, using the aforementioned method again to get moving.
miraculously get it into third, creeping it home from the other side of town (usually a 15 min. drive), have to stop a further two times i think, getting it going the same way as before.
and pull into home.

*sigh*
i'm not very experienced when it comes to cars and their issues, so do you guys think this sounds like a simple worn (broken? ) clutch, mashed gear synchros maybe, or something far more serious?
help would be great to narrow it down for me, as i'll take it to a mazda specialist through the week.

thanks.

[bigdog]

Search function is your friend - there is a wealth of info on clutch problems on this site. Most likely cause is a leaking slave cylinder. Check this by moving the rubber boot aside on the slave cyl - if there is fluid in the boot then a replacement cyl will sort you out. If you are not sure take the car to a specialist in your area for a checkup.

[Alex]

Yep, could just be slave cylinder, depending on how badly you might be able to get into gear after pumping the clutch a few times, worked for me when mine went.

[Jace]

pumping the clutch doesn't help.
thanks a lot guys, i'll check the slave and report back.

[philz]

It only cost $28 for the slave cylinder from mx5parts uk.

[StanTheMan]

It only cost $28 for the slave cylinder from mx5parts uk.

$40 AUS delivered to your door......but they are out of stock at the moment.

[wun911]

Turn off the car put it into 1st gear (on an empty road)

Put your foot into the clutch and hold it there for as long as you can it should hold and remain in neutral and not go anywhere.

If the clutch slave is leaking fluid, you will lose the pressure and slowly the clutch will engage and you will move foward.

Its pretty easy to replace the clutch slave and bleed it etc etc, ther are heaps of write ups on it.

[Jace]

yeah, creeps in gear (inc. reverse) with the clutch depressed.
as soon as the motor's running and the car's in gear the grinding sorta noise starts as well.

[Jace]

fluid levels are totally fine.
consulted a clutch and brake specialist today, and the guy said without hearing the noise (drove there in my other car) that he wouldn't be able to say what it was.
it sounds nasty, making me think it's probably something more sinister than a slave cylinder or even master.
any other common problems with these gearboxes i don't know about?

edit: just read through the cars receipts.
two owners ago the guy who owned it spent $3,600 on a gearbox overhaul at 150,000 k's.
like woah, no wonder my car drives so nicely for a 230,000k vehicle.
previous owner spent a crapload on it with extremely regular servicing and problem fixing.

[Mr Morlock]

Save yourself some angst and take it to a clutch fitter who will id the problem. The prob is not likely to have anything to do with your gearbox but rather in the hydraulics or hard parts of the clutch mechanism. Mechanics always prefer to see and hear for themselves rather than guess from a "description"

[Juffa]

fluid levels are totally fine.

Could still be a dodgy slave cylinder. If the cylinder is not retaining pressure a slight amount of fluid can leak into the boot, and cause the issues you describe. As Mr Morlock suggested get yourself, and the MX-5 down to a trusted workshop for an inspection. i.e. trusted as in one recommended by a family member and/or friend. (or a Geelong area member of this forum).

J

[Jace]

spring popped out of the clutch and wedged itself between the pressure plate and diaphragm. eeeeeek.
HD on the way...

[StanTheMan]

ewwwwww.

[pcmx5]

Go and see Merv at Clutch and Brake In Lt Ryie st,he has looked after both my 5's and is an honest and very reasonable with pricing.

Hope this helps,( edit,oops, just realised this was a few days ago and you probably have it fixed by now!!)

Peter

[Jace]

ahh a bit late sorry mate.
took it to nth geelong transmissions.
should have it back tomorrow, but for some reason, i haven't been missing it much.
usually after one day in my other car i'm totally over it and keen as hell to go for a massive drive through the country in the mx5
not this time though. hmmm.