R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 Car goes into gear won't move, manual transmission

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 12, 2025 | 05:27 AM
  #1  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Car goes into gear won't move, manual transmission

Hey all new here,

I picked up a 2005 S that had been sitting for about 4 months. Woman i bought it off had the starter cook and didn't want to end up replacing it, so i got the car for a steal. Upon getting the car i changed the starter and still couldn't get it to turn over and start, i discovered that the alternator pulley had seized up and wasn't allowing the engine to turn over. Swapped the alternator out and now the car starts up fine.

HOWEVER

I can shift through all the gears but the car will not move, furthermore even if i have the car in first and let off the clutch nothing happens, no stall, no bucking etc.

Before i tear into removing the transmission to do a clutch,flywheel, throwout bearing etc, anything else i might consider first, any weird things i'm not thinking about that i should look at before the long process of dropping the tranny?

For what it matters i put a bluetooth reader on the car and it keeps giving me a code P1611 which when i look up seems to be for an auto transmission.

Thanks!
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2025 | 07:22 AM
  #2  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
manual transmission, in gear, let off clutch, does not move = clutch

probably the pressure plate. they brake. literally snap and then stop applying pressure on the clutch disk.

be sure you are actually in gear. check your shift cables
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2025 | 07:24 AM
  #3  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
here is my experience: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-running.html
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2025 | 09:26 AM
  #4  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by ssoliman
manual transmission, in gear, let off clutch, does not move = clutch

probably the pressure plate. they brake. literally snap and then stop applying pressure on the clutch disk.

be sure you are actually in gear. check your shift cables
Just pulled the airbox and checked that the cables are attached and shot video of it all moving as i went through the gears.
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2025 | 05:51 AM
  #5  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
Also check driveshafts. Could have popped out
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2025 | 12:37 PM
  #6  
Here2Go's Avatar
Here2Go
NAM Community Team
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 1,569
From: Anywhere but here
^^^+1
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2025 | 09:57 PM
  #7  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by Here2Go
^^^+1
Finally was able to get it up in the air and get under it, both axles look to be in, when i put the car in first and spin one wheel the other spins in the opposite direction, also placed my phone under the car looking at the slave and i see it moving when i push the clutch down

Trying to think my way through this and what might have broke, the woman i bought it from said it needed a starter, it did, but also needed a new alternator because the other one seized and wasn't allowing the engine to turn over, could she have screwed something up trying to bump start the engine with the alternator and serp belt seized so bad the engine wouldnt turn over? Could the dual mass flywheel or clutch release fork f'ed up? Release bearing just seized up sitting for so long?
 
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2025 | 06:21 AM
  #8  
Whisky B's Avatar
Whisky B
3rd Gear
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 181
Likes: 36
From: Missouri
Definitely start with the shift cables. Despite the shift **** doing it's job, those cables at the junction box may have completely tapped out.
 
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2025 | 01:26 PM
  #9  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by Whisky B
Definitely start with the shift cables. Despite the shift **** doing it's job, those cables at the junction box may have completely tapped out.
Ok what would i be looking at? I see the cables moving

Actually made a couple of videos here

Linkage :

Slave:
 
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2025 | 04:49 PM
  #10  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Took a couple videos. Not sure if they tell anyone anything but here they are, shift linkage ane slave cylinder.


 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2025 | 06:47 AM
  #11  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Apologies for the duplicate posts. This waiting for moderator to approve every post messed me up, thought i forgot to hit send or something so did another one with the videos.... Is every post moderated?
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2025 | 08:44 AM
  #12  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
looks good. hard to tell from the video. both cables should be snapped on to a ball joint at the ends there. Are they?

are your driveshafts in on the trans and hub (wheel) ends?

 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2025 | 08:52 AM
  #13  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Yeah both appear to be snapped on, both axles look to be seated and when in gear when i spin one wheel the other rotates in the opposite direction.

Have resigned myself to that the clutch or pressure plate etc just isn't transferring power. Ultimately i would have needed to drop the transmission anyways and put a stage 2 or 3 clutch in if the goal is to race it in lemons. Just was hoping to be able to move the car a bit and do some of the other stuff first before tackling it.

However since this thing was sitting outside for a few months in Florida i now have the pleasure of battling brown widows as i clean up their egg sacks in the wheel wells *shiver* one scared the crap out of me last night starting to pull the front end off, was hiding behind the horn as i was going to disconnect that.


 
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2025 | 06:11 PM
  #14  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Update: pulled the transmission and well.... Pretty sure bellhousings aren't supposed to be furry.




 
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2025 | 06:23 PM
  #15  
Here2Go's Avatar
Here2Go
NAM Community Team
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 1,569
From: Anywhere but here
Damn!
Looks like someone's been riding the clutch for the life of the car.
Or perhaps they'd forgotten they were driving a manual and mistook the clutch pedal for the brake?
Needless to say - 'glad you discovered the issue
 
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2025 | 07:30 PM
  #16  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
hot dang! I think its time good to hear you found it
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2025 | 08:38 AM
  #17  
JABowders's Avatar
JABowders
6th Gear
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 262
From: Dover, PA
What does the Fly Wheel look like, you may have to replace that as well ...

Motor On!
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2025 | 03:56 PM
  #18  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by JABowders
What does the Fly Wheel look like, you may have to replace that as well ...

Motor On!

This car is actually being built for 24 hours of Lemons so i already have a single mass flywheel, race clutch etc going in
 
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2025 | 07:14 AM
  #19  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Well the hits keep on coming, got it all buttoned back up last night, was able to shift through the gears and see the axles move when accelerating while up on the jack stands. Dropped the car and now the transmission doesnt want to go into any gear from Neutral. If i start the car in first it will move but doesnt sound real happy about it. Sigh...... i'm going to have to drop this transmission again aren't I? I haven't bled the slave cylinder could that possible be it?
 
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2025 | 08:07 AM
  #20  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
sorry to hear of the troubles

the clutch hydraulics will need to be in functioning order. if not, you will not get the pressure plate to actuate . will not go in gear.

what clutch kit did you go with?
 

Last edited by ssoliman; Dec 1, 2025 at 09:08 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2025 | 08:11 AM
  #21  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by ssoliman
sorry to hear of the troubles

the clutch hydraulics will need to be in functioning order. if not, you will not get the pressure plate to acuate. will not go in gear.

what clutch kit did you go with?
I went with a stage 2 clutch with corresponding single mass flywheel and pressure plate. Am i just better off trying to buy a new slave? Is it possible the slave is the culprit here? That i could live with. Doing the tranny drop again might make me cry hahaha.
 
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2025 | 08:21 AM
  #22  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
do you have a part number? links? someone might be able to recognize the kit as good or bad. hopefully good

the slave should move with the clutch peddle. put your camara down there on video or have someone press the peddle for you so you can watch
 
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2025 | 08:26 AM
  #23  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
Here's what i put in
 
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2025 | 08:30 AM
  #24  
ssoliman's Avatar
ssoliman
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 317
not familiar with that clutch specifically but someone else might recognize it. looks fine

any issue with the install?
 
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2025 | 08:40 AM
  #25  
JustinR's Avatar
JustinR
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Likes: 14
no not really had the throwout pop off when trying to put it on the first attempt, one of us hit it when wrestling the tranny in. snapped it back on and got it up after some wrestling to get it the input shaft to slide in, other than that no issues.

Here's a video of the slave, i'm actually wondering if it's not traveling far enough and it looks like it's kind of going at an angle? possible it's not engaging/ pushing enough?

 
Reply



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:19 PM.