2008 MCS a little over 46k. I am driving today and everything appears normal. I went to shift from second to third and it would not go in gear. I let off the gas and try again. No go. I try a third time and she goes into third, but now the clutch is slipping and I cant get her up to speed. I coast over to the emergency lane. I think maybe it could be electrical and turn the vehicle off then restart her. I put her in gear without a problem. I let out the clutch and nothing. The motor revs, but the vehicle doesn't move at all. Oh Cr-p!

I call Mini Roadside and waited 2.5hrs on the side of the highway for a tow truck! I had to explain to the driver that he needed to use my tow hook and not wrap the chains around my frame. I am mad and frustrated! I finally get to the dealer and everyone has left till Monday .

I am thinking it may be the clutch. I had no prior slipping, check engine lights or any indication it was going to fail. I am unsure and worried if it will be covered by warranty.

I am praying it will be covered by warranty since I am dead Azz broke!

Has anyone has this problem before? Does it sound like the clutch? Maybe the tranny? Do you think it will be covered by warranty?

Thanks in Advance AXO!

 

Not covered by warranty at all. mine went out at 48k cost me around 3k for a new one.

 

You can't automatically say that it's not going to be covered under warranty since the cause is unknown. But, is the car still under the warranty? I can't remember the year/mileage amount that the warranty is good for.

Whatever it is, good luck! Untimely car repairs are the worst!

 

This should help in understanding the MINI Warranty for your 2008 http://www.miniusa.com/#/learn/MotoringService-m, not even going to suggest it won't be covered...sending positive thoughts your way!!

 

My car is still under warranty..

 

There's a chance. But chances are less if it is the clutch... It can be considered wear n tear. I would prolly beg n plead you always babied it and have no clue how this could've happened.

 

Could it be the Master or Slave cylinder? The shifter will go into gear with the engine running regardless of the clutch being depressed or not....

 

What? You can put it into first with it running?! And no clutch?

 

Axo, With engine running and you let out the clutch while in any gear, 1-6 or reverse with the brakes off does the car creep at all and with the clutch fully engaged do you smell anything or hear anything rattling at the tranny. Also try shutting off the engine, put it in gear are you able to move the car without any effort?

If you answer no then yes respectively, then it sounds more like a shifter linkage or tranny problem. You may be stuck in neutral.

Usually a clutch goes out over time with a tell-tale slippage and if the pressure plate come apart (blows up) you get a hell-a-ish noise from the clutch.

 

With the engine running I can put it in 1 thru 6 gear and the car does not move at all. I can rev the engine. No burning smell. The clutch did slip a little prior to pulling over to the side of the road. Once I stopped. I turned the motor off and then back on. I put her in gear, let out the clutch and she acted like she was in neutral. I wonder if the shifter cables came loose?

 

If you can feel the movement of the gear shift lever going into all six gears (+ reverse), the cables are still attached and are at least close to being just fine.

Sounds a lot like the clutch or one of the related parts has failed. If the pedal doesn't come back all the way any more, I would suggest a master or slave cylinder problem. (These cars do have hydraulic clutches, yes?) If the pedal acts just like it used to, I would think it's the clutch or at least something else inside the bell housing.

 

Could be the trans, clutches usually*dont just stop working. When you burn them out its usually a process, unless you broke a spring mount on the clutch which is rare/split it in pieces because of torque which def didnt happen. If you get no movement in any gear/indication of any movement it could you be your input shaft.


And by slip you mean- engine revs up but the cars builds up speed slowly

or

Vehicle does not pick up speed/forward movement at all?


Have you ever mis shifted? Heard any metal noises as those of pieces tumbling in a lunch box?

 

It sounds like the clutch is jammed in a partially disengaged state.

- Mark

 

Please explain how this would happen? The way a clutch works is that it is always connected, when you press the clutch pedal the tb pushes against the pressure plate to disconnt "disengage/float" the clutch friction disc. Unless there is something partially depressing the clutch pedal or not allowing hydraulic fluid to return from the slave cylinder...

 

Probably a bad slave cylinder. Clutches are definitely are a thing to wear over the and progressively get worse. Not just instant gone unless you shatter your friction disk... Seen that happen to an STI.

 

I finally got a call from the SA. They checked the external of the tranny and ran a computer diagnostic test and received no errors and did not see anything obvious. He suspects it the clutch. He said the clutch would not be covered and will cost $4,000.00 to replace! Holy Crap $4k for a clutch!!!!!!

SA advised they won't know exactly what is wrong until they take the transmission apart. The catch is They won't take the transmission apart until I authorize 8 hours labor at $165.00 an hour! That's $1,320.00! I will have to pay if indeed my clutch went bad. I am in freak out mode!

I am in a position were I have no choice but to authorize it. If it is the tranny then they will replace it under warranty no cost! If it is the clutch I am phucked! I don't have 4 grand. I am praying it is not my clutch, unfortunately I am the mercy of the dealership.

 

I have never missed a shift. I have had a manual Corvette, Z28 and Turbo RX7. I had these vehicles well over 75,000 miles and have never had to change my clutch.....

 

I thought the same thing, but what I have read on the Internet, the clutch pedal has no resistance and basically sits on the floor board when it goes bad. I may be wrong. I would think the the tech would have at least checked that since it is easily accessed inside the vehicle.

 

I have serious concerns about this exact situation. I currently have 41k on the clock and the warranty will be up in July if not sooner. I can go buy an extended warranty for two thousand dollars or more and it doesn't cover the clutch. Doesn't seem like a good investment, does it?

Wow, this is happening too often! I really like the car but...

Axo, I'm rooting for you. If it is the clutch, that will really suck.

 

Thanks, I am contemplating trading my beloved MCS for a GTI after it gets repaired.

 

No clutch pedal resistance... Sounds like a slave cylinder. Check that out before they do ANYTHING.

 

Obviously not a tranny then. I Would bet about anything it's the slave cylinder. I've burned up 3 clutched in my life (OEM ones on heavily modded cars). And pedal resistance has never gone away.

 

My Clutch pedal has normal resistance....

 

Oh okay. Then it's prolly slave or clutch. I would take it to a normal shop and buy the clutch yourself for $320 off an OEM site. Would def be cheaper than the stealership. Can't imagine more than $1500-$2000 from a local shop

 

This shouldn't be that hard to diagnose. Your symptoms don't make sense to me, but perhaps its just the terminology.

Is there a good independent mechanic in your area you can have inspect the car? Or another dealer in your area? I think you need advice from someone who can listen to your explanation of what happened, look at the car, and try and make some sense of all this. The dealer should be able to do this, but it sounds like they're just pushing you into wholesale replacement of the clutch on your dime. There was another thread on here recently where a dealer was going the same thing - not making anyeffort to understand the problem and find the lowest-cost solution.

- Mark