Hello everyone.

I have recently been having some issues with the 6 speed manual transmission on a 02 cooper s (45,xxx miles). I have recently been giving a friend a few leasons on how to drive stick in an open parking lot. Today the car/transmission was working just fine. This evening I proceded to let my friend practice a bit. After about 20 minutes or so of practicing I decided that it was enough and that we would go home. During the time that he was practicing we were doing some hill starts and he was stalling/jack rabbiting quite a bit.

As soon as I started to drive it I noticed that the transmission felt a bit off. Almost like the whole thing was a bit loose. I accelerated decently hard, and it seemed like there was very little power being delivered to the ground after about 3k rpm. So my assumption is that it is slipping. The only thing that is strange is that it went from functioning perfectly, to this in a matter of 20 minutes or so. Normally for a clutch to start failing noticably it takes a extended period of time (weeks, or months) at least that was the case in my old car.

I tried the technique to test for a bad clutch (rev to 2500, hand break, and then drop the clutch from 4th) and it stalled like it is supposed to.

So what does everyone have to say on this issue? Could it be the clutch/transmission fluid getting hot and causing it to not work as it should? Or is it the clutch that may be going? Or even something else?

Also, how much would it cost for parts and labor to have a clutch replaced if this is infact the case (original mini parts/installation)

Thank you very much for all the help, I really apreciate it.

-Spitfire999

 

As a test, put the car in 4th gear and floor the gas pedal while driving at a relatively slow rate of speed. If you have a tach, are the revs climbing faster that the car speed would warrant? If no tach, you should be able to tell from the engine sound. If the answer is yes, you need a new clutch.

Do you experience the power loss when you keep the revs high (late shifting)? A 'no' answer here would also indicate a burnt up clutch.

 

He could have simply overheated the clutch. The stock organic clutch is able to return to normal operating functions after being overheated. It's life may be reduced but it will still operate fine. lhoboy's test is also a good one to do.

 

I took the car out for a spin this morning and did said test.

I started from about a 10mph roll in 4th and ran the car up to about 5000rpm. It did not seem to have any problems at all (revs increased at a constant rate all the way up to about 70mph). The power seems to be delivered properly after 3000 rpm unlike last night. The transmission still feels a bit "loose" for a lack of a better word, but then again, I might just be really paranoid. Hopefully it was simply a matter of the clutch overheating.

Anyone have any further recommendations?

 

My son had the clutch literally smoking ( riding it while driving ) with about 5,000 miles on the car. By the time I got to where he parked it, it had cooled down & I drove away no problems. Now have 60,000 miles, same clutch........

 

Sounds like you had a temporary case of "clutch fade".

Regarding the loose feeling: The premature wear may have caused the friction point to change (less pedal depression to disengage), causing the looser feeling.

 

I hate that smell.

 

Could he have torn up a mount, allowing the motor/trans to move around more?