Wife's '03 MCS, built May 2003.

Recently started having issues shifting into the bottom gears on the range. Used to feel one notch and then going into gear, now if you don't pull hard you'll grind it and miss. It feels like there isn't enough shifter throw, almost like something is stopping it from going all the way down.

Found out during searching that there was a TSB for frozen shift cables (which the car has always had during the winter) but didn't know it could be fixed before the warranty runs out. There's 61K on the odometer.

I also read about this possibly being a clutch issue, I have positive engagement about halfway up from the floor and have never had any other troubles with it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Josh

 

Shifter cables don’t last forever it’s true and yours sound sticky since there is a noticeable difference in the cold, but first look at the clutch slave for leaks; if none can be seen externally, pull back the plunger dust boot. Also, if the slave has never been bled, give that a try.

 

Why would the clutch slave have something to do with only going into 3 gears?

If the clutch is disengaging in 1st, 3rd, and 5th, it would be reasonable to assume that it's doing the same for the other 3 gears, wouldn't it?

 

I would suspect that the shift cable is out of adjustment. With the car NOT running have someone try to put it into 1st, 3rd and 5th. Watch where the shifter cables attach to a linkage at the transmission. It will be very apparent which one is the correct cable. There should be some sort of adjustment. Experiment! If the cable is broken, get a new one. Good luck!

 

Sounds like shift cable problem Josh.

See pics below for shift cable actuation of gearbox. My money is on a problem with your right cable!

Jeremy

Neutral.

1st Gear.

2nd Gear.

3rd Gear.

4th Gear.

5th Gear.

6th Gear.

Reverse Gear.

 

Do you know why pics are not opening? I have this same exact problem on my mini cooper it won't shift into bottom gears. thanks

 

Links are from a poster from 2008....
Very old threads start to get less useful....
But it sounds like you found some good info that you can use to get your car fixed.

 

Really old thread with the pics hosted on a external website that no longer appear to be there.