My GF was using my Mini for the last few days....she owns a manual shift boxster, so she drives a stick all of the time. Coming home from work, she noticed difficulty shifting into first and second and last night, when she stopped to fill up the tank - she could not get the car in gear. She shut the engine off, and then could engage first, but not with the engine running...so I figure clutch something...maybe master cylinder?

Anyway, I drove to pick her up, got in the car, started it and it was perfectly fine....all the way home and driving it later that night.

Any idea what might have caused this? She's afraid to drive it now - thinking it may happen again.

 

Your MINI was jealous......and probably just missed you.

 

Check the slave cylinder, these are the most common problem with the clutch hydraulics. It could be leaking and bleeding off pressure. Pop off the lower engine cover and pull the boot off the slave to see if fluid runs out.

 

Thanks for the insight....I'll check that. If leaking, would the clutch suddenly work fine again?