In 2009, my 2007 mcs entered my life- a decision I look on with both love and regret. My first clutch went out within a month of owning the car, then I burned up four more in the course of around 8 months.

Now, most of us know that when clutches go you get some warning, be it less resistance, more clutch needed to shift gears ect. Most cars give you warning. My little Blue Mini NEVER did. I had a clutch one second then the next it was gone. No smell, no nothing until it was gone and 'burnt up'. Hefty repair bills later and me sitting there doubting myself I went online and found PAGES of people with experience like mine with the same problem. Older people with 35+ years experience driving manuals to people with no experience.

So after a fight with the local dealer (over NUMEROUS problems with this car including a fuel pump going bad overnight, not honoring my road hazard, calling me a 'spoiled rotten little btch', and a list of other bi-monthly visits) I moved to another service station about 70 miles further away.)

After a visit about three months ago I drove to my friends house and parked the car to go out of town. Upon returning a few days ago I climbed in my mini and went to go drive the seven miles home.

About halfway home My car refused to go into first gear. I got it in second and took off from the stop sign. (My inspection had died while I was away so I really couldn't stop) I went to shift into third and again, the thing wouldn't go in gear. Odd... but it went into fourth. While in fourth and resting on the shifter I went to do my little 'wiggle wiggle' before shifting to fifth (it's an odd habit I picked up from a friend) and I realized though my car was in gear my shifter **** had full rotation of its area. My clutch was still good though. Needless to say it didn't leave fourth. About a mile from my house the orange half black half orange engine light came on... I held my breath and we gimped home.

Now it's parked in my 'Bone yard' (along side my firebird-middle of an engine swap and probe-really bad short). I hooked it up to my computer and it said all systems fine. (Odd...)

Known existing problems, needs new rear right ty-rod.

Any Suggestions to what this could be? I really dont want to take it to sterling as its my only running car.

 

Wow! These clutches have gained a reputation for being somewhat fragile, but I've not heard of someone going through five of them (original plus four replacements) within the span of a year...! You may now hold the record!

Regarding your immediate problem, here's a thread talking about a similar problem (wouldn't go into gears/shift properly), and it related to a bolt falling out of the shifter linkage. That thread also references a few related threads.

Hope that helps!