I have a 2005 MC 5 spd with 21k miles and I've had it for just under 2 years. Over the past couple weeks, the car will jiggle when transferring power from a stop to first gear, and lately from 1st to 2nd. Sometimes it's 2 or 3 slips, sometimes 5-6. I called Ralph Schomp MINI, here in Denver, and they said a slipping clutch would usually slip when your completely in gear and not when transferring. I asked if this could be a transmission problem and he said he's not sure. Obviously, this is not a problem a lot of people have had or he would have been familiar with the syptoms. If it is the clutch, it sounds like I'll have to pay for parts and labor! If it's the transmission, MINI should pay for it. Does that sound right? Are there any other possibilities? If I have to pay for all the work if its the clutch, should I go aftermarket spec clutch? what will that do for me? Anyone have any insight on this?

Thanks-
-Steve

 

c.mon, where are my tech boys at?

Somebody knows. . .

 

Well, Steve,

A few questions need to be answered. How long have you been driving a manual transmission car? How would you discribe yourself as a driver?

Answer these and maybe we can figure out an answer.

Bilbo Baggins

 

doubt its the clutch going bad already since you are driving a non s cooper. altough depending on your driving ability/style with a clutch this may be possible (lots of hard launches, slipping the clutch a lot) i drive the ***** out of my lightly modded S and didnt have to replace the clutch till about 40k (early for a normal car but not the way i drive).

 

I've been driving a manual for my entire driving career of 11+ years. I've had all manual cars, many into the mid 100k mi mark and I've never burned out a clutch. I've never burned out in 1st, and I wait to juice the gas until the clutch is all the way out in all situations. Some spirited driving in the canyon twisties but all in 2nd gear and up, and that's only every couple months at MINI meets. My car is split between two drivers, me and my girlfriend (practically wife, not just anybody drives my baby) and she just learned how to drive a stick when I got her. (the car, not the girlfriend) So it could be that it's getting two very different driving styles. It's just nothing I've ever had happen, and it feels like a problem with the power transfer.

 

It's been my experience that when a clutch starts to go there are a couple of symptoms. The clutch will grab very close to the top on its travel as you release it. It will slip in high gear. Press the gas & watch the revs rise without getting forward pull.

 

Nope. none of that.

So, tranny, maybe?

 

I wish I could be more help. Its very hard to diagnose a problem via the internet. I'd suggest you get your car into the dealer & let them have a look see. Good luck.

 

So if you are at about 3 to 4 thousand rpm in 3rd or 4th, does it slip if you give it full throttle? If not, then the clutch is probably not burned out. If the clutch is slipping, it should definitely slip in a high gear at about 3 or 4 thousand rpm, because that is when it produces the most torque.

I have no experience with a manual transmission going bad so I can't really help you there.

Is it a slip or a shake of the clutch? On my last car, I warped a few clutch parts from overstressing them and when I would take off from 1st, the car would shake. It would shake harder the more gas I gave it. It was because the clutch was wobbling. At least, that is what my mechanic said. It made sense based on what the car was doing, but I never actually saw the clutch.

 

My '02 with 38,000 miles has a little shake in the clutch if I don't rev it up high enough when pulling away from a stop. Usually in the morning when I'm lazier with my driving. I just give it a little more gas and the shake goes away.

I have noticed it acts a little different after I've been driving around awhile in town. Like it's gotten a little hot and slippery. I think I'm dreaming though because it never slips in high gear under load.

I also have a slight amount of throw out bearing rattle but the clutches releases with a little lift on the clutch pedal.

I suggest you find another local MINI driver to take it for test drive to see how it compares to theirs. That's what I plan to do soon just to know if it appears to be wearing.

 

The digital, yes or no, black or white test as to if your clutch is shot or still has some miles left is to:

Make sure nothing is in front of you. Set the parking brake, heel and toe if you know how. Put xmission into 4th gear, rev engine to about 2500 rpm. Dump the clutch.

If the engine dies, your clutch is still good. If the engine keeps on going your clutch is gone. If it keeps on going, don't let it do this for more than about two seconds. It's dead, but don't kick it.

YD

 

Well, the last few days and I've been catious with her, my girlfriend too, and everything seems to be fine. No more shake. Strange. I guess it wore back into where it was. I think I may have just been letting it out weird.

Thanks for the help, everybody.

 

Nevermind. It's back to slipping. I had a service tech drive it yesterday from Ralph Schomp MINI here in Denver and he said "something" is wrong. It will be covered under my 3yr/36k warranty if it's the clutch, so no money and I get a loaner. Pretty sweet. It'll be next Friday, so I'll post updates.

 

I'm glad to hear your dealer will be taking care of this for you. Looking forward to the updates.