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It's alive! ....it's just not moving: Clutch problems....

I'm a bad Miata owner.

Froschen, the Wonder Miata (1992 black on tan, 248k+ miles) has been gathering dust in a shed. It's covered, and I've been good about going out and firing it up every few weeks ... though the battery is completely flat now, so I probably need to replace it.

Last night, I got nostalgic and thought I'd take it out for a spin. I hooked up the cables to my new car, cranked it... and it fired up on the first try. A little smoke, but no coughing, no hesitation. Hell, it started more easily than my new car! (don't be too surprised, my new car is a diesel, and doesn't like cold mornings) I put the clutch in, put it in reverse, let the clutch out....and....

nothing.

The clutch felt a bit light... so I pumped it a few times. Still nothing.

It was dark in the garage, but there was enough light for me to see that there was fluid in the clutch reservoir. Any ideas on where to even start looking? In the coming months, I'm going to work on giving this car the thorough going-over it's needed for some time. But it'll be a whole lot easier if I can move it under its own steam. It would be really depressing to have to get it towed to a shop from my house.....

James

Oh, and in case you're wondering - the replacement was an '01 VW Golf TDI. I commute about 100 miles a day, and filling up the Miata every 2 days was eating me alive.

Reply to
FrinkLemur
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Are you SURE it really was in reverse? How about 1st?

If the clutch wasn't releasing you couldn't get it in gear with the motor running.

Reply to
Natman

I'm sure.

The problem is the clutch *engaging*, not releasing. With the engine running and my foot off the clutch, I can go into any gear and the car doesn't even twitch.

Reply to
FrinkLemur

The throw out bearing is siezed on it's bore. It has moved forward to disengage the clutch but won't move back to allow the clutch to engage.

Reply to
Chas Hurst

Ah, much clearer description. Something in the clutch arm or throwout bearing has frozen in the released position. Jack up the front of the car and remove the right front wheel and you will be able to see the arm (not) moving as a helper pushes in the clutch.

A little discreet lubrication might work wonders. Be careful not to lubricate the clutch itself.

Best of luck.

Reply to
Natman

The throwout bearing must have moved when you pressed down on the clutch pedal and stuck in the release position. This likely happened the first time you pushed down on the clutch. You may be able to apply light shock pressure (hammer) to the throwout release arm and get the throwout bearing to move (pop back to the engage position. Alternate this with clutch pedal operation until the throwout bearing seems to be moving back and forth without sticking. Next suggestion (if that didn't work) is to remove the rectangular rubber bushing? that is between the throwout bearing lever(fork, yoke) sticking out the side of the bell housing. This will allow enough room to see the throwout bearing and with a plastic tube extender, spray penetrating lubricant on the bearing and shaft. Stay away from the clutch plate and clutch assembly to the front of the throwout bearing.

Reply to
chuckk

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