1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: 2003 Mini Cooper S Stuck in neutral

  1. ColinGreene

    ColinGreene Well-Known Member
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    #6 ColinGreene, Dec 13, 2015
    can you move the linkage on the trans by hand at all?
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #2 Dave.0, Dec 13, 2015
    If it's a stick shift its most likely your clutch slave cylinder. They are know to fail.
    It a cheap fix at the dealer and I would suggest have your clutch master cylinder done at the same time. (I did)
    I had the dealership do the job because it is a real pain in the ass to bleed the slave cylinder.
     
  3. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    #3 wmwny, Dec 13, 2015
    Welcome to M/A! :Thumbsup:

    I'd follow Dave's lead as he is a pretty savvy R53 guy.
     
  4. cmarshall

    cmarshall New Member

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    #4 cmarshall, Dec 13, 2015
    I have the whole front bumper off and I can see the clutch slave cylinder actuate when the clutch is applied. Would it still be possible that it's not fully engaging/disengageing and would cause the shifter to be ceased in place?
     
  5. papa-j

    papa-j Active Member
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    #5 papa-j, Dec 13, 2015
    How-to in the Library

    Hi, hopefully helpful - there is a clutch slave cylinder replacement "how-to" posted in the MA library. It may be good to visualize the steps.
    LINK to Instructions
     
  6. cmarshall

    cmarshall New Member

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    #7 cmarshall, Dec 13, 2015
    I disconnected the linkages from the shifter to the transmission. Once I did that I could move the shifter in all positions. However the linkages mounted on the transmission itself seems to be seized up. They will not move by hand.
     
  7. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #8 MCS02, Dec 13, 2015
    I will defer to Colin on this one,but I would say its time to rebuild the transmission and put a new clutch in. Even with the clutch engaged if the motor is off you should be able to move the leakage on the transmission.
     
  8. ColinGreene

    ColinGreene Well-Known Member
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    #9 ColinGreene, Dec 14, 2015
    If you can move the linkage with the car not running then you have a internal problem.
     
  9. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #10 MCS02, Dec 14, 2015
    Ok you correct. I ment the shifter but I forgot he had un hooked it. Sorry
     
  10. cmarshall

    cmarshall New Member

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    #11 cmarshall, Dec 14, 2015
  11. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    #12 BruceK, Dec 14, 2015
    Super news! Glad you figured it out and it cost you nothing in parts or labor (other than your time). The fact you got the car for a good price because of the issue is icing on the cake.

    I wonder what caused it to seize? Perhaps the car was not driven much and it seized out of inactivity?
     
  12. fishmonger

    fishmonger Well-Known Member

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    #13 fishmonger, Dec 14, 2015
    you're not supposed to crawl under the car and tighten random rusty bolts!
     
  13. Detroit Tuned

    Detroit Tuned Well-Known Member
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    #14 Detroit Tuned, Dec 16, 2015
    Based on that photo you for sure need new shift cables.

    Chad
    Detroit Tuned
     
  14. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #15 Metalman, Dec 16, 2015
    The upper right ball joint looks like its popped out of it's housing....
    If so, don't expect it to last very long... And it will fail when you are driving on a dark country road in the middle of a blizzard many miles away from help....
    Get it fixed ASAP...

    [​IMG]


    shifter.JPG
     
  15. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    #16 Eric@Helix, Dec 17, 2015
    ^This^
     
  16. cmarshall

    cmarshall New Member

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    #17 cmarshall, Dec 17, 2015
    Yeah the whole assembly is being replaced, cables and brackets and all.