MGF TF GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS

[Richie]

Hi All
My MGF TF year 2000 vvc model.
I can get the gear I wish when the engine is not running but once it is running in idle mode I cannot change gear.
For example.....I put the car into reverse gear, start the car & reverse off the drive. I cannot then select 1 st gear or any gear or take it out of reverse unless I switch the engine off. Then select 1st or 2nd & drive away. I can change gear whilst driving BUT it is very riggid & clunky & getting worse.
If I pull up to a junction or lights I have to make sure I'm in the gear needed to pull away in before I stop moving otherwise I need to turn the engine off & select the gear I need & then turn it back on again.
Can anyone help please.
Thank you all.
Richard.

[nigelandjo]

Is the car manual or a Stepspeed?

[Geoff.F]

Is the car manual or a Stepspeed?

Is there a VVC Stepspeed. ???
Seems like a clutch problem.
Geoff.F

[nigelandjo]

Is the car manual or a Stepspeed?

Is there a VVC Stepspeed. ???
Seems like a clutch problem.
Geoff.F

Totally missed the vvc reference, so a manual. Agree sounds like a clutch problem.

[MrNatural]

Could it be the cables out of alignment or bell crank not working properly?

[Chris Tideswell]

I would start by bleeding the clutch slave cylinder and change the fluid, if any solid deposits come out with the fluid it is likely that the seals have gone usually in the slave cylinder.

[Rob Bell]

I have a hunch that the slave cylinder have have run its seals and the master cylinder reservoir will be (nearly) empty. When the release arm partially seizes in the bell housing casting, the slave cylinder is the first component to fail. Fortunately, rebuild kits are cheap and the slave is easy to rebuild

Slave cylinder rebuild here: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22229&p=172769

[C-J]

I can get the gear I wish when the engine is not running but once it is running in idle mode I cannot change gear.
For example.....I put the car into reverse gear, start the car & reverse off the drive. I cannot then select 1 st gear or any gear or take it out of reverse unless I switch the engine off. Then select 1st or 2nd & drive away. I can change gear whilst driving BUT it is very riggid & clunky & getting worse.

I had similar (but slightly milder) symptoms a few years ago, and then 1 day returning home from work I suddenly could only get 2 gears.

I changed the clutch slave seals and fluid just in case, and as the old fluid seemed a reasonable colour and didn't seem to have any obvious bits suspended in the fluid - therefore I didn't expect any improvement....however...it completely solved the problem!

As Rob says, refurbing the slave might be worth a punt. If you have a suitable bleded tool then less than £10 or £15 I think including the new fluid.

[talkingcars]

Clutch.

Could be the hydraulics, could be the arm or could be the actual clutch plates.

[Geoff.F]

Have someone depress the clutch whilst you measure the slave piston movement. I cannot give you a good dimension as mine is Steptronic but somebody can.
Geoff.