Stuck in gear?

elise82 · Post by **elise82** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:55 am

Hi hope someone can help!!

My 1998 S1 Elise has developed a problem with gearbox, clutch or fluid levels that causes the car to not engage any gears when the engine is running. When the engine is off I can press the clutch down and engage any gear.

I've started the car in first and reverse, but then cannot change gear out of these. The car starts moving even if I fully compress the clutch pedal.

I have not had any clutch problems until today. I'm hoping that it is some sort of hydraulic problem such as lack of pressure that causes clutch not to work but I am not mechanically minded.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:56 pm

Bit of a guess, but it could be your clutch thrust/release bearing, I'm sure one of the resident experts will be along shortly with the answer though.

Matelotman · Post by **Matelotman** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:06 pm

Thrust release bearing would be a good call I think - I had the same symptoms on a FIAT and it was the bearing that had disintegrated.

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:32 pm

It's possibly the clutch itself (either the pressure plate or the thrust bearing); however there is a possibility of air in the hydraulics or a failed clutch slave cylinder.

You need to get someone to press the clutch pedal while you observe the slave cylinder motion, as a first step. If it looks to be moving OK, you may then need to compare it to another car just to be sure there is enough travel on it.

woody · Post by **woody** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:17 pm

Check the colour of the hose that leads from the master cylinder under the front hatch. Early S1's were fitted with a red (plastic I think) hose that could expand with heat and time, meaning the clutch did not work (as) well. No idea when they sorted it and I thought most cars would now have the steel braided upgrade. Not sure the the red hose would cause all of your symptoms though.

s333fee · Post by **s333fee** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:18 pm

yep try the clutch pipe, open your bonnet and you will see the red pipe

this needs to be swapped over. for a braided one, can get from elise parts or bell colvill, theirs has a foam round it stop stop rattling.

( haven't done hers yet but it is in the boot )

S333FEE support team

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:34 pm

Yes, but this is unlikely to cause the symptoms described in the cold weather we're currently experiencing - not saying it cannot be red-hose syndrome, but I think it's something a bit more mechanical in this case.

tut · Post by **tut** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:10 am

Highly unlikely to be red hose when cold.

I only ever had it once at 44degs on the plain in Spain.

tut

r10crw · Post by **r10crw** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:49 pm

Had the exact same symptons and was a finger spring on the release plate, if your not getting around 12 mm of travel on the actuator you little choice but to split the box. Cheers Craig.

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:02 pm

Gearboxes are easy if you have 12 pairs of hands little tiny kiddy fingers, alot of space & even more patience I spent a day stripping down and reassembling my clio's gearbox and when reassembled it missed a few gears

took it to a bloke in paisley and he had it fixed/bearing replaced and ready to pick up in the time it took me to get home to kilmarnock

elise82 · Post by **elise82** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:30 pm

Thanks for all the posts everyone. I looked under the bonnet and I do still have the RED hose. Like Robin said, in cold weather this really shouldn't be a problem.

Managed to drive car to garage yesterday and no problems. Didn't get to too high a temp though.

Garage called today to say that the slave cylinder will need replaced and best to replace the feed pipe (hose) at the same time.

Are elisparts the best place to purchase these items.

Cheers everyone.