Suddenly unable to shift into gear

qtemp · #1 10-15-2005, 11:13 AM

Suddenly this morning when I went to start my car (I'd left it parked in gear), it bucked around all over the place until I turned the car off and managed to put the shifter into neutral. Then I could start the car without the bucking but I could not shift into any gear. I had the clutch to the floor, there was the usual resistance (as far as I can tell), but I can't shift into gear.

It's very bizarre as nothing happened between last night and today except that it has been raining hard for days and poured last night. I definitely drove through a couple small ponds on the roads on the way home last night but everything was working fine until this morning.

Anyone with any insight, I'd love to hear it! Thank you.

BAVARIANM · #2 10-15-2005, 11:57 AM

sounds like an internal clutch problem. More info would be nice

qtemp · #3 10-15-2005, 12:11 PM

That was my thought, too. Maybe a broken clutch cable or something, although the fact that it happened just sitting in the driveway overnight seems hard to believe...

You said more info would be nice and I'd be more than happy to provide it, but what kind of info?

BAVARIANM · #4 10-15-2005, 12:57 PM

There is no clutch cable. Hydraulic clutch

BAVARIANM · #5 10-15-2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qtemp

That was my thought, too. Maybe a broken clutch cable or something, although the fact that it happened just sitting in the driveway overnight seems hard to believe...

You said more info would be nice and I'd be more than happy to provide it, but what kind of info?

Year, model, mileage. I'm a master BMW tech and with so many variations, it's hard to help you guys without all the relavent info

qtemp · #6 10-15-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVARIANM

Year, model, mileage. I'm a master BMW tech and with so many variations, it's hard to help you guys without all the relavent info

That's true. I forgotten that it is a hydraulic clutch. Thanks for trying to help. It's a 1993 BMW 325i with 165,000 miles. I bought it used with 113,000 miles. I believe the clutch was replaced once by the previous owner at about 75,000 miles. Over the past year I've noticed that the clutch seemed to slip sometimes or buck during shifting, so I then started to be much more careful about not getting on the gas until I was completely shifted into a different gear and since then have not noticed the slippage or bucking until this morning.

I checked the Haynes manual, but it's not possible for me to check into most of the troubleshooting suggestions for the clutch although I did notice that the brake fluid is above the Max line. I assume that it has been that way for some time, however, and I just had the front brakes done so the techs may have topped up the brake fluid too.

BAVARIANM · #7 10-15-2005, 01:20 PM

Now thats better info. If you've noticed clutch problems previous to this, now I really suspect the clutch. The fluid being overfilled is really not an issue, with this symptom. I suspect that the Pressure plate/disc are the problem.Only use an original clutch and plate if you can. Before anything though, I'd bleed the clutch just to make sure it's not a hydraulic problem.This cluch design if driven properly should provide 150-200k worth of service. The fastest thing to ruin a clutch is heat generated through slippage. This means, allowing it to slip through improper driving, or posssibally driving through deep water caused excessive slippage

qtemp · #8 10-15-2005, 01:45 PM

Ok. I'll attempt to bleed the clutch. Otherwise, though, even if the issue was simply driving through deep water, the only option is to replace the clutch and plate?

supervisor1886 · #9 10-15-2005, 04:30 PM

shifter components have failed. Other than that its the clutch, but it doesnt sound like it because you dont even need it to shift into gears. Even if the clutch is bad you can shift it in any gear with the ignition off. Or can bump start it into second gear and continue to shift according to speed and RPM. The gears will go in but rather hard. It doesnt sound like a clutch.
Doest shift when the motor is off or is there a grinding sound when you shift?

91HO305TPI · #10 10-15-2005, 08:56 PM

ive ran into slave cyl failing and causing this type of problem almost to the t of what your are describing i would try and bleed it and inspect while your under there for fluid leak from it. sinc it is bucking on you your clutch disc is likly fine im certan it likly your slave cyl(its what disengages your clutch)

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