Clutch Issue: unable to put into gear
 

Yes, it's another clutch issue thread...

Couple weeks ago I had problems putting the car into reverse and eventually could not even put it into 1st. It seems that the longer I drive the car or the more times I use the clutch (in the city), the car will have more trouble getting into gear. However, when I leave the car sitting for over 20 min after driving it, it has no trouble getting into gear.

To me, it seems that when the car gets hot, i'm unable to shift into gear. The pressure of the clutch is also much less than what I remember it to be. I don't think the clutch bracket is broken because it wouldn't really make sense that it would get harder to shift as I drive (cant check right now cause it's at the dealership).

Dealership says that I need an entire new clutch kit and isn't covered under warranty because it's a "wear and tear" item. I've read that other members have had the same problem but they don't really indicate any solution. They all point at slave cylinders, clutch brackets or brand new clutches. Am I going to have to do trial and error by replacing all the parts?

Thanks for help in advance!!!

Sounds like you need a new clutch or tranny. My 8 always had a hard time going into first. But at 58k mils I changed the tranny oil and dang she feels new.
Try it. Its not that hard and is a lot cheeper than changing the clutch or tranny out lol

i would first inspect the clutch master and slave cylinders for leakage and wear. make sure the fluid in the clutch master cylinder's resivour is topped off. often times a slave cylinder will be at fault but it may just be something as simple as requiriring bleeding of the clutch hydraulics.

What year is your car? This could be the problem.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...4-06-1641a.pdf

If not that, I concur with mazdaverx7's suggestions.

Ken

Thanks for the responses guys =). The brake fluid resevoir does look a bit darker than i remember it to be, but it's still topped off. I think this weekend I'll try to bleed the fluids and see if there is any leakage (prob not). My car does fall into warranty with the clutch being hard to disengage that Ken mentioned. Perhaps that might be the real problem, and would also explain why it gets harder to shift as i drive. However, when I picked up the car from the dealership (cause they don't know crap) I could not shift the car at all. I don't kno what they did with my car but I couldn't even shift into first although the car was cold. When I the car isn't on, I can put it into gear. Luckily I had a relative down the street from the dealer, so currently my car is sitting in their driveway.

Didn't think about the service bulletin that mazda posted tho (thanks ken)

Oh dam. Just seen a friend posted a up date on the same kinda issue "his car would not go into gear". Turns out the sealership gave him a jacked up clutch and he needed a new one. Dam that ghetto.
But he got his car back on the road :)