Clutch or Gearbox blown!!???

[smuudge]

Hi, just posting on behalf of a friend that has the first generation Cooper (2001).

Yesterday evening he was doing a 3point turn, in reverse the car suddently jolted back and stalled, with a smell of burnt (clutch?) oil....the car now wont start, cant get it in or out of gear and when you turn the key it just clicks...

We have had a suspicion the cluth was on its way out so does this sound like a possibilty, or maybe gearbox??

And can anyone recommend a good 'new' mini specialist in Kent that will be cheaper than BM for the repair....

Thanks!
Ben

[GreenV8S]

Sounds like the gearbox has seized. Does the clutch still work i.e. can you turn the engine over with the clutch down (hopefully yes) and will the vehicle roll with the clutch down (probably no)?

[smuudge]

Hi, thanks for the post.

No the car will not turn over with the clutch down but will roll freely with the clutch down!

Thanks
Ben

[GreenV8S]

Rolling with the clutch down suggests that the gearbox output shaft is free to turn but the crank isn't. The clutch is on the crankshaft with drop gears down to the 'box, so if the engine won't turn over with the clutch down it suggests that either the drop gears / gearbox input shaft have seized *and* the clutch won't release, or some part of the clutch mechanism has failed and jammed on something. If you've already had clutch problems that points to the second option, but it's strange that you can't get it out of gear. As far as I can see the only way to resolve this is to take the unit out and strip it down until you find the problem. I expect it'll be pretty obvious as soon as you get in there.