Gear selection problem in heavy traffic - Mk3

[RDL93]

I have an intermittent problem with selecting gears in my 2008 1.8 5 speed MX5 (106 000 miles). This only occurs after driving in stop-start/very slow traffic and especially on a hot day. The gears become harder to change over a period of 10-15 minutes, until I have to force them in. I've noticed that after parking up for a while, say 30 min, the problem is particularly bad when I return and reverse gear is almost impossible to select.

I am familiar with the common problem of a notchy gear change when cold for some, but this seems to be something else. In normal free-flowing traffic, the gear change is good, except the occasional grind between 1st and 2nd if I try to rush it at higher revs.

I've changed the brake/clutch fluid and bled the system, which I thought had fixed it until I got caught in traffic today and the problem returned.

Any ideas?

[TVRees]

How about checking and changing the oil in the gearbox?

[tr7v8]

Sounds clutch hydraulics to me. I suspect master or slave are dying,

[urbandriver]

I had exactly the same problem with my 5 speed 1.8. The mechanic (1) adjusted the switch under the clutch pedal to change the biting point and (2) topped up the turret oil and lubed the shifter. Here's a good guide with pics.

https://revlimiter.net/blog/2017/02/nc-mx-5-miata-...

|https://thumbsnap.com/H9y3VE7V[/url]

[Spencer Barratt]

I had exact problem on my NC1, ended up changing the slave and master clutch cylinder, changing the master fixed the problem.

Spencer