The title says it all. After monkeying around with the battery this morning to go for a little wheeling trip I finally got it cranked and GRINDDDD!

The 85 has been sitting since June 7-10 if that makes any difference. When I parked it...it shifted fine with no grinding at all.

I am looking at the FSM and here are the possible culprits. I'd welcome your experiential thoughts before I go tearing everything apart.

From the FSM

Problem:
Will Not Shift

Possible Causes:
Clutch pedal freeplay excessive - It worked fine last time I drove it.
Air in clutch lines - I don't think this is it.
Clutch slave cylinder faulty - Replaced last year, but possible.
Clutch MC faulty - Ditto.
Clutch disc out of true, runout excessive or lining broken
Splines on input shaft or clutch disc dirty or burred
Clutch pressure plate faulty

I welcome your experiential input.

 

is it grinding as soon as it starts or just wen you try to put it in gear?

 

I'd bleed the clutch slave cyl. first, see if that helps it .

 

It's possible that the clutch plate may have stuck to the flywheel. I have had them do that before. Without pulling it down sometimes you can start it in gear and drive it while hopping on and off the gas pretty hard and break it loose. It normally doesn't happen within just a month of sitting but you never know.

First though, I would have someone pump the clutch while looking at the clutch fork and see if it's moving enough. It's easy to bleed too just to be certain that it's not air in the system.

 

sounds like your clutch is gone.

 

x2 Sounds like you master or slave went T-U on you. Check your cabin for fluid btw. If both seals on the master are leaking, it will be all over your carpet. However, it is still possible to fail without leaking. Just went through this exact same thing in my 85 MR2.

 

Maybe clear a few questions up.

The engine starts up but you hear a grinding noise? OR... The engine starts and the gears grind even when the pedal is in... like the clutch isn't separating from the flywheel?

Is it a grinding noise or a chattering noise?

The throwout bearing can make a chattering noise when the pedal isnt pushed in and it can get louder as the throwout bearing makes contact with the pressure plate fingers.... but that usually goes away after a bit of use (in my experience! heh)

You might get under there, take the clutch fork boot off and stick a mag light in there and see if you see anything unusual. Its a pain to get the boot back in there but its possible (done it).

and...... get a buddy to stick the pedal down and see if the fork moves. If you don't get any feeling in the pedal and the slave is actuating its rod that pushes the fork then the hydraulics are FINE, so then i'd move my attention to the clutch itself.

****

Kinda brought back some memories of my clutch job and another possibility. Before I fixed the clips on the clutch fork that hold the throwoutbearing CASE the chattering noise was more of a extremely obnoxious grinding noise. I mean LOUD. After fixing the clips and getting the grease off the pressure plate fingers the chatter was about 100x quieter and after a few drives it was gone completely.... And the grinding/chattering noise was evident with or without the pedal in, but it got worse with the pedal in.

who knows, maybe you got air in the hydraulics and a clip fell off? heh? would explain both the noise and the enginge stalling if the clutch isnt disengageing enough.

my shot in the dark =P

 

when my brothers 84 was sitting for a little bit, we had to pump the clutch a bunch of times to build up pressure and then it would work. Try pumping it a lot then see if it works.

 

Wabbit have you checked the clutch pedal brackets for cracks?

 

We have a weiner. I put it in 1st gear and cranked it and it jumped. Put it in 4th then cranked it and everything is right as rain again.

Never heard of this happening but I guess it is time to put the princess back in the shop out of the elements.

Thanks!

 

Useful tip to know, now i know too