Car won't go into gear

[lylefk]

Hey, my car stranded me last night at 2:30am...

It won't go into gear...92 325i 5-speed w 102k. I need to go check the car out here shortly, any thoughts on what it could be? Think it's just a fluid issue?

Thanks in advance...

[Mike325]

Does the clutch feel normal? Does the shifter feel ok? Does it move? The clutch might not be disengaging or the shift linkage could be broken.

[lylefk]

Everything feels normal, it just won't go into gear...before it went out completely, it was really tough to get it in gear...

[Mike325]

I bet it has to to with the slave cylinder. There could be air in it or the fluid could be old and making it spongy.

[spdracrm3]

if it goes into all the gears normally with the engine off then you have a problem with the clutch not dis-engaging ,either hydraulics or the clutch itself .hopefully just hydraulics ,this may be your chance to learn to drive without a clutch if you start it in 1st gear and learn to match engine speed while shifting you can possibly drive it to where you need to get it fixed ,its a good thing to learn anyway so you wont be stranded again

[E30 Cabrio]

if it goes into all the gears normally with the engine off then you have a problem with the clutch not dis-engaging ,either hydraulics or the clutch itself .hopefully just hydraulics ,this may be your chance to learn to drive without a clutch if you start it in 1st gear and learn to match engine speed while shifting you can possibly drive it to where you need to get it fixed ,its a good thing to learn anyway so you wont be stranded again

Can you elaborate a bit on this in case it should happen to others in the future?

[geezerman402]

Can you elaborate a bit on this in case it should happen to others in the future?

Basically the clutch is used to even out engine speed to driveshaft speed, because no one shifts perfectly all the time.

To shift without the clutch you need to match revs perfectly relative to how fast you're going, or you'll stall it. Just move the shift lever when the time is right.

There are some tutorials on youtube.

[DerRoteBaron]

Basically the clutch is used to even out engine speed to driveshaft speed, because no one shifts perfectly all the time.

To shift without the clutch you need to match revs perfectly relative to how fast you're going, or you'll stall it. Just move the shift lever when the time is right.

There are some tutorials on youtube.

I had to do this with my old vw when the clutch cable broke. I was only a few miles from home, so I started it in 1st gear, went to 2nd and drove home coasting though stop signs.

[HarryPotter]

I still don't see how you can drive safely without a clutch. You wouldn't be able to make a complete stop and continue driving. Once you've stopped you'd have to start rolling to be able to get it into first.

[DerRoteBaron]

you would slide it in to neutral to stop, shut off the engine then restart in first gear

[HarryPotter]

you would slide it in to neutral to stop, shut off the engine then restart in first gear

Are you sure this would work? Obviously taking it out of first will but turning it over in first?

EDIT: I read about a bit, I guess it does work. Although most recommend starting in 2nd from a complete stop.

[DerRoteBaron]

it bucked a little but fired right up