My daughter has joined the MX5 family, but

Technical Area Engine, Transmission, Exhaust etc
1

My daughter just took on a lovely black NC 2.0 on an 09 plate with 76k on the clock and plenty of history. I went with her at the weekend to see it, and took it for a drive, everything seeming nice and tight.

However, when she was driving home from picking it up this evening, the clutch became very heavy, eventually leaving the car stuck in 3rd! She tried turning the engine off, resting it and trying again a few minutes later, but to no avail. She called a friend who is a mechanic, but not familiar with Mazda’s and he suggested pumping the clutch for a minute or two, and this eventually allowed her to find neutral and she could drive off again.

Is this a known issue, out something anyone has come across on an MX 5? Is there a straightforward fix?

2

Take a look at the brake fluid level - the clutch is fed from the same reservoir but will be starved of fluid long before the brakes.

3

As Dean says check the fluid , over filling can also cause clutch to become inoperable.

4

Chances are the clutch slave cylinder is leaking. They tend to go before any brake cylinders, because the fluid in the clutch hydraulic line is never changed, and moisture builds up.

Not an expensive part to change.