General clutch question

[Porsche virgin]

The clutch on my Miata seems to have given up and quit on me, but I want to be sure.

I can't put the car in gear when it is at a stop. Once rolling, I have to match the engine rpm and car speed to shift, whether or not I push in the clutch. To start going, I turned the engine off, put the car in first, then started the car, and began driving.

Once in gear, however, the clutch does not seem to slip at all. It holds fine even at high rpm.

My question: Is the clutch (the discs themselves) dead, or is it possible that whatever actually activates the clutch, like a throw out bearing or some such thing, is shot?

Thanks. Gratuitous picture follows...

[island911]

yeah, pressure-plate isn't moving back (enough).

could be a variety of reasons.

[oldE]

Your MX-5's clutch has a problem dis-engaging. Chances are the clutch itself is fine but there is a problem with the actuation of it somewhere between the pedal and the throw-out bearing. First thing I would check is the fluid level in the master cylinder for the clutch. (MX-5s have a fluid-actuated clutch, don't they?) I suspect you have a leak either in the clutch master cylinder or in the slave cylinder on the bell-housing.
Les

[Porsche virgin]

Thanks for the info, guys. I will check the clutch fluid tomorrow!

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

This is exactly the problem I was having on my 280Z. new slave cylinder fixed it. FWIW