I’ve just limped back from a country lane blast in my s2 exige, nice and sunny so seemed rude not to 
Towards the end I was really struggling to get it into 1st when stationary. The clutch doesnt seem to be slipping at all but it feels like its not dissengaging enough to get a gear, 1st or reverse.
Is there any adjstment in the clutch?
Ta muchly
John
There is no clutch adjustment, it sounds more like a shift cable adjustment is in order…
I did consider this as the problem but as all the gears seem ok when moving I quickly thought it must be the clutch. Just thought I’d drop on here before I book it in at the local lotus dealer for a wallet spanking.
Is a cable adjustment something I could have a go at myself?
Thanks
Yes there are cable conections under the center cover and on the gearbox end. Take the cover off and have a look at the lever/cable movement…
Or maybe the clutch needs bleeding? Leave it to cool down and try it again tomorrow and see how it is?
If it’s the clutch then you should get crashing when shifting into 1st,2nd and 3rd and possibly the other gears. If it doesn’t crash when gently repeating the shifts then it’s unlikely to be the clutch.
Just had a look at the linkage on mine and it’s the lower of the cable adjusters that is the selector plane. It could be blocking from the 1st/2nd plane if it’s short of adjustment when it touches the reverse inhibitor bar. To check this you could move to the 1st speed position, lift the reverse collar, move it slightly further to the left then see if it goes into 1st. If that’s the case then it’s likely you need to adjust the cable.
As per all problems I guess I should start with the cheapest and easiest potential solutions. As ade said, bleed first then I’ll look at adjusting the shift, that kinda worries me though as there could be room to make things worse 
Thank you all for the help.
John.
I’ve never had to bleed my clutch in five years, they don’t boil fluid…
cable dude, cable…
It’s worth trying the test of lifting the reverse collar on the gear lever and selecting first before taking anything apart. It doesn’t sound like a clutch issue.
I’ll give the reverse selector collar a try, it certainly feels like the clutch is dragging though.
Just been out to the car and with the engine off I can select all gears no problems, snicks in nice. Once running it grinds all gears with the clutch hard to the floor. Tried the reverse collar trick and it didnt seem to make any difference. This would suggest to me clutch /clutch actuation over a selection issue. Where is the clutch fluid reservoir?
I’m thinking something along the lines of a failed clutch slave cylinder, air in the system and not getting full actuation for whatever reason.
Was going to take a look at the selection cables anyway but cant get the damn leather gear gaiter off, feels like I’m gonna break it
Cheers guys
John.
Bled the clutch slave cylinder, no change. Starting to think its complete clutch failiure 
Another update. With the rear wheels off the ground, in gear with the clutch fully down its still turning the wheels a little. I stopped them turning fully then watch them rotate again so wasnt just a case of them free-wheeling. A few possible causes come to mind, fluid returning past the master cylinder/slave cylinder or maybe the clutch diaphram is failing?
Any thoughts?
Ta
John.
The car is booked into Lipscomb’s to get it checked out, wont be dropped off until sat though and work will be done monday.
Any idea roughly what a clutch replacement would cost if it is a new unit needed?
8 hours labour plus the clutch, make sure they fit the uprated one while they are there 
Ta, gives me an idea how much to expect.
Would I be safe to assume the uprated one is the one fitted to the 260 cup cars? I’ll def go for that if its the case, mostly labour costs anyway so easy to justify.
Yes that would be the case.
Couldn’t this just be cable related, surely it’s worth trying an uprated one first…I talked about this with a chap (Toby/Exige) at the Ring, well he told me something about the wire stretching/heat issues, it being too near the manifold…or something :whistle:
It could well be something other than a clutch failure I guess. But the problem revealed itself over a few mins as opposed to weeks/months which would suggest to me something failing rather than a progressive issue like I assume cable stretch would be.
The fact that it goes into gear nicely when the car is switched off is making me think its not a selection issue and more clutch/clutch actuation. I may be totaly wrong tho.
Like you say though it might be worth a shot, where can I get uprated cables from?
Cable ?
I thought the clutches were hydraulic.