We repaired a Mini Countryman in Mallusk with a gear selection issue. The gearbox showed no faults, but a new clutch kit from 1Stop Motor Shop fixed the problem completely.
This Mini Countryman came into 1Stop Motor Shop in Mallusk after the driver reported difficulty selecting gears.
We started with a full inspection of the gearbox and clutch system to narrow down the cause of the problem.
After removing the gearbox, we were surprised to find that the clutch plate appeared in good condition — no obvious wear or visible damage. To rule out gearbox issues, we sent the transmission away for specialist testing.
The gearbox came back with “no fault found”, which made the case even more unusual. Both the clutch and gearbox appeared healthy, yet the problem persisted.
Even though everything looked fine visually, we decided to fit a new 3-piece clutch kit as the next logical step. Once installed, the issue disappeared immediately — gear selection was smooth again, with no stiffness or resistance.
This confirmed that the clutch itself had a hidden internal fault. While rare, this kind of failure highlights how not all issues are visible to the eye.
Clutches can fail internally without showing surface damage. Possible causes include:
Warped pressure plate or diaphragm spring wear
Misalignment inside the clutch assembly
Weak pressure plate fingers causing incomplete release
Localised wear from heat or vibration
Replacing the full clutch kit ensures that the pressure plate, disc, and release bearing all work in harmony — eliminating internal faults that aren’t visible during inspection.
If your car struggles to engage gears or feels rough when changing, it’s best to have it inspected quickly. Our mechanics use dealer-level diagnostic tools and hands-on expertise to pinpoint clutch or gearbox issues.
