Basic clutch question- gears won't engage

[TRevs]

Asking for a friend; he has a '98 TJ 4-cyl with 5-sp manual transmission that won't go into gear. The shifter moves through all the gates easily, but none of the gears engage, so it's as if it is permanently in Neutral. I assume the clutch is stuck disengaged, but I don't know the inner workings of the various forks and bearings.

Would this be a shot release bearing? Is that another name for the throwout bearing?

 

[ballpark]

Is the T-Case in neutral? Did it work before? Is there pressure when you press the clutch?

 

[TRevs]

I shifted the transfer case through all 4 positions and it made no difference, no connection between the engine and the wheels.

The clutch pedal/spring seemed to have normal resistance.

 

[Nimbley]

Sounds like the clutch isn’t disengaging all the way. It could be master cylinder, slave cylinder, or worn out clutch. With engine off put it in gear and then start it, is it now engaged? How many miles on the clutch? Was it hard shifting prior to this, especially first and reverse? You’re not giving much info to go on.

 

[TRevs]

Sorry about the limited info; I was only sitting in it for 20 minutes steering as he towed it back to his property from where it was stranded. The clutch was probably worn; he said there seemed to be some slipping the past few months. 125,000 miles on the odometer and judging by the overall condition I'd say the clutch is original.

The owner dropped it at the shop yesterday, so we'll see what they say.

 

[Scott2000TJ]

I’m having the same issue. Was driving uphill at about 40 MPH in 3rd gear and it popped into neutral and now won’t go into any gear (1-5,R). 2000 TJ, 2.5L, 5 speed manual, 148k. Clutch pedal has same resistance, can shift through all gears with the stick but trans will not engage. What did your friends diagnosis end up being?

 

[TRevs]

My friend said the clutch was just burned up. The shop replaced the clutch and resurfaced the flywheel.

 

[Wildman]

Same thing happened to my daughters TJ. She was driving it down the road and it just stopped. And yes her clutch had been slipping but she'd just failed to tell dad this info.

I’m having the same issue. Was driving uphill at about 40 MPH in 3rd gear and it popped into neutral and now won’t go into any gear (1-5,R). 2000 TJ, 2.5L, 5 speed manual, 148k. Clutch pedal has same resistance, can shift through all gears with the stick but trans will not engage. What did your friends diagnosis end up being?

Did the shifter actually pop into neutral or did the it just act like it was in neutral?

One last thing. The flywheel on Jeep should not be resurfaced as they are slightly beveled and resurfacing it can ruin that.

 

[Skookjeep570]

I’m having the same issue. Was driving uphill at about 40 MPH in 3rd gear and it popped into neutral and now won’t go into any gear (1-5,R). 2000 TJ, 2.5L, 5 speed manual, 148k. Clutch pedal has same resistance, can shift through all gears with the stick but trans will not engage. What did your friends diagnosis end up being?

What did it end up being!?!!

 

[Skookjeep570]

Ha

What did it end up being!?!