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My car is a 1991 JDM Eunos NA6. 183k on the clock.
I have looked through all seven pages of posts brought up using the subject as criteria. Nothing seems to be describing the issue I have, which started today after a 60km highway trip.
When the car is idling in neutral, with the clutch pedal depressed, all is normal. As soon as a gear is selected, any gear, and before the clutch pedal is moved, I get a godawful rattle noise. The clutch holds, ie the car doesn't move or shudder, it just rattles LOUDLY! Take the car out of gear, leaving the clutch pedal depressed, and the rattle disappears. I am not comfortable driving it anywhere to see if I can pick the noise while the clutch pedal is released. All/Any help appreciated.

Does it rattle when you're on the move?

Depending on how it actually sounds, & if you were also getting the noise when clutch pedal depressed while in neutral (which you say you're currently not), then I'd say clutch thrust/throw out bearing. May be that's where it's heading given more time, although clutch thrust/throw out bearing problems in the early stages also tend to quieten once warmed up.

Thanks for the replies.

smy0003 wrote:Does it rattle when you're on the move?

I can check this tomorrow, when I am at home.

93_Clubman wrote:Depending on how it actually sounds, & if you were also getting the noise when clutch pedal depressed while in neutral (which you say you're currently not), then I'd say clutch thrust/throw out bearing. May be that's where it's heading given more time, although clutch thrust/throw out bearing problems in the early stages also tend to quieten once warmed up.

I will attemp to attach an MP3 file of the sound it is making, tomorrow.

With everything cold, I found that the noise could be induced just by depressing the clutch pedal. I think this indicates, as 93_Clubman mentioned, the throw out bearing starting to fail. I will replace this part, and hope that the problem goes away.
Thanks, once again, for the suggestions.

Sparra wrote:found that the noise could be induced just by depressing the clutch pedal.

Sorry to say, but it now does sound like a clutch thrust/throw out bearing problem. As it's a big job, it's worth first checking the throw of the clutch slave cylinder rod, & replacing the clutch fluid, or just rebleeding if clutch fluid is new, & rechecking the throw of the clutch slave cylinder rod to see if there's an improvement.

Ordered and received a clutch kit containing friction plate, pressure plate, throwout and pilot bearings, as well as an alignment tool. Dropped the 'box (about 6 hours work as it's the first time I have done this). Took the flywheel to a clutch and brake specialist for a skim. I am currently cleaning the 'box in a part cleaning 'bath'. It is covered in oil, which I suspect is leaking from one of the gearbox housing joints. From what I can find in a manual and on the web, there are no gaskets between the three housing components?
If there is an experienced DIY MX5 owner in the Brisbane/Ipswich area who could spare a few hours out of their day to have a look at the gearbox (out of the car) and engine (in the car) and advise the possible source of the oil, I would be extremely appreciative! Happy to pay for fuel etc.

All better. Finished installing clutch kit. Probably about 15 hours total, quite a bit of which was cleaning the gearbox housing.