Please help - car trouble!!

Sinsaff123

Hi,

I purchased an 05 plate Zafira 3 weeks ago from a local dealer.
When we purchased the car we got a 3 month RAC warranty with the car. Twice since we have had the car we have taken it back to the garage due to the car juddering when pulling away and when changing gear and they have said they can find no fault with it. Today we have booked it into our local Vauxhall dealer for them to look at it to see if they can determine why the engine judders. THey have ran lots of tests and have come back and said that it is the clutch. It has not gone and the car is still driveable however has not gone a lot of life left in it and is likely to go soon. They advised me to contact the garage and ask them to replace the clutch.
The man at the garage was extremely rude to me when I rang them, to the point I ended up extremely distressed, he repeatedly told me that there was nothing wrong with the car. I explained what the garage had told me and asked if he would replace the clutch and he said no way. I asked for my money back and he said no.
In the end they have rang us back and said that they will foot half the cost for a new clutch which is £460, so we need to pay £230 as the clutch is not covered under the warranty and is deemed as general wear and tear. The garage are saying that the damage on the clutch could have been caused since I had the car? This is less than 3 weeks??? Am I in a position to make them pay for the full repair considering I brought the fault to their attention so soon after puchasing the car and it would have been present at the point of sale? Or am I lucky they are offering to pay half and not giving me the whole bill?? Really unsure what to do and would be very grateful if anyone can help.
Thanks
S x

allthe2s

Hi, I don't know the answer to your question but if you have legal cover with your car insurance they should be able to assist.

oldagetraveller

I don't know which Zafiras were/are affected but there is a known clutch problem, a modified clutch material has been introduced and fitted as required only when customers have complained of judder. It might be worth making further enquiries about this?
However, as it's now 5 years old, and I think it was later vehicles with the problem, then you might have to accept the normal wear and tear explanation.
Is it a Diesel with a dual mass flywheel, DMF, (reduces vibration)? These do fail. As the Vx dealer has diagnosed clutch then it's doubtful about DMF being the problem.

Just found this and edited to add.
"

quote:
Issue: Corsa C, Astra G & H, Zafira A & B, Tigra B - Z16XEP & Z18X - Clutch Judder From Cold

We are experiencing customer complaints of clutch judder from cold on Z16XEP & Z18XE engines.

The problem is only apparent from cold and disappears after a few clutch applications.

A new clutch disc lining has been tested and approved This should be introduced on production in May 2007 and a 'Field Fix' clutch kit will be available in due course

If you encounter a customer complaint regarding this issue, please do not replace the clutch at this time as there is no tangible benefit in doing so.

Please advise the customer that you will carry out the appropriate remedy as soon as it becomes available.

This issue is now covered by TSB 2119 stating that no clutches should be replaced for this issue until a remedy is available. "