Clutch problem with Ford Fiesta

Davey_L

I bought a 2002 year Ford Fiesta in October 2012 for my daughter who has just passed her driving test. 6 weeks later she broke down with loss of power and a bad burning smell. The recovery driver confirmed that the clutch had burned out and a new one was fitted 2 weeks ago.
Thw car broke down again with a similar problem 3 days ago. The clutch company claim the clutch is burnt out and will replace it this time, but if it goes again they will not be responsible and are implying it is my daughter's driving or there is a serious fault with the car.

Please can someone advise as firstly I cannot see that a new driver could burn out a clutch that quick (and she is aware that riding the clutch can cause problems), second - if there is a another problem with the car shouldn't they be able to spot the problem now that they are aware there could be another cause?

motorguy

Davey_L wrote: »

I bought a 2002 year Ford Fiesta in October 2012 for my daughter who has just passed her driving test. 6 weeks later she broke down with loss of power and a bad burning smell. The recovery driver confirmed that the clutch had burned out and a new one was fitted 2 weeks ago.
Thw car broke down again with a similar problem 3 days ago. The clutch company claim the clutch is burnt out and will replace it this time, but if it goes again they will not be responsible and are implying it is my daughter's driving or there is a serious fault with the car.

Please can someone advise as firstly I cannot see that a new driver could burn out a clutch that quick (and she is aware that riding the clutch can cause problems), second - if there is a another problem with the car shouldn't they be able to spot the problem now that they are aware there could be another cause?

It sounds like your daughter is riding the clutch, no matter what she is telling you.

And yes you can burn them out that quick. You could do it in an hour if you put your mind to it.

fivetide

Do you sit with her? How is her driving?

SLITHER99

Even if she was really bad and riding the clutch, three weeks!? Really?

Citroen used the same excuse a relative of mine; brand new C3 and it was on its third clutch in 7,000 miles, each time claiming it was his driving style.

Ya - right! A guy who does 20k a year and all of a sudden he is incapable of using a clutch?

Stooby2

I'd get in the car with her and go for a longish drive, see how she uses the clutch, changes gear etc. it may be something she's doing - pulling away in second and changing gear too soon, riding the clutch as she does. Something's not right and it could be down to her.

Strider590

Davey_L wrote: »

I bought a 2002 year Ford Fiesta in October 2012 for my daughter who has just passed her driving test. 6 weeks later she broke down with loss of power and a bad burning smell. The recovery driver confirmed that the clutch had burned out and a new one was fitted 2 weeks ago.
Thw car broke down again with a similar problem 3 days ago. The clutch company claim the clutch is burnt out and will replace it this time, but if it goes again they will not be responsible and are implying it is my daughter's driving or there is a serious fault with the car.

Please can someone advise as firstly I cannot see that a new driver could burn out a clutch that quick (and she is aware that riding the clutch can cause problems), second - if there is a another problem with the car shouldn't they be able to spot the problem now that they are aware there could be another cause?

New drivers have a tendency to ride the clutch when reversing, in the same way as old people do......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCi8a5K_6HE

Ok, he trashes the car, but listen to the engine bouncing off the limiter as he tries to manoeuvre.....

C_Mababejive

For the record my last car, a 1992 Golf was on its original clutch still at 95,000 miles and also my Ford Transit connect had a new clutch at 50k but that is used every day in urban traffic and hauls a load in the back.

forgotmyname

My MIL did the same. Bought a car and soon after the clutch started slipping they tried to fob her off saying its been checked before sale.

I took it back for her and said utter rubbish. Do you take the gearboxes off all your cars to inspect the clutch plates before you sell them.

They replaced it and soon after i was there when she reversed out of the garden. Im shocked the clutch lasted as long as it did.

Not quite bouncing off the limiter but not far off the red line.
When the replacement clutch went they phoned me and i just said its been too long now you will have to pay for a new one. She had done less than 7000 miles on the 2 clutches.

balletshoes

Strider590 wrote: »

New drivers have a tendency to ride the clutch when reversing, in the same way as old people do......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCi8a5K_6HE

Ok, he trashes the car, but listen to the engine bouncing off the limiter as he tries to manoeuvre.....

:eek::eek: thankfully i've never heard a car make that noise - wow!

Paperbird

My nephew burnt a VW Polo clutch out twice in under a week. It turned out he was setting off in third all the time. He thought it was struggling to set off because the engine was smaller than the one in the car he learned in.

david29dpo

Sell it and buy her an auto, quick.