Complete power loss breakdown - now being told I need new clutch at £570!

Eponym

Hi all

First time venturing onto this part of the MSE forums - I know nothing about cars so be gentle with me!

I have a 2002 1.2 Renault Clio which has done about 56,000 miles. My mother had it from new and I've had it for the last couple of years, so I know it's been looked after.

On Wednesday, with no warning, it had a sudden and complete loss of power after I'd been driving for about ten minutes. No warning at all, no noises or anything. I managed to coast it off the road and it wouldn't start again.

The recovery mechanic thought it was the crank sensor but couldn't get the old one out at the roadside to replace it so took me to Halfords. I'd have preferred an independent place but needed somewhere that the recovery truck could get into to drop the car off, which did repairs and was walking distance from home so it was my only option!

Having heard nothing since I arranged for them to do the repair, I rang Halfords at lunchtime today and were told they'd replaced the crank sensor which didn't help, so they thought it was probably the wiring leading to the sensor and were going to look at that next. At the end of the day they rang back and said they'd fixed the engine. I was in a noisy place and couldn't hear what they said had been the problem (think I may have heard the word 'coil' mentioned) but they said the engine was running again and these repairs would cost me £150.

The guy then said that when he went to move the car it wouldn't move anywhere and the clutch must have gone! I pointed out that the clutch had been fine before all this happened and he said it must have been damaged in the breakdown. I have no idea if this is feasible - I did try changing gears a few times after the power loss to see if it made any difference (it didn't).

He's quoted me another £570 to replace the clutch on the basis that it's 5 hours of labour. Again, I'm no expert but this seems like a lot! That said, I'm not sure I have a choice because even if I find a garage which will charge less, how would I get it to them if it's not moving at all?

I need the car to get to work so ideally need them to at least start sorting it tomorrow so I can collect it on Monday.

Any thoughts or advice gratefully recieved!

Iceweasel

Is this the AA who took you to Halfords?

See here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3901305

They are all part of the same commercial group - sole objective is to obtain max profit for shareholders.

I (and countless others) do not trust either of them.

Get an independant garage to pick up your car then diagnose and fix whatever it is is wrong with it.

Could be anything.

I doubt it can be fixed for Monday though.

Eponym

Thanks. No, I'm with Autoaid and they called out Egertons Recovery for me. The recovery mechanic didn't put me under any pressure to pick anywhere in particular, I said Halfords because it's close to home.

SailorSam

A 2002 Clio, even if it is in good condition it can't be worth spending £570 to get it fixed. Surely Halfords never went ahead without your Ok. It's years since i needed a clutch but that sounds way over the price. Agree you need to try to get a mate to tow you home then either a local garage or one of these mobile mechanics who'll work outside your house.

arcon5

When it lost power, could you try accelerate in gear and hear/see the engine rev but just not the car moving faster

Eponym

SailorSam wrote: »

A 2002 Clio, even if it is in good condition it can't be worth spending £570 to get it fixed. Surely Halfords never went ahead without your Ok. It's years since i needed a clutch but that sounds way over the price. Agree you need to try to get a mate to tow you home then either a local garage or one of these mobile mechanics who'll work outside your house.

They haven't gone ahead, I need to tell them tomorrow if I want them to.

"When it lost power, could you try accelerate in gear and hear/see the engine rev but just not the car moving faster"

Yes, exactly. I kept it in gear, pressed the accelerator but nothing happened except exceptionally high revs. I just kept coasting along with the momentum.

mcjordi

£570 for a clutch on a clio.. you are being robbed.. see an indy.. probably be at least half that...

Eponym

mcjordi wrote: »

£570 for a clutch on a clio.. you are being robbed.. see an indy.. probably be at least half that...

Thanks, that's what I thought. Going to ring a couple in the morning and see if they can quote me something decent.

salubrious

It's a 5.5 hour job, that is is the repair time that garages will quote on.

I'm sure you can get it down from £570 but not by 50%

Marktheshark

There is an old trick with Hydraulic clutches.
Press the pedal, open the hydraulic line, let the pedal go and hey presto no clutch until its bled again.
I would get a better garage to check the hydraulic pressure.

AdrianC

Marktheshark wrote: »

There is an old trick with Hydraulic clutches.
Press the pedal, open the hydraulic line, let the pedal go and hey presto no clutch until its bled again.
I would get a better garage to check the hydraulic pressure.

Small problem with that conspiracy theory... It's not a hydraulic clutch, but a cable.