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

arcon5

Eponym wrote: »

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.

Could well be clutch then. They don't always give any notice when they fail. Some slip for a while, some just go out of nowhere. Seen it on a mini cooper and a Clio.

bazster

It certainly sounds like clutch failure, so why on earth did they replace the crank sensor?

SailorSam

bazster wrote: »

It certainly sounds like clutch failure, so why on earth did they replace the crank sensor?

What do you expect when you go to Halfords, they'll do anything to get more money out of customers. Just don't expect them to fix your car

facade

bazster wrote: »

It certainly sounds like clutch failure, so why on earth did they replace the crank sensor?

Having worn out the clutch, the OP had been revving it furiously trying to get it to move, then the engine cut out and wouldn't restart. It was taken to Halfords with the symptoms "won't start, won't go"

Most likely they saw the Renault badge, and knew it would be a wiring fault, but changed the crank sensor in the vain hope that it would prove an easy fix, then spent ages rewiring it.

Once the engine was started, they then found the clutch had completely gone.

Eponym

I've had three quotes from independent garages this morning with quite a range. One says they would charge at least the same as Halfords (£570), one says £422.38 and one says £336!

burlington6

Anyone who uses the AA for a pre purchase inspect are wasting their money.

They would slate a new car if they didn't know it was new. Useless clowns

colino

With everything mechanical, you have to be methodical to work out what is going on, even if you are not going to fix it yourself.
In your original post, you said, "it had a sudden and complete loss of power". And, "it wouldn't start again". Do you mean the engine shut off and it wouldn't restart? If so, that is an engine/electrical fault with absolutely nothing to do with the clutch.
If the car is now starting and running, with no drive to the wheels, it is peculiar that such an unconnected fault could have occurred simultaneously.
1. You need a good, recommended, friendly, independent garage to check the car over.
2. Lack of drive doesn't automatically mean new clutch. Despite the generalistic reputation of all things French, the petrols are hardy beasts. While they do have an appetite for wheel bearings, I've seen them presented for MOT with driveshafts hanging out and cv joints rattling. There's lots to be checked over, simply, before condemning a clutch.
3. Even with a good history, low insurance car like this, if you do need to spend a lot of money on it, think twice. They are very cheap to buy second hand now so don't throw good money after bad.

tykesi

burlington6 wrote: »

Anyone who uses the AA for a pre purchase inspect are wasting their money.

They would slate a new car if they didn't know it was new. Useless clowns

What relevance does that have to this thread?

facade

Eponym wrote: »

"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.

I presume the exceptionally hig revs were shortly followed by the engine stopping and not restarting, or did you turn the engine off whilst waiting for the breakdown van, and then it wouldn't start again?

thescouselander

The question is how has the clutch gone at only 56,000? Has someone been driving it round with their foot resting on the clutch pedal?