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

photome

thescouselander wrote: »

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?

Not a sensible question though, a clutch can go at any time at any mileage

thescouselander

photome wrote: »

Not a sensible question though, a clutch can go at any time at any mileage

No, it's an entirely sensible question. While clutches can fail suddenly it's very unusual on a modern car and it's far more likely there is some other factor at work. If driving style is one of those factors surely it's best to find out now rather than wreck a second car. In fact driver misuse is probably the most likely reason for premature clutch failure these days.

Eponym

colino wrote: »

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.

I was driving along perfectly normally and then there was suddenly no power. I managed to coast to a safe place, turned the key to the off position and then back on, but nothing happened.

Thanks for the tips!

To the poster who asked if it's been driven with a foot partially on the clutch, no, it hasn't. It's a mystery to me as well!