Clutch replaced - further problems

rubble2

Hi,

Bit of a pre-emptive strike here as we do not yet have the full story.

We have a local trusted mechanic that our family and friends all use and have done for years - great service.

last year one of my daughters friends needed a clutch replacing on her Zafira so went to trusted mechanic for repair - he said 'we don't do clutches ' - fair enough, and he suggested a company about 15 miles away that specialises in clutch and gearbox repairs who completed the replacement without further problems.

Fast forward to last month and the clutch on my daughters Focus was beginning to slip so she approached the clutch specialist without consulting the local mechanic given what was said last year. The clutch was replaced and all seemed well until this morning when she was driving and heard a loud Clunk and lost all drive to the front wheels.

I suspected the clutch and when I went to have a look i could see the nearside driveshaft hanging down towards the road, daughter rang the clutch specialist who said 'not covered by warranty as it is not the clutch that has failed' fair enough I suppose.

The car has been recovered to the local trusted mechanic who had a quick initial look and the first thing he said was 'have you had any work done on the car recently' Daughter explained about the clutch (mechanic said why didn't you bring it here) Grrr. Turns out they do replace clutches on certain cars.

His next comment was 'I don't want to point any fingers but the whole gearbox assembly has dropped and snapped the drive shaft -looks like the gearbox mounts have not been replaced or tightened properly.

Situation at the moment is that car is being assessed for the extent of the damage, my question is What liability should the clutch replacement company take if it turns out that this failure points to their negligence?

forgotmyname

Get a report from your mechanic, and then speak to the clutch company.
Dont get the work done until you have spokenn to them first.

If they want to collect the car and fix it then let them, they may cover the costs for your guy to repair it. But dont get the work done first.

Otherwise they may just say you should have called us first.

liltzero

Clutch company has zero liability.

DoaM

liltzero wrote: »

Clutch company has zero liability.

You base that on what exactly?

BeenThroughItAll

DoaM wrote: »

You base that on what exactly?

Extensive Matchbox ownership experience.

Aylesbury_Duck

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Extensive Matchbox ownership experience.

And using only Corgi-registered garages.

motorguy

DoaM wrote: »

You base that on what exactly?

Take your pick really -

• Mental illness?
• Abject stupidity?
• Trolling?
• All of the above?

Have a read at his posts - they're all a similar level of dross.

mcpitman

liltzero wrote: »

Clutch company has zero liability.

Yet more utter twaddle

rubble2

Update.

We decided to go ahead and get the car repaired at the local garage because a) it wouldn't involve trailering the car 15 miles to the clutch specialist. and b) Daughter needed the car back on the road asap.

Outcome is as expected, the gearbox mount has failed in some way causing the gearbox to drop and shearing the drive shaft. Garage now seems more reluctant to blame the clutch replacement place but has said that he has never seen a gearbox mount fail 'of its own accord'.

Mechanic also said that she was really lucky because if the gearbox had fallen a couple of inches further and hit the road she would be looking at a replacement gearbox.

All in, it has cost £350 to fix, we are collecting the car today and I will ask for some further information regarding the circumstances surrounding the failure and will then approach the clutch specialist - I feel though that if we get anything in the way of compensation it will be through goodwill as we cannot conclusively prove their negligence.

System

rubble2 wrote: »

Garage now seems more reluctant to blame the clutch replacement place but has said that he has never seen a gearbox mount fail 'of its own accord'.

Despite what he says, they can do and I've seen it a few times over the years, even seen the bolts for the mount that go into the subframe snap. The clutch company would only be liable if the bolts had come undone but if the bracket has sheared or the rubber bushing has come adrift then that really isn't likely to be anything to do with the company who did the clutch.

keithmac

How long had she had the car back from the clutch company, can you post a picture of the failed mount?.

To be fair you should have given them first opportunity to repair the car but if they refused point blank to even look at it then that doesn't stand them in good stead..