Clutch replaced at 90k miles. Failed at 97k. Do I have a claim that this should be warranty repair?

robii

DoaM wrote: »

If you've not noticed any slip when driving then I can't see how a slave fault would cause the clutch to wear excessively ... pressing in the clutch pedal releases the 2 clutch plates to allow gear changes; so a slave fault as described would mean that the 2 plates are being pressed together as normal.

Therefore I can't see how any clutch failure could be down to you or the slave.

What warranty was provided for the replacement clutch? If there was nothing specific then you'd only have the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to rely on. After ~18 months then you wouldn't be entitled to a free replacement.

OK, thanks. If I can separate the slave cylinder failure from the physical clutch failure then I can at least argue that the clutch should not have failed at 7,000 miles. I'm not sure on the warranty.

AdrianC

Except that saying "The clutch shouldn't have failed" doesn't cover if it's been contaminated by the hydraulic failure. It's not that replacement clutch that's failed due to faulty parts or workmanship - it's been broken by an external factor.

robii

AdrianC wrote: »

If the friction plate's been contaminated by leaking hydraulic fluid...

Looking at the reservoir, there's not a great deal of fluid to begin with and the level was between min and max, so if there was a leak it could only have been a small one. I realise it's nigh on impossible for you to say without seeing the car, but given what I've said, is a small leak likely to cause a physical clutch failure?

I just want to arm myself with a bit of knowledge so I can argue my case.

AdrianC

I don't know exactly how it all sits together on that particular box, but - yes - it's entirely feasible that a slave leak would contaminate the friction plate.

alan_d

OP:
I don't think you have any case against the garage.
From the info here, it's possible that you'd get away with just replacing the slave cylinder, however if the clutch friction maternal has been contaminated with hydraulic fluid would likely mean that it now slips or judders. The garage has (rightly) advised you that you need to replace the clutch now.
The garage's workmanship and the replacement clutch quality are not in question here, just bad luck that the slave has failed. Perhaps it should have also been changed when the clutch was, but unless it's a concentric slave (which it isn't), that would be unusual.

robii

OK, looks like I'll have to just accept it

Thanks for the info

facade

robii wrote: »

Looking at the reservoir, there's not a great deal of fluid to begin with and the level was between min and max, so if there was a leak it could only have been a small one. I realise it's nigh on impossible for you to say without seeing the car, but given what I've said, is a small leak likely to cause a physical clutch failure?

I just want to arm myself with a bit of knowledge so I can argue my case.

The slave is external, I wouldn't expect it to get fluid onto the clutch plate, I'd ask them to change the slave and see how it drives, but it is your money, and it will make the bill larger if the clutch does need changing as they are doing 2 lots of labour.


Anyway, if you tell them to try changing just the slave, that is what they will do, you are paying after all






Depends on which Brava you have. One gearbox has the lever completely outside the gearbox so no fluid could ever get in the bell housing, the other has it inside with the cylinder on the outside, so fluid can get inside, but I'd expect it to just run to the bottom of the bell housing.

robii

facade wrote: »

Depends on which Brava you have. One gearbox has the lever completely outside the gearbox so no fluid could ever get in the bell housing, the other has it inside with the cylinder on the outside, so fluid can get inside, but I'd expect it to just run to the bottom of the bell housing.

2009 Bravo, 1.4 Petrol (not the turbo version)

facade

robii wrote: »

2009 Bravo, 1.4 Petrol (not the turbo version)

Some 1.4s are concentric according to eBay :eek:




I bet yours is a concentric slave, which is why the garage is saying change the clutch again. (I thought they were mad suggesting dropping the gearbox when an external slave (£50) would change in half an hour)

The gearbox will have to come out (= loads of cash) to change the slave (=£100+) so a new complete clutch is only about £75 on top of that.


There is every chance that fluid squirts forwards into the clutch as well.




Ask for a price to replace just the slave (sit down before they tell you) and for a price to replace the slave and clutch (don't get up after they told you the first one) and make your mind up then.



If I was doing it myself, I'd inspect the clutch and only get a new one if it needed it. The garage could inspect yours, and send the new clutch back unopened if it doesn't need it. Ask them how much on top of just changing the slave that would cost.

robii

Just spoke to the mechanic and he says the bearing on the clutch had gone? That caused the problem with the slave cylinder, rather than the other way round. Warranty is 12 months on the clutch

These things can happen I suppose, but now worried about the clutch going again in 18 months time. Clutch itself isn't that expensive but the labour isn't cheap