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Peugeot 107 (Auto) - Clutch replacement advice

Posting on behalf of my partner. Neither one of us has any clue when it comes to the mechanical side of cars, so looking for some advice.

She has a 2009 Peugeot 107 semi-auto. We went away in January and on the drive to holiday lodge, the car started beeping rapidly but only intermittently. The car is quite basic and displayed no warning lights to say what the beeping was. It seemed to only happen when accelerating, though. 
After some Googling, we found multiple forums where people had the same issue and it seemed the consensus was the clutch was on the way out. Apparently a known thing at around 40,000 miles with these cars.

When we returned from our holiday, she booked the car in with a local independent garage to get the clutch replaced. We've never used this garage before as we've not long moved to the area, but they were recommended on the Next Door app and Google reviews are 4.8* with 116 reviews. Pretty good we thought.

The car was booked in for 1st Feb. The garage were expecting it would be a one-day job, but now 3 weeks later and they've still got the car and we get the impression they are fobbing us off.

Here are the updates we've had from them, (have put dates where known):

1. 02/02/22 - The clutch was changed, but they were struggling to recalibrate it with the car. 

2. Thought they might need to send off the actuator for repair, will let us know.

3. Actuator taken out of the car and tested - nothing wrong with it. Will check wiring instead.

4. We rang them and they had no update, but said they hadn’t received the wiring diagram until later on in the afternoon so no progress.

5. 05/02/22 - Nothing said about wiring, told instead that actuator does need to be sent off after all.

6. 11/02/22 AM - Couldn’t get hold of the company who’d been sent the actuator. PM: Actuator being sent back after refurb.

7. 14/02/22  - Actuator has been refurbished but the garage seems to think it’s now an incorrect clutch kit that’s been fitted.

8. 16/02/22  - Waiting for software (?) to download to be able to take the car for a road test. No mention as to whether the clutch kit was indeed the wrong one. My partner didn't think to ask either, but will be asking them the next time she speaks to them.

9. 17/02/22 - Still waiting on software to finish downloading

10. 21/02/22 - Software update hasn’t worked, now waiting on someone with a more detailed machine to run their own checks. 

None of these updates really make much sense to us, and she's getting desperate to have her car back.

Partner doesn't know what to say to the garage - she just asks them to keep her updated as she doesn't know anything about cars which is why we're reaching out to people who are a bit more clued up. 

What would you think about this situation? Is there anything we can do to get things sorted any quicker?

I'm in work today but will try to answer any questions if more info is needed. Don't know how helpful I can be as it's not my car and as mentioned, we are clueless with cars anyway.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Goudy
    Goudy Posts: 1,810 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 22 February 2022 at 11:24AM
    Unfortunately I'm no expert on these semi auto gearboxes though I know they do have a fair few faults, the main one is where to get them repaired when they go wrong.
    A lot of garages just don't understand them properly and as you've discovered, things don't turn out as they should once they've had them apart.

    Quite often these gearbox problems on one of these is a symptom not the fault as they require all sorts of data from sensors all around the car to work, like wheel speed and throttle position, so a problem elsewhere can effect the gearbox.

    The actuators are motor driven and require a lot of power to work and work quickly, so a low battery or charging problem can cause lots of problems.

    These gearboxes do require the clutch actuator reset quite often.
    What appears to be a worn clutch is often just an actuator position not being able to auto adjust for the wearing clutch, but you'll usually get sold a new clutch.

    Another issue is the gearboxes ECU position.
    It's under the battery box and its connector rubber boot can perish, being so low can let moisture in the connector and cause problems.
    It's fairly well known and Citroen (C1 same as 107) list a repair kit and repair specs, Peugeot don't for some reason.
  • Goudy said:
    Unfortunately I'm no expert on these semi auto gearboxes though I know they do have a fair few faults, the main one is where to get them repaired when they go wrong.
    A lot of garages just don't understand them properly and as you've discovered, things don't turn out as they should once they've had them apart.

    Quite often these gearbox problems on one of these is a symptom not the fault as they require all sorts of data from sensors all around the car to work, like wheel speed and throttle position, so a problem elsewhere can effect the gearbox.

    The actuators are motor driven and require a lot of power to work and work quickly, so a low battery or charging problem can cause lots of problems.

    These gearboxes do require the clutch actuator reset quite often.
    What appears to be a worn clutch is often just an actuator position not being able to auto adjust for the wearing clutch, but you'll usually get sold a new clutch.

    Another issue is the gearboxes ECU position.
    It's under the battery box and its connector rubber boot can perish, being so low can let moisture in the connector and cause problems.
    It's fairly well known and Citroen (C1 same as 107) list a repair kit and repair specs, Peugeot don't for some reason.
    Thank you for taking the time to reply and for breaking it down so I understand it. I wish the garage had explained how difficult they can be, rather than the updates that didn't help us much.

    I do believe the clutch was worn as my partner has owned the car for nearly 5 years and it hasn't really had a proper service or anything. Except for new tyres and MOTs, it hasn't been to a garage for anything else I don't think.

    I feel a little better now about how long they've had it too.
  • Goudy
    Goudy Posts: 1,810 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hopefully it's just due to them not having the computer and specialist software to recalibrate the system after the clutch change, but you might have to gee them up to get in a specialist that has and can.

    I had a leaking clutch slave on a Citreon with a EGS6 automated manual and my trusted (related) gearbox specialist wouldn't touch it.
    The spannering part was no bother, but the bleed and calibration after wasn't in his or anyone he knew's scope, except the dealers.
  • Goudy said:
    Hopefully it's just due to them not having the computer and specialist software to recalibrate the system after the clutch change, but you might have to gee them up to get in a specialist that has and can.

    I had a leaking clutch slave on a Citreon with a EGS6 automated manual and my trusted (related) gearbox specialist wouldn't touch it.
    The spannering part was no bother, but the bleed and calibration after wasn't in his or anyone he knew's scope, except the dealers.
    Just wanted to update - got the car back on Thursday last week.
    All seems well. Garage didn't explain but think the reason it took so long was because as you say, they didn't have the computer and software needed. It wasn't until some other guy came and did what he did that the car was ready.

    Thanks for taking the time to answer, put my partner at ease as she was worried that it was something major wrong with the car and would cost a small fortune to fix. All in £675 so not too bad.
  • Hi IntoTheAbyss,

    I'm just wondering if the issue with the 107 has been resolved. I bought one in September this year and have been having the exact same problems- the beeping with no warning lights, especially when going up hill or accelerating, the obvious struggle the car has when changing gear on a hill (also a semi automatic). Have taken her back to the dealer I had her from, first they had her 3 weeks and put some fluid of some description through, but the beeping etc still remained. So after another 3 -4 weeks I dropped her back again today and they're meant to be taking her to a garage to replace the clutch and gear box. They seem to have been dragging their heels until my friend rang them and told them if they didn't sort it I wanted a different more expensive car at no extra cost to me!! 

    Anyway, I just wondered if they resolved the issue for you and if there is hope for my Flora (sad, but that's her name!)

    Emma
  • Hi IntoTheAbyss,

    I'm just wondering if the issue with the 107 has been resolved. I bought one in September this year and have been having the exact same problems- the beeping with no warning lights, especially when going up hill or accelerating, the obvious struggle the car has when changing gear on a hill (also a semi automatic). Have taken her back to the dealer I had her from, first they had her 3 weeks and put some fluid of some description through, but the beeping etc still remained. So after another 3 -4 weeks I dropped her back again today and they're meant to be taking her to a garage to replace the clutch and gear box. They seem to have been dragging their heels until my friend rang them and told them if they didn't sort it I wanted a different more expensive car at no extra cost to me!! 

    Anyway, I just wondered if they resolved the issue for you and if there is hope for my Flora (sad, but that's her name!)

    Emma
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