clutch issue
 

I have a dilemma guys and i need some advice. 3 days ago, i got my car checked out at the delearship for engine problems. The exhaust had been making alot of noises in 3-6 gear. The service guy who test drove my car said that nothing was wrong with it and that it must have been the way i drive, he even had a mechanic check it out. Yesterday morning when i drove the car, the RPM goes up but the car would not accelerate fast enough, and the exhaust smells bad. So i took it to the delearship again. Now this morning i got a call from the delearship saying that my clutch have been burn out and that i need a new clutch assembly but it is not covered under warranty. They gave me 2 options.

I can get the parts replace for 1900
or
I can have the car disassemble to find other issues with the car and possibly have them cover it under warranty. but i have to pay 400 for them to pick the cars apart.

My other option is to go somewhere else to get an aftermarket clutch. I called revworks about their ACT HD clutch. That would cost 900 for parts and labor.

FYI: the car have 18000 miles on it, it is my first manual car that i drove with a friend help. I do not race the car, it is my daily driver car to school and work.

No reason to get an aftermarket clutch if you're running stock power. You might need to work at using a manual better, though. I'd look at having an independent shop do the clutch. The dealer is too expensive, usually.

hmmmm........did the dealership give any reason why the clutch would not be covered under warranty?

Had you tried to adjust the clutch in the past?

Have you had a habit of "riding" the clutch?

Have you ever "dumped" the clutch?

Come back .... maybe we can help .... ??

humfrz

The scenario you describe, Is indeed indicative of a slipping clutch. And when that starts, it's pretty much fried.

I find it curious that this never manifested itself before, or during your test drive. At any point, did the dealer drive the car while you weren't there or away from sight?

A clutch should not wear out after 18,000 miles. But it's not an item normally covered under warranty as it's something, like the brakes, that can potentially wear out prematurely depending on it's use and/or abuse. And not to make accusations, but people who are learning to drive are sometimes hard on the clutch. So it's not inconceivable that you simply wore it out. But it could also be defective. I remember my father once had a 5 series BMW with a blown gasket that leaked oil onto the clutch and it was replaced under warranty. But that was a pretty clear-cut case.

Whether they find anything or not, you'll likely have a tough time getting your Scion dealer to replace it under warranty. It could be defective but it's not easy to prove.

It's unfortunate the dealers charge such outrageous prices for parts and labor. But I wouldn't necessary suggest an aftermarket clutch either.

Look into Exedy's stage 1 clutch. Less than $400.

I was not in the car when the dealer test drove it nor did i see him but i am not assuming anything. He even told me that the clutch was fine. When i drove it home from the dealership, everything seems normal.

Now i have to decide if i should disassemble the car to see anything else wrong with it that would prove the clutch to defective. but that would be a 400 risk i have to make.

If you ever plan to trade the car in at that dealer in the future you may want to have them do the servicing, that way they can look for the other issues in the process and give you peace of mind. Yeah it'll be more money but they'll have a hard time faulting you in the future for any records they have if you had the replacement work done there. Doesn't always work but if you're a good negotiator it's one of the only benefits to dealer servicing. *2 cents*

That's really a tough one. While I find it all a bit suspicious, if there were three days between when the dealer drove it and when you first had this issue, it's likely not connected. Or at least, let's say, you'd probably have a tough time making a case that the mechanic may have abused your clutch when he drove it. Even if that is indeed what happened.* I'm not sure I'd really trust the dealer.

At this point, no matter how you look at it, you'll probably have to have the clutch replaced. And if they can find anything defective, which hopefully they will, although unlikely, it's still better to have a Scion dealer work on it.

Lousy situation from any direction.

* If he really did abuse your clutch, you probably would have smelled burned clutch driving away from the dealer. It's not something you can really hide.

I'm confused ..... has the dealership considered that the clutch is shot ... or not?

Back in the day, we had a "quick & dirty" method of getting a feel if a clutch was slipping or not. Set the emergency brake, up the rpms to about 2,500, put the car in 2nd gear and slowly let out the clutch. If the car stalled, the clutch still had some life ...... if the engine kept on turning over, but the car was not going anywhere .... the clutch was slipping.

You might give that a try and get back to us.....;)

humfrz

I think they would have to actually see the clutch with burn marks to say it isn't covered under warranty. But they are probably right something about your driving killed it but it is rude of them to just outright say that without seeing it.

Anyway, just buy an OEM clutch and take it to an enthusiast shop to replace it. Will be MUCH cheaper than going to dealer.

Most important, try to find an experienced drive to ride with you and try to find out what is causing you to burn up the clutch.

Someone in the forum is selling his OEM clutch cheap - http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51057

errrrr - there are actually several others selling cheap too.

It's not a 400 risk, its a 2300 risk to have them tear down I think because they will say its your fault and put in the new OEM piece.

Just buy a clutch and take it to a shop IMO.

Yeah that is possible. im afraid of that. but im also sketchy to buy clutch from other people especially if its 50 cheap.

Just buy a new one (OEM or stage 1 aftermarket) and start a relationship with a shop so you have a place to go when you do future mods.