Quote:
Originally Posted by FastOnFastOff
Got the car back. Really, I'm just not in a position to make a stink over their not covering the clutch on the warranty. Time being the main factor. My own mechanical ignorance being another. The bill was $1400. I bit the bullet, but asked to speak with someone about the problem.
I spoke with one of the service techs at Auto Nation named Brian. My service rep was a woman named Terri. When speaking to the tech, he said a lot of technical jargon about the components of the clutch...in other words, he explained how a clutch works. He too was baffled by the problem and couldn't provide a straight and clear explanation other than the likely cause of the clutch burning out was due to "rapidly releasing the clutch at high rpm's". I told them outright that I do drive the car hard...canyons, one track day, etc. At the same time, I honestly don't believe I was ABUSING the clutch to no end and for sure do not rapidly release the clutch to chirp the wheels or whatever. I don't drag race, drift, nor do I ride the clutch. In fact the tech said that even riding the clutch wouldn't cause the problem. So I'm still pretty unclear as to what really caused all this heartache. 
Again, at best, we have this situation documented should this happen to somebody else. Sorry about the second photo...dunno why it uploaded sideways...but it provides a vague, ambiguous report. (I'm trying to get the mechanic to email me more pic's from his phone.)
All in all, I'm glad to have the car back after five days. For as many issues I've had with the vehicle in just 4800 miles and 4 months of driving (including crashing it), I still LOVE THE 86!! The $16,000 question is: Will I still love it after the 3 yr/36K mile lease ends...enough to purchase it at that point? |
That's NOT a burned clutch. That's a defective clutch plate. The linings show no signs of heat damage, they just disintegrated.
Jeez, I cannot believe your dealership is pulling that crap. Those clutch linings look BRAND NEW just as you'd expect after only 4,800 miles. That clutch isn't even broken in yet.
Total, total bull crap. Claim your warranty. If Toyota refuses to pay put the pictures in a local newspaper.
Oh, yes, and another thing those labour charges are fraudulent. No way it costs that kind of money to drop a tranny off the back of a rwd boxer engine.
That just has to be covered by warranty. I've never seen such a piece of crap!
Anybody? Anybody thinks that's a normal clutch plate ?