GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: general_piffle on 06 June 2011, 20:21
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Hi all, I've a problem with the clutch on my MK3 P reg GTI. Low mileage, only done 76,000 miles. However, yesterday driving back into London gear changes started getting harder and harder. It got to the point where I was having to force it into gear with the biting point of the clutch only just off the floor of the car. From Brixton to Peckham I actually thought sod this and just drove in 2nd without changing to make it home!
Anyway, this morning got in the car and the pedal was almost touching the floor. I lifted it up and pumped it several times. Started the car and magically the biting point had returned to being quite high up in the travel of the lever and the gear changes smooth again. Drove her for about 20 mins and all seemed fine. What the hell is going on?!
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Sounds like your clutch slave cylinder is on its way out
HTH Marc
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or the push rod has punched a small hole through the pressure plate, mine went a little like this, soon you wont have any clutch iof it is ;)
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8V or 16V, if it is a 16V then it is hydraulic and it sounds like it is loosing pressure so slave or master cylinder problem.
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im presuming 8v :)
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Thanks for the response guys, and yes it's an 8 valve. With regard to the slave cylinder what difference does it make that it's of the self-adjusting cable type?
And get this, I took her to a local Mr Clutch this morning (the one in Wandsworth on Armoury Way) they did their 'free' test and said clutch was slipping and needed replacing also cable might have stretched and needed replacing. 300 notes all in?! I said I'd look for a second opinion. If the clutch was slipping surely I would have felt it rev but not accelerate and it hasn't done this with me ever, I don't trust them. An independent local garage is having a look tomorrow. Hopefully it'll be a hell of a lot less than 300 quid!
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8V is manual so forget slave cylinder, replace the cable as a 1st step if no better you looking at replacing the clutch.
Whatever happens avoid mr clutch :smiley:
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Mr Clutch really are sh!t, I took one of my previous 8v's to one for a replacement clutch a few years ago as I didn't have time to do it myself and they said they could do it for about £180 all in and I ended up taking it back 3 times and it still didn't think it was quite right.
I'd never use them again!
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Result! Thanks for the advice, thought I'd let you know what happened. Local mechanic took it for a spin with me in it this morning. He did the classic 4th gear clutch test with the handbrake on and it stalled almost instantly with the revs up and clutch out. Nothing wrong with the clutch he said. Then had a look under the bonnet at the cable. He reckons that the self-adjusting cable got stuck for a bit and didn't adjust it then caught up hence the clutch being fine now. His recommendation was to do nothing as it's fine unless of course it becomes a persistent problem over time. Guess who I'll be taking it back to?!
And this is the email I fired off to Mr Clutch's complaints department:
I took my P reg Golf GTI to the XXX branch on the morning of Monday June 6th 2011. I had had a problem with the clutch not engaging gears properly (not slipping) 2 days before but when driving to Wandsworth the clutch and gear changing seemed fine. I had the free test done to make sure and was shocked when I was told that I'd need both the cable and the entire clutch replacing as the clutch was slipping according to your mechanic (XXX). I've been driving for over 20 years and know what clutch slip feels like (increase in revs no increase in acceleration) and was sure the clutch on my Golf wasn't slipping. I was quoted approx £300 for parts and labour. I said I was going to have a think and seek a second opinion. I got a local mechanic to have a look after explaining what had happened. He did the classic 4th gear clutch test (with me in the car) with the handbrake on and the car stalled almost immediately his professional opinion was the clutch wasn't slipping at all. He had a look at the cable and said in his opinion the cable had stuck (self adjusting) and then caught up with itself, hence why the clutch had seemed to not be working briefly and was then fine the following day. He also said that they could do this and there was no need to replace it or do anything to the clutch unless it became a persistent problem, which in his opinion was unlikely. I phoned Mr Clutch at Wandsworth to tell them what had happened. The Manager XXX apologised and said he'd talk to the mechanic. Frankly I'm not happy as I feel that I've been lied to and that Mr Clutch has tried to make money out of me by recommending work that didn't need to be done. This is unacceptable. How do you suggest to resolve the situation? Thanks.
Let's see what they come back with! :huh:
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haha :D
see what they say, however bear my situation in mind as i went through the same thought pattern and my clutch was fubard thanks to the arm
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haha :D
see what they say, however bear my situation in mind as i went through the same thought pattern and my clutch was fubard thanks to the arm
I will robz! Did your clutch go long after you had the initial problem? What sort of mileage was this at? I'm really hoping it's not what happened to you as the clutch really does seem as good as gold now after driving around in stop/start London traffic for a fair while since it happened. Here's hoping!
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Yeah, basically clutch went to the floor, was told check the cable, I reset it as it was great!
Drove a mile or so and pop, gone again!
Replaced the pressure plate, was great again!
Then a few months later it went again!
Replaced a whole clutch and the push rod and the release bearing, job done, not had a problem since!
The push rod had become rough an was drilling through the pressure plates :)
Mine is only 80000 miles but has bee ragged by previous owners I think as I'm currently replacing the stem seals!
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Clutch is still fine! This is the email chain between me and Mr Clutch's Customer Complaints Dept, thought you might like to see it:
Dear Mr XXX
Thank you for your letter dated 7th June 2011.
We apologise if you feel you have, in any way, received a poor level of
service from our Wandsworth Branch. We aim to maintain a high level of
standards at all times with both our products and customer service.
We appreciate all feedback provided as our customer’s opinions allow us to
improve and progress as a company and maintain the highest standard
possible. We are not associated with any mal-practice or creative selling
and are working with trading standards on displaying our high standards and
transparency.
Whilst it is hard to pass judgement on the events, we take any claims like
this very seriously. An investigation is already underway and is being
conducted by our Senior Management team, who will assess your claims in
order to ensure this remains an isolated incident.
I hope I have gone some way to allaying your concerns.
Assuring you of our best intentions at all times.
David XXX BSc Hons
Mr Clutch Customer Relations
My reply:
Dear Mr XXX,
Thank you for your reply. I take it that the results of the investigation will be shared with me once you have them? Over what sort of time-frame will this be? Thanks for taking prompt action. In these days of sharing information, recommendations, and so on digitally it's important that companies are effective in their response to examples of poor service. Never mind worse than poor service but apparently being lied to. When the Wandsworth mechanic told me that the clutch was slipping I said it can't be I've been driving the car around for months, I would have felt it. His reply was simply well it is because I've just tested it.
You know those situations in life when something doesn't 'feel' right and all your alarm bells start ringing? Well this was one of those situations. My local mechanic had nothing to gain by taking the car for a test drive and testing the clutch with me in the car and then turning around and saying it wasn't slipping and there was no need for me to do anything.
Yours sincerely,
Joel XXX
His reply:
Dear Mr XXX
Thank you for your email dated 8th June 2011.
We are always grateful for communications such as your own, as we pride ourselves on our service levels.
If our senior managers investigations prove to confirm the concerns raised by yourself then relevant action will be taken, whether that be disciplinary or removal of staff. Unfortunately due to confidentiality regarding employment I would be unable to disclose exactly what action had been taken.
Be reassured we do not tolerate incidents of poor service or any action against our companies ethics and values.
Assuring you of our best intentions at all times
David XXX BSc Hons
Mr Clutch Customer Relations
My reply:
Dear Mr XXX,
Ah, I see. So no accountability beyond me simply taking your word at face value that 'something' will be done. Not unlike me simply being expected to take at face value the word of your mechanic when he said my clutch is slipping and needed replacing...
Yours sincerely,
J XXX
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Quality email skills haha
Keep it up and keep us updated!! Haha
Well done dude!
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Give em loads. I have had similar situations so I know how you feel. That classic bs line "well it is, ive just tested it".
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Yeah be really careful of mr clutch my mate runs a garage round the corner from one near me. he is always getting work to put right what they messed up. He said they use really cheap clutches aswell in some cases he has had people come in for a new clutch after they fitted a new one 6 months ago.
Makes me sick really they are a big chain and specialise in clutch replacements and so many people have the same trouble with them!