Flywheel issue? 07 RS Wagon

[Smiley_Walsh]

Excuse me if this has been discussed before - I can't find the information I'm looking for using the search. And I'm new! (ish)

My, newly acquired RS wagon has just begun to not start, due to the battery not turning the engine over. I noticed it was labouring a couple of days ago, and now it mostly fails to turn for more than 1 second.

I've been straight to a local battery specialist who advised me that the battery is fine, and that the alternator is charging it.

Josh, at Camden GTI, on hearing the engine running said that he thinks it is the Dual Mass Flywheel beginning to fail that is causing the problem.. There is an audible tapping noise, which is most apparent (to me) when starting and stopping the engine.
His explanation was that the failing flywheel is causing a large load for the starter to turn over which drains the battery. While I understand the load/drain suggestion, would the battery not be charged enough after a drive, of say 30 mins, to restart the engine?

If this is the problem, I want to fix it in the cheapest way, which appears to be by replacing the DMF with a SMF. Either way, it looks like it is going to cost..

I have been researching online to source a decent priced SMF clutch kit for my RS (I'd be asking CGTI to fit at C. $650 labour):

2007 2.0 RS BWA 1Z engine. 6-speed. TFSI. 147kw

I haven't had much luck in finding a supplier, other than on eBay:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=261104807838&globalID=EB AY-

which totals $700 AUD delivered from UK.

Most parts search databases on clutch supplier websites provide the DMF as their only solution for replacement, in my experience so far.

Does anyone one have any experience and / or suggestions with this problem causing the battery drain issue which I am experiencing?

Any good suggestions on a cost effective (cheaper) way to source the SMF clutch kit - if required?

Thanks,

Chris

[Smiley_Walsh]

Update: I've replaced the battery to see how things go for now, as it showed 166 CCA when tested today.

[brad]

I doubt you'll get much cheaper than $700.

Even a Valeo std clutch kit & DMF is around that price.

You might try Direct Clutch Services in Brisbane but from past experience the local folk like to make good profit.

SachsPerformance sell an SMF kit online but they are 1098 Euro plus shipping. I've seen them on eBay for about GBP500

[Martin]

And 30 minutes is not enough to charge a battery
From flat the battery takes a minimum of 4 hours to fast charge (and it's not good to frequently charge it that quickly)

The batteries main job is to start the car unaided
The alternator's job is to keep the battery topped up and supply enough current for the car equipment

[woofy]

I saw heaps about DMF being replaced in the UK and kept an eye on it, but haven't heard peep about anyone here seeing it. Could be that they changed the problem causing part in a revision.

[Smiley_Walsh]

Thanks.
Martin, my main issue with the battery was what had caused it to drain, apparently quite suddenly. My driving 'habits' have never been cause for any battery to drain in the past, as I'm sure the alternator is doing more than just providing enough energy to keep things running i.e. providing enough charge to top up the battery. Even after a few hours driving, the battery had still retained only minimal charge.
Since replacing the it, I've monitored the battery's voltage which has appeared to remain constant.

I'll monitor the apparent dual mass flywheel noise, as I'm in no rush to shell out on replacing that just yet unless necessary.

Can anyone confirm that replacing the DMF with a SMF is acceptable for a 2.0 TFSI? (2007 vRS BWA engine code).

As I said, I sourced a SMF and clutch kit in the UK, linked above in my first post. None of the suppliers, who I have contacted, in Aus offer a SMF as a replacement for the standard DMF.

As woofy said, I read a fair bit about DMF/SMF replacement on Briskoda, but haven't been able to find a great deal on replacements which people have undertaken here.
As mine is an '07, I can't imagine any revision had been applied to remedy any problem with the DMF. I don't believe there is one, other than replacing the DMF entirely with a new one!

[wfdTamar]

Shame this is the wrong one - $250 for a new genuine one. I would have got it as a spare for mine but it seems not right for mine either.

VW Golf Passat Audi A3 Skoda 2L TDI NEW Genuine FLY Wheel Sachs 03L 105 266 BQ | eBay

[brad]

The TDI units seem a lot more common / cheaper.

Skoda's own fix for clutch issues in the 1.9tdi is to fit a SMF in place of the DMF