Manual clutch failing 2nd time in 5 years

[iampivot]

So at my 90K service they call me up to say that the main clutch cylinder needs replacement. Again. The last time it happened it was done under warranty, but now, since it's about 2 years and 7 months since it was replaced the first time, there's no longer any warranty on the parts.

Am I driving the car the wrong way, or should I be fuming on the phone to VW? It's a 5 year old MkV 2.0FSI, and it seems to be turning into a lemon, having previously had my radiator fan replaced, new coil packs put in, central locking lock fail, etc.

[Idle]

Unless you habitually drive with your foot on the clutch pedal, there's not much you can do to extend its life.

Maybe there's a change-over recon available, or a cylinder that doesn't corrode?

[iampivot]

Unless you habitually drive with your foot on the clutch pedal, there's not much you can do to extend its life.

Life expectancy should be more than two and a half year though? The car's gone about 98K km.

[ian]

So at my 90K service they call me up to say that the main clutch cylinder needs replacement. Again. The last time it happened it was done under warranty, but now, since it's about 2 years and 7 months since it was replaced the first time, there's no longer any warranty on the parts.

Am I driving the car the wrong way, or should I be fuming on the phone to VW? It's a 5 year old MkV 2.0FSI, and it seems to be turning into a lemon, having previously had my radiator fan replaced, new coil packs put in, central locking lock fail, etc.

I'd be going to a brake and clutch repair place , if its the master cylinder it can be sleeved with a stainless steel insert and will out last the original .

[benough]

Why is it not warranted? It's under the 3 year, 100,000kms

[h100vw]

What have they said is wrong with it?

Gavin

[iampivot]

What have they said is wrong with it?

The vehicle is hard to select gears while driving, we noticed that the clutch master cylinder is leaking under pressure, we removed the pressure bleeder and checked it manually, found a slight weep, the leak is coming from inside the cylinder and a new master cylinder is required.

The left hand front stabiliser bar is split

The engine stabiliser bar is cracked

We have also carried out a recall for 4x ignition coils

[iampivot]

Why is it not warranted? It's under the 3 year, 100,000kms

The car is five years old, so out of warranty.

[iampivot]

How can stabiliser bars crack and split on a five year old car, that's gone less than 100K kms?

[brad]

Why is it not warranted? It's under the 3 year, 100,000kms

Car is 5 years old but I assume you mean the part as an individual item?
Warranty on replacement parts is only 2 years.

OP: Why on earth are you still going to a dealership? Is there a VW specialist handy to you? True, the dealer has given you a set of coils for nothing but you'd be paying through the nose for the other stuff.

Also, given how quickly the master cylinder has failed, I would ask to have a chat to the Service Manager & see what they can do for you. You might not get it for free but they may be able to give you the part free if you pay the labour. Successive failures within similar time frames could be a bigger issue such as misaligned actuator rod or an issue further down the line at the slave cylinder.

[Idle]

How can stabiliser bars crack and split on a five year old car, that's gone less than 100K kms?

Stabiliser bars are torsion springs — they work by offering resistance to twisting action and their service life is governed by a combination of the steel quality, how well they're tempered (there's always the one that's not quite right — might have been just that little too hot or cold or cooled too quickly/slowly), how many times they're twisted and (particularly) how far.

A bad one on a car that's driven normally and never goes off good roads might outlast the car.

A really good one on a car that lives on bad roads and gets thrashed might fail in 50,000K or less.

Splitting is a sign of metal fatigue — you can demonstrate it for yourself by repeatedly twisting and untwisting a bit of coathanger wire.

In the days when just about all vehicles had leaf springs and no shocks, replacing/repairing cracked and sagging springs was a lucrative industry.

[jdd]

I would certainly be taking it to a VW specialist, not a dealer.
3 years does seem a rather short life for a clutch master cylinder. The cause can only be corrosion and/or a damaged seal if it’s leaking
If this was my car I would be getting the master sleaved with a stainless insert and a new seal kit fitted, that way it should last for a long time.

[iampivot]

I would certainly be taking it to a VW specialist, not a dealer.
3 years does seem a rather short life for a clutch master cylinder. The cause can only be corrosion and/or a damaged seal if it’s leaking
If this was my car I would be getting the master sleaved with a stainless insert and a new seal kit fitted, that way it should last for a long time.

Ok, would appreciate any links to respectable companies. Am in the Brisbane area.

[ian]

Ok, would appreciate any links to respectable companies. Am in the Brisbane area.

Better Brakes or just look in the yellow pages i'm sure there many in there that could repair it at half the price of a new one .

[iampivot]

Highway volkswagen has been a royal nightmare this time! 12 days and it's still not fixed! Am wondering if their reputation is aiming for the bucket..