Clutch Probem???

[PeterHBne]

So I’m waiting at the lights with car in gear and clutch in when the clutch pedal starts pulsing/vibrating really badly. Let it out and the revs sort of go up then dip then back up. Drove off and when in gear the car drives fine – no clutch slippage. However when changing gears the pedal vibrates at about the quarter point in and you can hear rather bad noises. I managed to get it home. A couple of times the clutch pedal would almost drop to the floor. It sounds better now (I’m not driving it) and my first thought was fried clutch, but given that when in gear it drives fine (albeit with some noises) I’m thinking it is not.

Any clues?

Also VW Roadside Assist are telling me that clutches are NOT covered by warranty but in the same breath said that it was up to the dealer.

Any similar experiences??

[Chipped]

I had a similar problem and my mech told me my clutch was on the way out.
Do you have a chipped GTi?
I just had a ECS clutch kit put it...yes it handles the power a lot better and will last a lot longer and acceleration is faster but on the downside its quite noisey...car almost now has that "diesel" engine sound....but it is a high performance clutch.

[mikepologti]

did you get a light weight flywheel with that ecs clutch , chipped?

[Y2008]

I remember i had a similar issue a few years ago with another car and it ended up being the cluch master.

[PeterHBne]

I remember i had a similar issue a few years ago with another car and it ended up being the cluch master.

Thats what I'm thinking. I dont drag it, it's not chipped and I really dont light it up the lights.

When I drove it home in gear it drove fine - normal acceleration - surely not indicitave of a screwed clutch. No slippage. Just vibrations and noises

When you put the clutch peddle in it would vibrate and sometimes almost feel like it would go loose and drop to the floor. But then it almost felt OK. Strange.

VW Newstead said they will disassemble it (4hrs labour) and make their own judement as to wether whatever is wrong is due to abuse (not waranty) or a waranty issue. How do u judge that?

Funnily enough I don't really trust them - their attitude was poor. After 4 phone calls to see if someone had taken 2 mintes out of their busy day to drive the damn thing I was told yes and they would follow standard VW procedures - no feedback whatsoever.

[PeterHBne]

Jimmy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need some REAL advice and ammo to deal with the expected response (yeah mate - looks like abuse to us so cough up a couple of grand) from the dealer tomorrow.

[h100vw]

Let me know if you need a clutch and PM Jimmy.

Gavin

Get some photos of the 'damage' for us too.

[PeterHBne]

Let me know if you need a clutch and PM Jimmy.

Gavin

Get some photos of the 'damage' for us too.

Good advice.

I've PM'ed Jimmy and if they try to pass it off as abuse I will make it very clear that this will not sit well with me as I really DONT abuse my car and I will visit dealership to see what they determine as 'abuse', take photos and seek further advice.

[PeterHBne]

Out of interest, if it comes to that, what is a clutch worth and what would a 'normal' mechanic charge to install?

[Jmac]

Pm sent and by the way it sounds like the slave cylinder rod had come adrift on the pressure plate, seen it before. Remove the 2 bolts for the slave and that will tel you. Could also be a snapped release arm, also common, not the clutch from what i read mate. Anyway ill have a look for you mate, tomorrow if poss
Jmac

[h100vw]

PMd you with some details Peter.

Gavin

[PeterHBne]

Thanks fellas - much appreciated as always!

Yeah - I don't think it's the clutch either.

Jimmy - it's with the highly competent folks at Austral who are going to pull it all apart even after driving it (maybe or maybe not - they said they did) which should have made them think - hmmmmm, the clutch actually seems OK, maybe it's something else. So I might suggest they look at what you suggest first.

[Chrisuk-polo]

suspect the dual mass flywheel , one lad over here got his replaced under warranty!

[PeterHBne]

Austral just confirmed that the clutch is a warrantable item. Still don't really know what exactly is wrong he mumbled somethig about the paddles.

Don't really care - as long as i don't have to pay for it

[Chipped]

did you get a light weight flywheel with that ecs clutch , chipped?

Sorry, Mike yes the 14lb lightened fly-wheel.