Civic 2.2 clutch given up....

-Mike- · 19 Apr 2015 at 21:35

Hey all,

The clutch has started to let go on the civic at 53k miles. Its currently only really in fourth and up but means the ability to accelerate hard has been removed as it just shows up as lovely clutch slip followed by a bit of grip and then more slip!.

There's a couple of options here and I'd appreciate some advice on which route to take

Take it to Honda dealers and hope that its the pressure plate at fault. This is a common problem with the 2.2 and as long as the clutch itself is showing plenty of friction material HUK are pretty good at covering the cost. Concern here however, is that they may say - No sir its wear and tear and foot me with a massive bill
Buy a revised 325 clutch and flywheel and get them fitted at my usual Indy garage. Labour is cheap there and the whole lot should cost a reasonable amount less than if Honda deem it to be driver fault and not the design fault.
Buy an uprated clutch and a single mass flywheel. The cost of this kit is slightly less than the HUK clutch and DMF kit and allows for a lot more than standard power (perhaps a remap to go with this option)

What would you guys do? Someone who works for ocuk had a civic clutch slip video up here not too long ago and that's exactly the same thing that I'm experiencing!

LiE · 19 Apr 2015 at 21:59

Don't buy a SMF if you want it to drive smooth. Go with a DMF.

rodenal · 19 Apr 2015 at 22:02

Don't fancy your chances of getting Honda to cough up anything on what will now be quite an old car (to them)

I assume you plan to keep the car for a while? If so just get the 325 and fly fitted - if not then let it be and trade the car in whenever you were planning to move it on anyway. Chances are it's not going to become terrible overnight and it's a £1k job

-Mike- · 19 Apr 2015 at 23:03

rodenal said:
Don't fancy your chances of getting Honda to cough up anything on what will now be quite an old car (to them)

I assume you plan to keep the car for a while? If so just get the 325 and fly fitted - if not then let it be and trade the car in whenever you were planning to move it on anyway. Chances are it's not going to become terrible overnight and it's a £1k job

Its a 2008 with 50k on the clock! Its a shame really but then I knew the risks when I purchased it! Can get the genuine clutch and flywheel kit with gearbox oil for £549. Not sure what the book time is but my garage charge £30/hr labour so hopefully it won't be hideous?

I'm tempted to chop it in, but I don't know what to replace it with! Something petrol that's for sure :mad:

-Mike- · 19 Apr 2015 at 23:07

LiE said:
Don't buy a SMF if you want it to drive smooth. Go with a DMF.

The owners who have the SMF and the TDi north clutch say its lovely to drive. The clutch plate is sprung so I assume that helps. Its also cheaper than the genuine one and is likely to actually last with/without a remap.

iaind · 19 Apr 2015 at 23:10

Why would you chop in a £5k car for an £800 bill?

Funnily I was asking about the reliability of these only a few hours ago.

Although I wouldn't focus on mileage so much, a clutch can take more punishment on short journeys. You'd expect it to last longer but it depends how it's been driven, if it's been used around town loads and had someone riding the clutch a lot then it's not unimaginable

-Mike- · 19 Apr 2015 at 23:14

iaind said:
Why would you chop in a £5k car for an £800 bill?

Funnily I was asking about the reliability of these only a few hours ago.

Although I wouldn't focus on mileage so much, a clutch can take more punishment on short journeys. You'd expect it to last longer but it depends how it's been driven, if it's been used around town loads and had someone riding the clutch a lot then it's not unimaginable

The clutch in the 2.2 is a well known weak point. It may not even be a £800 bill, it depends on the freeplay in the flywheel. Why would I trade it in for that bill - I don't do the mileage to warrant a diesel anymore.

The engine is fantastic - if you want a diesel lump and the civic in 2.2 form is your picking then I think you probably can't do better. The engine is pretty refined for a 4 pot diesel, it pulls well and its not bad on fuel.

iaind · 19 Apr 2015 at 23:18

But for £800 you'd have a great engine which has had its only known weak point addressed. If you chop it in and add that £800 to it, you won't get anything better and could end up something with more issues.

rodenal · 20 Apr 2015 at 07:10

My suggestion wasn't an "omg £800 get rid", but if I was considering moving the car on anyway and its trade value would be £800 or closer to what I could get privately (it may well be at this time of year) it's as good a time as any.

How can you get the parts so cheap? Sounds over £100 less than it should be

-Mike- · 20 Apr 2015 at 07:23

rodenal said:
My suggestion wasn't an "omg £800 get rid", but if I was considering moving the car on anyway and its trade value would be £800 or closer to what I could get privately (it may well be at this time of year) it's as good a time as any.

How can you get the parts so cheap? Sounds over £100 less than it should be

http://www.coxmotorparts.co.uk/genuine-honda-civic-22-diesel-clutch-kit-luk-flywheel-p-1394.html

Add on whatever labour at £30/hr to that bill and I assume I'll be up around £700 or so!

The first part of your reply confuses me. The car is worth way more than £800? Iaind the exhaust manifold is also prone to cracking on the welds on the 2.2 - something I forgot to mention in your thread!

rodenal · 20 Apr 2015 at 07:34

What I meant was, the best way to get more money for your existing car when changing is generally to sell privately. However i f you can get a trade in that is within £800 of what you think you could sell it for it could be worth trading it in so that it becomes someone else's problem.

Good price from cox, remember fly bolts though and see if you can get the extra 5% civinfo discount

IF you wanted something else anyway then I wouldn't fox ot

Dogbreath · 20 Apr 2015 at 08:58

-Mike- said:
The owners who have the SMF and the TDi north clutch say its lovely to drive. The clutch plate is sprung so I assume that helps. Its also cheaper than the genuine one and is likely to actually last with/without a remap.

Of course they do, likely the same kind of owners that insist their budget coilovers have really improved the handling and the ride is still perfect, or that their induction kit or power resistor of justice has made a big difference.

A DMF isn't just there to reduce NVH either, it's actually reducing stress on the rest of the drivetrain. Put the larger diameter friction plate in, and carry on.

Hagar · 20 Apr 2015 at 09:39

My April 2008 2.2 had 130k on when I traded it in. No clutch slip at all and I really drove that car hard, it would drive across a field in 1st with no throttle and fully loaded. 53k seems a bit poor, has it had full servicing?

-Mike- · 20 Apr 2015 at 10:07

nkata said:
My April 2008 2.2 had 130k on when I traded it in. No clutch slip at all and I really drove that car hard, it would drive across a field in 1st with no throttle and fully loaded. 53k seems a bit poor, has it had full servicing?

Yes full honda service history mate! Bit peeved really but not sure honda UK will give much goodwill now!

Scania · 20 Apr 2015 at 10:25

nkata said:
My April 2008 2.2 had 130k on when I traded it in. No clutch slip at all and I really drove that car hard, it would drive across a field in 1st with no throttle and fully loaded. 53k seems a bit poor, has it had full servicing?

I doubt it's anything to do with servicing more down to the ability (or lack thereof) of the cars previous owner(s) to drive without riding the clutch.

53k seems very low for a clutch, then again I've encountered clutch slip in a 6k mile practically new courtesy car previously.

rodenal · 20 Apr 2015 at 10:59

They go at 50-60k All the time on the early ish cars it's a known weak point

-Mike- · 20 Apr 2015 at 18:26

rodenal said:
They go at 50-60k All the time on the early ish cars it's a known weak point

Indeed! I think i'll trade it in. Fallen out of love with the car massively! Looking at £830 fitted for a genuine clutch / flywheel or just under for an aftermarket clutch / smf kit!

LiE · 20 Apr 2015 at 20:04

FWIW my 2009 2.2 is 70k miles and no sign of issues full Honda service and was previously a company car.

rodenal · 20 Apr 2015 at 20:51

Mine (2007) had a replacement clutch at 60k when it was only 4 years old (so had done what, 15k pa and had been a company car from what I could gather), they can definitely go early

-Mike- · 20 Apr 2015 at 21:04

rodenal said:
Mine (2007) had a replacement clutch at 60k when it was only 4 years old (so had done what, 15k pa and had been a company car from what I could gather), they can definitely go early

Did it give you any further issues after the clutch was done? My mechanic chap quoted me £800 for clutch and dmf fitted with new Honda gearbox oil. He suggested I consider a SMF conversion, apparently valeo do a lot of conversion kits - not that I've looked into the civic one if they do it but TDi North do a snazzy clutch kit as do CG!

I'm just concerned about converting to SMF if I were to keep the car! However, engines never used to have the blasted things and did just fine!