Riding the clutch - Life span

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:24

Well the clutch went in my rover 214 in december, so i had a new clutch and cable fitted at Mr Clutch Autocenter.

When out driving yesturday the clutch went again! So i got the car taken back to Mr clutch and they took it apart and showed me the clutch had snapped in half. The guy who works there said it was because i had been riding the clutch.

Since passing my test 6 months ago, where i was taught to just clutch down and not bother with gears, is this where im going wrong?

Is it possible my driving errors could cause the clutch to go in 3 months \ 3k miles? or is it more likely a bad clutch?

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:30

Enfield said:
Probably their crappy job!

what do you mean by "clutch down and not bother with gears"? You mean coasting when slowing to a stop?

Yes exactly that!

Talking to many people and they all think its crazy me doing this, Its just the way i was taught, and i did pass first time!

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:38

Thanks for all the replys. Cost was £160 back in december. Its been replaced now, but they said if it goes again for the same reason then they will not replace it. Im just worried as i have a few long journeys planned and dont want to get stuck.

Does everyone here gear down to lights then?

3 months, i know its crazy.

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:39

Sam said:
A clutch shouldent last 3k miles mate unless your driving day to day like a race driver. Mr clutch use referbished units dont they. I personally wouldent ever let my car near a garage like that

Sam

I will not be going back there! I was recomended to go there

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:40

Another question. If waiting at lights, in 1st clutch down, Would that cause any damage?

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:43

Enfield said:
Don't worry mate, they're talking out of their arses.

Thanks, I just worry if it goes again, whats best to do.

If i take it back to Mr Clutch the best i can hope for is another dodgy clutch!

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:46

agw_01 said:
Tell them, if it brakes again in 3 months you'll report them or something.

Honestly, clutches do not break in 3 months if they've been fitted properly.

Okies, cheers. As its a franchise that promote themselves, is it worth popping in a complaint? Its another call out on my breakdown recovery and all the inconvience like my friend being an hour late for work etc.

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:49

Firestar_3x said:
Bad driver tbh

OT slighty more If the clutch has gone in 3 months you can't really prove anything but i would expect them to pay half towards a new one, say your going ot get trading standards in ore something!

They actually sorted it today, i dropped it off late last night, and picked it up this evening fixed.

When i picked it up they showed me the old clutch which was snapped, and said. You have obviosuly been riding the clutch, we shouldnt of fixed it but we did, If it goes again for the same reason we will not fix it.

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:00

Enfield said:
The guy sounds like a ****.

I've had a clutch fitted at Mr Clutch and I have to say they where very helpfull so it does sound like it's this paricular branch you're going to that has a problem and not Mr Clutch as a whole.

I went to the one in swindon, im tempted to complain, as everyone there are idiots. And im naturally worried about it going again.

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:07

Enfield said:
Complain away, write to the head office or something

Did you actually tell the people that you ride the clutch or did they just accuse you of it?

Nope did not tell them i did, i just left quickly, there all complete idiots.

If i complain and in my letter say they the clutch went in 3 months, surely they will know straight away that it was a bad job? Is this right?

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:10

Enfield said:
I guess so.

What car is it by the way?

Rover 214si new shape.

andy2k · 3 Mar 2006 at 21:18

timbob said:
I went to Mr Clutch in swindon one saturday to get my clutch done when it suddenly started slipping really badly. Needed my car for work the next week, so was alarmed when they said it would take a few days for the part to arrive.

Drove across town (with barely any clutch, which was entertaining) to buy the part from the motorfactors myself, and got back within 40 minutes, and they did it for just the labour costs, which was nice

I thought they were pretty cool there, fitting me in and such - perhaps they have a new manager at the branch, or someone was just having a bad day?

The guy Colin who i saw was a complete idiot. Did you go to the one in stratton?

andy2k · 4 Mar 2006 at 01:44

s0ck said:
This is what I understood 'riding the clutch' to be; is this what you've been doing?
Also, who the hell taught you to coast to a junction with the clutch in? That's a test failure too. At least knock it out of gear in future
Do you have pics of the snapped clutch? Who's possession is it in right now?

They just kept it, would have been rude to ask for it i thought!

No pics, basically its snapped so there are two thinner circles!

Was taught to coast, and i passed my test with three unrelated minors! Stopped now thought!

andy2k · 5 Mar 2006 at 19:16

Right so my new clutch has been in 2 days. Its started squeaking already, like a groaning noise when pushing it in. Is this a problem already occuring?

andy2k · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:43

PMKeates said:
Ha ha ha ha... no. Surely he cannot deny you a warranty based on his opinion of how you may drive, which is in turn clearly based, by his own admission, on a destroyed piece of mechanics?

Exactly, thats why i will be making a complaint. They always blame there poor work on your driving. Has happened many times in there.

andy2k · 8 Mar 2006 at 09:18

Chris1712 said:
me 3

I think most people were taught this way.