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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

1345.0. "clutching at straws?" by MAJORS::REVELL (Shoots, but can't hit..) Thu Jan 24 1991 16:13

Hi,

I've just been informed that I need a new clutch on my Citroen AX GT, it's got
25,000 miles on the clock. I got the car as an ex-demo model and it had 6,000
on the clock when I bought it.

According to the garage and Citroen UK, a clutches life can range from 5,000
miles to 80,000 miles, anyone got any ideas ?

I've never had a clutch go before, and I've done loads of miles in them, even a
Montego Turbo ! Most of my driving is on the motorway, and I'm getting too old
for boy-racer starts, so can anyone give me some good arguments to hit the
customer relations people with ?



Thanks in advance.




Gary.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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1345.1VOGON::ATWALcatch a fish, eat itThu Jan 24 1991 16:2510
if it was an ex-demo then it may have been treated very roughly in its first
6k miles by people taking it for test drives etc - especially if it was one
of the cars loaned out by Citroen for a week at a time

or maybe it was just part of a bad batch?

or you're just plain unlucky?!


...art
1345.2UKCSSE::RDAVIESI can't tryp for notsThu Jan 24 1991 16:493
    To help us formulate opinions, what are the symptoms?.
    
    Richard
1345.3Bite the bullet and smile :-)KERNEL::SHELLEYRHelp ! I've got IraqnophobiaThu Jan 24 1991 16:546
    I've had a clutch go on my wife's car (Yugo) at 22,000 and was told
    thats not unusual.
    
    I doubt if you'll get anywhere complaining.
    
    - Roy
1345.4A design fault? OVAL::SAXBYMContentious?Moi?Rides again!Thu Jan 24 1991 16:5811
    
    A colleague of mine once had a clutch fail at 9K miles in a Peugeot
    309. It was fixed under warranty, but she was told that it wasn't
    unusual and that that particular model had a clutch design fault which
    would mean that it would probably fail after another 9k.
    
    Needless to say she sold it hastily!
    
    The point is it was a Peugeot/Citroen car with a 1400 engine.
    
    Mark
1345.5No consistency!UKCSSE::RDAVIESI can't tryp for notsFri Jan 25 1991 08:3513
    what age was the car? you see the 1400cc engine was changed a few years
    back, I wondered if it was the new engine or the old (they're clutch
    mechanisms are quite different).
    
    My wife's Visa has the old engine peugot small engine (also used
    in the pug 104/205/309>1400, BX >1400 and visa >1400) and it's
    soldiering on with the original clutch after 43,000 miles and 8 years!.
    
    Mind you, my last BX the clutch had to be replaced at 5,000 miles, as
    it wasn't full disengaging. So principally I think it's luck of the
    draw rather than particular design faults!
    
    Richard
1345.6MAJORS::REVELLShoots, but can't hit..Fri Jan 25 1991 10:1921
Hi all,

Thanks for your speedy replies, the car is a 89 'G reg and I got it Feb '90.
The symptoms were :-

	1.	Difficulty engaging gear.
	2.	Car stalling when clutch fully depressed.
	3.	Car conked out on Oxford Rd, and I was unable to change
		gear.

I spoke to some Scottish oik in Citroen customer services and all he would
say was that I must have been driving too hard , this is also the argument
put forward by the garage.

Well I've got one word that describes their opinion, and it rhymes with
rollocks.



Gary.
1345.7KURMA::IJOHNSTONFri Jan 25 1991 10:533
    I hope you are not inferring that all Scots are "oiks".
    
    Ian.
1345.8Doesn't sound worn out to me...NEWOA::BROWNMFri Jan 25 1991 10:5411
The symptoms you describe are of the clutch failing to disengage fully, not
of a worn our clutch.  It could be caused by incorrect adjustment or by the
clutch friction plate binding on the gearbox input shaft splines.  If it is
a hydraulically operated clutch, then you might have a leak.

On most cars, when a clutch is worn out, it slips.  Often this is also caused
by an oil leak onto the clutch, usually from the garbox input shaft oil seal.

Hope this helps,

Mike.
1345.9Never trust a mechanic unless you can watch himUKCSSE::ARBISERmice one squirrelFri Jan 25 1991 11:356
    Me neither. 
    
    Check the clutch actuating mechanism before letting some other greasy
    oik touch anything...
    
    Ian
1345.12PLAYER::BROWNLMaintain the rigidityThu Jun 06 1991 18:096
    RE: -1
    
    Fancy posting the address and phone number? I have a clutch problem
    with the Frogeye that needs sorting out.....
    
    Cheers, Laurie.
1345.14Cheers.PLAYER::BROWNLMaintain the rigidityMon Jun 10 1991 09:535
    Thanks!
    
    I'll give him a call.
    
    Laurie.