The clutch assy of my fabia 1.4 benzin (2002) was totaly worned  after   40 000 km. drive and i had to  replace it. Is this  a normal termin for the replacement or it is due to bad driving , overloading the car or defected fabrication of the part ? What is the normal average life of this part? Thanks in advance for any opinion on this matter.

Id expect to replace the clutch between 80,000 & 100,000 Miles.

If the car has only done 40,000 km (29,000 miles) in 13 years it does not really compare to many other cars.

If some servicing and now a clutch is all it has needed it has done very well.

 

Have you had this car from new, and is it the original clutch.

or has it done 40,000 km only since a new one was fitted?

There would be the most common driver faults causing premature clutch wear:

 

1. keeping the car in gear when at stop lights

2. burnouts (lots of them...with the 1.4's low torque and bhp)

3. pulling (different car(s), considerable weight ... trailler + uphill or around the city

4. 'hovering' the foot over the clutch pedal while driving

5. going offroad / trying to get out of mud / snow and playing a bit too much with it

6. but not sure, maybe if the clutch wasn't mounted ok and it was slipping from the beggining, but I doubt this

7. cheap replacement, low quality after market part.

8. last, but not least, having fitted unusually big wheels/tires which require a longer clutch disengagement in order to get the car moving.

 

How does the car feel? Maybe the clutch is ok, but the pump is on it's way down. You should give us more details about it.  

Edited 16 October, 201510 yr by Alexandru

There would be the most common driver faults causing premature clutch wear:

 

1. keeping the car in gear when at stop lights

2. burnouts (lots of them...with the 1.4's low torque and bhp)

3. pulling (different car(s), considerable weight ... trailler + uphill or around the city

4. 'hovering' the foot over the clutch pedal while driving

5. going offroad / trying to get out of mud / snow and playing a bit too much with it

6. but not sure, maybe if the clutch wasn't mounted ok and it was slipping from the beggining, but I doubt this

7. cheap replacement, low quality after market part.

8. last, but not least, having fitted unusually big wheels/tires which require a longer clutch disengagement in order to get the car moving.

 

How does the car feel? Maybe the clutch is ok, but the pump is on it's way down. You should give us more details about it.  

Thanks for yr reply.I bought the car as new with original clutch and than I passed 40 000 km.Yes  I do p.3 and 4 from your answer. Once per year ,since 2002 I do drive 500 km(from Varna to Sofia) with havy load ,(totally  up to 400 -450 kg) and there are uphills to pass on the route.So loaded abt.400 kg. last week i started from Varna and after 120 km. when I started to climb a hill the clutch began to slip and smell as burned and the car lost power totally.I did reolaced the clutch in the nearest town ,the technician told me that the clutch is gone and said it may be that I do drive with my leg on the clutch pedal (driving on semi-clutch way). Trully I drive abt.40 years this way (may be for safety reason but knowing that this is wrong.) He advised me that the rest 300 km.to sofia I must drive with maximum 70-80 km/h speed because the new clutch needs this ?? This is the story.

I'd say to change your driving style and/or change the car if you need to pull heavy loads. This car wasn't trully made for this. 

 

later edit: if it's a once-per-year trip, if I were you, I'd be renting a different car to pull that load.

Edited 16 October, 201510 yr by Alexandru

Our Fabia has 86,000 on it and neither I or my wife are good drivers.  The clutch is now showing signs of wear and I fear it needs replacing.  The car has had a couple of knocks which I suspect reduces its exchange value to around £500.00 so a new clutch may not be economic.  I'm far to old to lay under a car to work on it now.  I would welcome any comments especially what I could expect to pay for a new clutch.