Hi all,

 

My Superb broke down just over a week ago with a clutch problem.  The car is only two years old, with just over 10k miles on the clock but the dealer, having stripped it down, is telling me that there are 'hot spots' on the clutch which constitute wear and tear, and that subsequently it is not covered by warranty.  They are suggesting that my driving style may be to blame, which I think is rubbish -- most of my mileage is driven with cruise control on the motorway, and I've never had to replace a clutch in any car I've owned.

 

The problem happened while stuck in slow, stop-go traffic.  The clutch pedal started to stick down when released and would 'ping' back to normal after a few seconds; there were no strange noises or excessive revving, and the car appeared to be otherwise fine.  Some minutes later the traffic came to a complete halt, so I shifted to neutral and released the clutch.  The clutch never came back up from that point and I was unable to change gear.  The AA man managed to free the clutch so I could get to the garage and said that there was a hydraulic leak and slight loss of fluid, which he topped up.

 

One question immediately springs to mind.  The dealer suggested that I was driving with my foot resting on the clutch (I don't, I never have, it's not at all comfortable); given the loss of fluid, would that prevent the clutch from fully disengaging, giving the same effect?

 

I'm going to take this up with Skoda Customer Services, but I'd appreciate any advice on how to handle them before I do.

 

Chris

Get the car out of the dealer and to a clutch specialist for an independent second opinion.

 

Skoda UK will always stand by their dealers diagnosis.

 

Be prepared to fight, to have half a chance you'll need a second opinion.

Unfortunately that's not an option at this point.  I can ask them to keep the old clutch, but I'm not sure what that will achieve?  I'm sure they're right, and that the clutch is worn; what I need to dispute is that it's in any way normal.

Hydraulic leak sounds more like contamination/slave cylinder failure... especially as the pedal sat on the floor. IMHO, you won’t have any luck fighting it unless you have it assessed by an independent specialist. If it’s not warranty work, you own the failed parts and are fully entitled to keep them. It’s not as good as an in place assessment, but if you get a favourable third party report on the parts it would help your claim.

BTW, the dealer gets a higher margin from a private sale/repair and it doesn’t go against their warranty allocation… but I am very cynical.

 

Edited 26 June, 20187 yr by Alan_P

1 hour ago, cjs94 said:

Unfortunately that's not an option at this point.  I can ask them to keep the old clutch, but I'm not sure what that will achieve?  I'm sure they're right, and that the clutch is worn; what I need to dispute is that it's in any way normal.

 

Definitely ask to keep the old clutch.

 

Although that'll depend on how far you're willing to pursue this. You can still get it independently tested, and if the results show a manufacturing defect you can go back to Skoda and ask for your money back.

 

I'm guessing the repair is already underway at the main dealer? How much have they quoted?

 

Skoda hiding / denying known manufacturing defects isn't a new thing...

 

 

Edited 26 June, 20187 yr by silver1011

I've spoken to Skoda, who are going to get back to me within 48 hours.  In the meantime I've told the dealer not to carry on, pending that call, and to keep the old clutch in any case.

 

My argument is not going to be whether or not the clutch is defective.  The AA man told me that my problem was caused by a leak in the clutch hydraulics and topped up the fluid for me -- I have the report coming from the AA by post.  My argument is that the leak was the cause of excessive wear, and should therefore be covered by warranty.  My brief googling says that a leaking master cylinder in hydraulic clutches is a common cause of worn clutches; can any mechanics on here confirm that?

Almost certainly related to the above well documented 150ps TDI clutch failures. Sounds like one or more of the release fingers have failed and so fouling the release bearing causing the clutch to stick. The fact that the pedal pinged back indicates it's not a hydraulic or slave cylinder problem. You need to get the old clutch and examine the release fingers/ring. Also an examination of the bell housing interior in case that's damaged as described by others.

I had no warning when my clutch failed and as xman said it was several release fingers that was the cause. The hot spots or marks on the clutch plates might just might coincidently  be something that is addition to the fingers problem.

Edited 26 June, 20187 yr by Danny 57

Firstly make sure they don't dispose or lose any parts, you wont have any evidence if they do

 

You could ask for the release fingers to be photographed, make it clear that refusal to do so will be treated as hiding evidence.

They need to explain why the pedal going limp was a driver action and not a mechanical (or hydraulic) failure

 

It sounds like the hot spots are a consequence of the problem, not a cause.

 

Just to clarify, are the release fingers themselves expected to wear out over time?  In other words, if one or more fingers are faulty is it categorically a defect?  Also, if they are faulty will it be obvious to a layman like me?

 

Thanks for all the advice so far!

Look at the photos in the thread referenced above the ring around the fingers suffers fatigue related fracture and sections breakoff.

It will be obvious something is missing or bent when they remove the pressure plate.

 

Tell them you want to examine the removed clutch, don't accept photos as they may show only what they want you to see.

Edited 26 June, 20187 yr by xman

5 hours ago, silver1011 said:

 

Definitely ask to keep the old clutch.

 

Although that'll depend on how far you're willing to pursue this. You can still get it independently tested, and if the results show a manufacturing defect you can go back to Skoda and ask for your money back.

 

I'm guessing the repair is already underway at the main dealer? How much have they quoted?

 

Skoda hiding / denying known manufacturing defects isn't a new thing...

 

 

 

Well, that was an interesting hour’s reading 

17 hours ago, cjs94 said:

Hi all,

 

My Superb broke down just over a week ago with a clutch problem.  The car is only two years old, with just over 10k miles on the clock but the dealer, having stripped it down, is telling me that there are 'hot spots' on the clutch which constitute wear and tear, and that subsequently it is not covered by warranty.  They are suggesting that my driving style may be to blame, which I think is rubbish -- most of my mileage is driven with cruise control on the motorway, and I've never had to replace a clutch in any car I've owned.

 

The problem happened while stuck in slow, stop-go traffic.  The clutch pedal started to stick down when released and would 'ping' back to normal after a few seconds; there were no strange noises or excessive revving, and the car appeared to be otherwise fine.  Some minutes later the traffic came to a complete halt, so I shifted to neutral and released the clutch.  The clutch never came back up from that point and I was unable to change gear.  The AA man managed to free the clutch so I could get to the garage and said that there was a hydraulic leak and slight loss of fluid, which he topped up.

 

One question immediately springs to mind.  The dealer suggested that I was driving with my foot resting on the clutch (I don't, I never have, it's not at all comfortable); given the loss of fluid, would that prevent the clutch from fully disengaging, giving the same effect?

 

I'm going to take this up with Skoda Customer Services, but I'd appreciate any advice on how to handle them before I do.

 

Chris

In 2015 we had the same problem with a FL mk2 Superb on a 14 plate. The wife was driving it in slow moving traffic near Nottingham when the clutch pedal would not return to the normal position. Mileage was just 11,500 miles and main dealer Sandicliffe Skoda supplied us with VW Jetta hire car for 3 days while they replaced the clutch under warranty. Car was fitted with six speed manual gearbox and engine was standard 140PS CR diesel. Like you in 35 years driving never experienced a problem with a clutch failure so wasn't going to accept anything but a warranty claim. Skoda dealer was brilliant in this respect. Stick to your guns and get Skoda UK to pay for the work as they do get some faulty parts from their suppliers occasionally. Good luck and hope this helps!

They have not fixed this yet? (The above mentioned defect).

 

if you’re paying for a clutch, I would make sure you ask them the brand of the existing clutch/flywheel. Keep the old parts (all of them) and get pictures of the entire real plus the bell housing.

 

Very worrying if this is still happening.