A couple of months ago I took my car in for some really simple warranty work. I wanted two clearly defined rattles fixed; one in the driver's seat and one in the headlining. They fixed one, totally ignored the other.

While the car was in there they phoned me and said the flywheel needed replacing. Bear in mind I had never noticed any problem. I thought well they must know best so OK'd them to do it under warranty. They also advised me that the clutch should be replaced as a matter of course as the flywheel was being done. On the 1.9, the clutch and flywheel are two separate orders, it's not all one kit as with the 2.0 so I would have to pay £200 myself for the clutch.

I phoned SUK and said this wasn't fair as the car only had 34k miles on it. My old mk2 golf had 120k on it with the original clutch. I didn't get anywhere with them and ended up having to pay. Now in my mind, if the flywheel was genuinely faulty, there's a good chance it would have put excessive wear on the clutch, so the clutch should have been replaced without hassle, free of charge.

Well the new clutch, fitted at my expense as part of the remedy for a problem I never even experienced, is dodgy. I'm fairly sure it's the thrust bearing. When you depress the clutch, even very slightly, in gear or in neutral there is a pronounced vibration and knocking sound. It sounds even worse outside the car. Has anybody else experienced this problem?

Flywheels are a known issue and some are subject to a recall

Flywheels are a known issue and some are subject to a recall

The dealership knew nothing of the recall and I think the recall itself only applies to the 2.0tdi, not the 1.9. I guess there may be a TSB about flywheels more generally?

I have replaced flywheels on the 1.9 and the 2.0. The recall is due to the manufactuer of the flywheel not the engine fitted.

Sharan ones are a right pain in the a$$...lol

And although the recall may not be applicable to your car they must know about it, its been a VAG wide thing for nearly a year. Not doing so many now but I did when at Skoda.

I had the flywheel and clutch replaced on my late 2006 3,500 mile 1.9 TDi today to resolve excessive juddering on take off.

It has worked.

14/03/07 I wrote: "I had the flywheel and clutch replaced on my late 2006 3,500 mile 1.9 TDi today to resolve excessive juddering on take off.

It has worked".

Oh dear, one month and 1,000 miles on the judder is back, noticably pulling away under load or in reverse. It was fine when I got the car back, but is following the same pattern of decline once again.

What is going on?

?I am sorry to say your experiance is very much the same as mine. I do 50k miles per year, and have had 3 new flywheels and clutches due to vibrations or grinding/rubbing aswell as the shudders the car is now constantly playing up again and is due a new release bearing and clutch/flywheel set again,

last set on the 5th jan 07!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15k miles ago. if you add the

2x seat bases

1x turbo

4x dmf kits

this car is turning into a right pig!