clutch slip

[andrewmorpeth]

my father in law has a 56 reg 2.0tdi estate friday night he stopped at our house with a rather smelly clutch hadnt noticed it was slipping!left it to cool down and is ok but a rep who visits our shop has the same car and says it has been less than reliable nedding a new clutch!His car has only covered 17k but has a electric handbrake which he reckons releases as you pull away?Ive told him to use the button in the meantime 6 spd 140bhp.Anyone else had any similar experiences thanks in advance andrew

[Pauloz]

A smelly clutch (of eggs?) after a normal drive is not normal..... but if it really is the clutch, it is now irrepairably damaged. A clutch never truely recovers from overheating and then goes on to damage related components, particulary dual mass flywheel which may well be damaged now from the heat too.

If the clutch was slipping under 'normal' driving, either he was driving with his foot on the clutch pedal and didnt realise, or there is a hydraulic release system issue.

[andrewmorpeth]

ok clutch got hot and seems ok now was just wondering if there was an issue here as dealer isn't going to admit it they just say hmm yes sir they all do that or no sir nobody has had any problems like that when they have just changed half a dozen clutches last week!It seems strange to me that 2 nearly new cars sub 20k with clutch problems 1.It should last 120k+ and for two similar vehicles to have problems??It is still under warranty but dealer has already said a clutch is a bit of a grey area!?

[Mav2006]

I have similar prob on my 07 estate, thats why i'm selling and getting a gti

[Pauloz]

ok clutch got hot and seems ok now was just wondering if there was an issue here as dealer isn't going to admit it they just say hmm yes sir they all do that or no sir nobody has had any problems like that when they have just changed half a dozen clutches last week!It seems strange to me that 2 nearly new cars sub 20k with clutch problems 1.It should last 120k+ and for two similar vehicles to have problems??It is still under warranty but dealer has already said a clutch is a bit of a grey area!?

A clutch and DMF can be destroyed in 100 miles if driven incorrectly. Once damaged by heat theyre never the same and damage quickly snowballs.
If it is a manufacturing defect, VW will change no problem normally. But think how many of these clutches/DMF VW get through - if there is a problem, its picked up well before the cars even make the UK market, and believe it or not, every single unit is tested on the production line for performance - not just first and last off + a few at random.

[marktj]

Beware, I had a clutch go in my last (2005) model Passat the dealer will class this as driver abuse and not covered under the warranty until the unit is removed and examined. Only then if it is obviously a manufacturing defect will the work be covered.

Luckily for me the fingers of the pressure plate were on both sides of the friction plate so it had been put in wrong at the factory and they paid out

Clutch is fine in the one I am driving now (late 2006 140 TDi) and I have covered over 60k