04 Passat clutch judders when cold

[ShadowBlue]

I've got a 5 speed 2004 Passat TDI 130 Saloon which judders when you pull away on the clutch when cold. The car's only done 23K so I'm hoping its not the clutch failing already!

The problem goes away as soon as the engine is at running temperature and it needs to be left to cool for at least 18 hours before it happens again.

I asked my dealership to look into it a little while back but they didn't wait for it to get cool enough and the problem didn't show. Be really interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this or has any suggestions.

Cheers

ShadowBlue

[difflock]

Hi,my Passat does the same thing occasionally.
I think it could be broken or weak springs on the friction plate,oil or grease on the plate,badly worn linings,or alternatively loose or worn engine or gearbox mountings would produce the same fault.
I have checked my engine/gbox mountings so the next thing would be to get the clutch out and have a look,however the fault is not too bad at the moment-in fact it seems to have got a little better so I can live with it and let it develop.
I read somewhere that the friction material is not up to standard nowadays due to the lack of asbestos but I don't know how true that is.

[metallicabmw]

I have a 2003 Passat TDi ( 100 bhp ) 5 speed, it does the same sometimes when cold. My clutch has 70,000 mls on it though.

[Pimped-Passat]

Hi,

I've got a 2004 Passat TDi and that used to do exactly the same the first time I set off on a cold morning. The car at this time had circa 10,000 miles on it. I had it back to the dealers (Layerthorpe, York) but they said there was nothing wrong with it.... Yawn.

Anyway for some bizarre reason the problem has simply disappeared..!

I have got over 60,000 on it now and it doesn't judder any more..!!

If anyone can explain this I would be interested..!!!

Cheers

[difflock]

Maybe it is something to do with the friction material on the clutch plate ?

By the way I forgot to say mine is a 2003 Passat TDi 100 and the problem started about 35k mls and now at 40k it seems to be becoming less frequent!!!

[farrellart]

My Audi A4 2000 TDI (Nov 2005) has same problem.
Condition results from condensation moisture on friction plate.
Problem recognised by Audi - a fix requiring a new friction plate is available.

[difflock]

I can't see how changing the clutch plate would eliminate condensation problems ?

[farrellart]

I'm no techy so I don't understand the mechanics but believe me my car is booked in to get this very work done (under warrenty).
Check out honestjohn.co.uk a good site for vehicle problems.

[guyg]

Just a theory, but we have a lot of damp in Cornwall...

I have noticed over many years of driving all kinds of cars that if I get in a car that has been standing in damp or rain for any length of time, both the brakes and clutch seem to 'grab' more.

My Passat is no different, we had rain at the weekend after two weeks of warm dry weather and when I drove off on Saturday morning the clutch grabbed and I nearly nutted the dashboard when dabed the brakes comming out of my drive.

It always calms down after a few miles and I have put this down to the linings absorbing moisture from the atmosphere on the basis that damp linings will have a higher coefficient of friction.

I think if there are any issues with engine mounts, flywheels, chutch springs then a friction plate that grabs or has an uneven level of friction might exacerbate the problem.

Maybe the more modern linings are more hygroscopic - any experts out there?

Cheers

Guy

[difflock]

You may have cracked it guyg
There is certainly plenty of "damp" weather here in the north and my car sits for several days at a time without use as I do not need it every day (have company van for work)