Clutch under warranty

schnipps

Full Member
Apr 17, 2006
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Booked in on tuesday for seat to have a proper look at me clutch. Its now slipping quite obviously in 3rd when you give it some welly and it seems to be worse when cold, after its had a good warm it doesnt really happen. How easily will they put a new clutch in under warranty? And no its not remapped, totally stock 16 months old with 17k on it.
 

Wheely

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Nov 19, 2003
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The Sou' West
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Booked in on tuesday for seat to have a proper look at me clutch. Its now slipping quite obviously in 3rd when you give it some welly and it seems to be worse when cold, after its had a good warm it doesnt really happen. How easily will they put a new clutch in under warranty? And no its not remapped, totally stock 16 months old with 17k on it.


A good dealer should do this without too much quibble. With mine they phoned Seat Uk who said they could strip it down and inspect. If it just looked worn out (boy racer style) then I'd be responsible for costs, but if nothing obvious was found or a manufacturing defect found then it would be done under warranty. They found very little - replaced it under warranty and now jobs-a-good-un.

Your age/mileage is very similar to the standard failure mode. mine went at about 19K I think. Uphills, high gear, cold weather and accelerating hard from around 1800 revs.
 

schnipps

Full Member
Apr 17, 2006
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I do boot it a bit, what if they strip it and the findings are it has been driven to hard? How much are we looking at here?
 

Snoopie

Impossible
Feb 5, 2006
349
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Enfield
Seat UK I've found never replace clutches under warranty, as this is classed as a Wear and Tear item. I'd be suprised if they paid for this.
 

Wheely

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Nov 19, 2003
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The Sou' West
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Seat UK I've found never replace clutches under warranty, as this is classed as a Wear and Tear item. I'd be suprised if they paid for this.

Wouldnt agree with that statement. There's at least half a dozen if not more on here that have had theirs done under warranty. Virtually all TDi Cupras. Myself included.

Seat Uk would not admit thats there's a problem but when I phoned they stated the same to me as to the dealer. When the dealer stripped it, they found very little wrong and not much wear (and I dont hang around either Schnipps -- but it takes some very poor driving to kill a clutch in that time). However at this stage my dealer rang them up and they just said fit a new clutch (even the mechanic stated it was like they knew there was really an issue).
 

schnipps

Full Member
Apr 17, 2006
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Seat UK I've found never replace clutches under warranty, as this is classed as a Wear and Tear item. I'd be suprised if they paid for this.


With a car of this age though, i mean if they dont its quite shocking and i will not let it lie. If they dont then its a letter to SEAT UK and whatever i need to do, im not accepting that a clutch on a 55 plate car that cost around 16k new can be on its way out after 16 months, thats utterly shocking.

Lets see how i get on as this has been in before for slip but they couldnt replicate it. Im going to leave it with them for a few days and tbh i expect a new clutch.
 

Dennis

Polisher
May 11, 2005
297
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If you have been misusing the vehicle this would be obvious on the type of ware on the friction plate, if they refuse the claim because it has been driven hard, obviously advise them this is ot the case and also remind them even if it was driven enthusiasticly the car is marketed as a perormance car.

Keep the parts, get aqn independant engineers eport and sue SEAT, breach of cantract
 

S3 AKR

livin' the dream!!!
Jun 30, 2004
1,453
1
Colchester, Essex
I was told it was very unlikely that mine would be done under warranty as I had 22k on it and that I'd be liable for all costs if it was turned down. I couldn't afford to risk that at Seat prices so bought an Allards plate which is being fitted by my VW mechanic mate tomorrow - all in, £300.
 

Dennis

Polisher
May 11, 2005
297
0
I was told it was very unlikely that mine would be done under warranty as I had 22k on it and that I'd be liable for all costs if it was turned down. I couldn't afford to risk that at Seat prices so bought an Allards plate which is being fitted by my VW mechanic mate tomorrow - all in, £300.

Well tell SEAT you will take it to an apropriate garage to carry out the investigations at your cost however if shows itis faulty you would expect them to cover costs.

NB a clutch should last well over 22K!!!!!

I would still send SEAT the clutch adn ask them for a contribution towards your costs nowand point out it is unreasonable for them to force you to a seat garage for investigations when at your cost!!!!!
 

Wheely

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Nov 19, 2003
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How can you disagree. I know people that have been turned away, including myself. So it's obviously not an incorrect statement? ;)

I am saying I disagree with your original statement which appears to use the words "never" and "unlikely". Which are obviously untrue if a fair few people have had them done. I had near 20K on the car and no quibbles once it went in.

However I appreciate that some folk may not get so lucky with this. I imagine a fair amount is also down to the experience and helpfulness of the dealer and mechanic. Because if they do the inspect and call Seat to say it could be wear then you may be fooked. In my case the mechanic test drove, then took out the service manager then agreed to inspect. I took the risk - and won. They could find little wear, but littler wrong. So it was replaced and Seat UK said ok.

And I wouldnt have been very happy if, like Snoops, they told me to poke it at 19K miles and pay for my own clutch.

And Scnipps, i would ring up Seat Uk off your own back. Not giving them a grilling but just to see what they will do for you. They were pretty helpful when I spoke to them (even though they wouldnt guarantee doing it for nothing until an inspection had taken place. Fare enough I guess).

'tis all I have to say on the matter.................for now :whistle:
 

morebeer

Full Member
May 26, 2004
39
0
Bristol
I had a Clutch replaced under Warranty my old LCR. The car had done 45k approx and it was about 1 month before the Warranty expired. From memory it was a spring pressure plate (whatever that is, I’m not a mechanic) that had caused the problem. Before it went in I informed my dealer, in writing, that I would under no circumstances pay for the repair, as I had been informed by the recovery company that a clutch should last much longer. Seat UK agreed and the works were completed. The car however had a history of drive related problems, including a new gearbox and snapped clutch pedal box.
 

djtp

Guest
i had my clutch replaced recently on a TDI 150 , under warranty after slipping in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th etc. between 2.5k-3.0k when cold. I did some digging around, and eventually the guy at the garage said that there was a known issue with weak clutch springs (no idea what they were called technically) and that replacement components had been up-issued to solve the problem. Best of all, it was completely covered by warranty. Sweet.
 

gwithyen

Guest
Any suggestions of how to get in contact with SEAT UK? I'm in a similar position, clutch has apparently gone at 45k, except mine wasn't slipping, it was just a bit stiff - now the gearbox has been stripped and it's sitting in the garage whilst I negotiate with the garage to "suggest" that it is a warranty issue.

A quick search through these forums will find a NUMBER of people who have had clutch issues at less than 3 years and less than 50k - a cupra or FR is a "sporty" car - so why does a SEAT/VW/Audi/Skoda clutch not fail in all of these cars?
 
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