Clutch cost/replace?

Chocchip1989

just had to replace the clutch in an Astra 2013D. Brought it to my local mechanic as clutch went near his place and I got it to his house in 1st gear. I phoned the main dealer and they said I wldnt see change from 1000e!!! I got a price of 1150e off my local mechanic. I queried but he said that there was a lot of work in it (he was doing it after his reg job and at his own house). I thought because he didn't have overheads it wld be cheaper. Left it with him because it would have taken time and effort to tow to main dealer and with previous experience of main dealers they usually lash on extras and vat. I still thought this mechanic was pricey??????

porsche boy

What engine? If it's a diesel and needs a dual mass flywheel then it could very easily be an accurate price.

Hachiko

you should be asking why the clutch went on a 2 year old car, not why it costs 1k to fix, they are a labour intensive job to carry out.

bazz26

Hachiko wrote: »

you should be asking why the clutch went on a 2 year old car, not why it costs 1k to fix, they are a labour intensive job to carry out.

If you tried hard enough you could burn a brand new clutch out in no time. The clutch plate would have to taken out and examined to find out if it was premature failure of the component or excessive wear due to the driver.

Hachiko

anyone who can drive a car properly should not burn a clutch out.. they should in reality last many many years.

no sexist comments mentioned.

mullingar

If there is small mileage and the clutch was burned out by poor clutch control, I'd reuse the flywheel as it's going to happen again without some re-education

Asmooh

same question here, how much to replace when i buy the clutch myself? because I don't need a OEM clutch but a performance clutch

Chocchip1989

I came to the same conclusion..........poor clutch control. My son drives it......and I have suggested driving lessons (altho he has a full licence and has had driving lessons). It was a shock to hear what it cost and I hope that's enough of a lesson. Just thought the mechanic was pulling a fast one.

slinky2000

If your son is driving it he could be doing a bit of messing in the car, a few burnouts etc that wouldn't help the situation.

dastardly00

What kind of things would come under the umbrella of poor clutch control?

Stone Deaf 4evr

Chocchip1989 wrote: »

I came to the same conclusion..........poor clutch control. My son drives it......and I have suggested driving lessons (altho he has a full licence and has had driving lessons). It was a shock to hear what it cost and I hope that's enough of a lesson. Just thought the mechanic was pulling a fast one.

slinky2000 wrote: »

If your son is driving it he could be doing a bit of messing in the car, a few burnouts etc that wouldn't help the situation.

dastardly00 wrote: »

What kind of things would come under the umbrella of poor clutch control?

before you decide that your son is to blame, or that he's messing etc, its oftne worth having a look in the mirror. Its a constant source of amazement to me just how bad some people are at properly controlling a car, clutch damage can be done in any number of seemingly innocent ways.

Balancing the car on the clutch when on a hill or incline, or at traffic lights wont be long shortening the lifespan of a clutch on any vehicle, same goes for people who take an eternity to release the clutch when taking off from a standing start. Trailers, horseboxes etc will all obviously put an extra load on your drivetrain as well.

Henry Ford III

Resting your left foot on the clutch can burn it out prematurely too.

Chocchip1989

slinky2000 wrote: »

If your son is driving it he could be doing a bit of messing in the car, a few burnouts etc that wouldn't help the situation.

Hes a fast driver but definitely not into burnouts. Hes more the academic type. I had noticed how he drives before and had pulled him up on it. Not changing gears going round corners etc.

Agricola

In the process of getting a new clutch myself. Have got a kit online for 100 quid and my local mechanic (who is good on time/labour costs) has said 100 for him should cover it. Have been told around 200 all in is the going rate for my car provided the fella has some experience of it and doesnt run into problems. The €500 and up jobs must mean a new flywheel, as any kits online that come with a new flywheel are mad money. €1000 seems excessive though.

pred racer

I just got a new clutch in my Alfa 159, it cost more than €1000
The kit (plate, dmf and slave cylinder) is €650
Check the quote for the parts price, Dmf's are expensive.
Solid flywheels are way cheaper but I wouldn't install one!

browniepoints

Check on the net is there a known issue with the clutch unit or even a recall

The Fiat had bad batch of clutches a sharp part would eat the clutch plate and clutch would go after 40,000 miles .The replacement had the problem sorted and was good the normal 200,000 miles .

Also if there was persistent slow leak in the clutch fluid this can wear out clutch plates sooner with low fluid levels .

Driving in too high a gear up hills can also help wear out clutch plates especially if the car is the lowwer power spec model version .

Safer with clutches to keep RPM higher than tick over in the 2000 to 4000 RPM is safest for typical 1000cc to 2000cc 4 pot car . I drive a lot in fifth gear at fairly slow speeds of 30 to 45mph for fuel economy on the flat straights .uphills or curves that wont work ( Where I live the roads are mostly straight for miles or mountain steep mountain curves where fast speed isn't possible and often empty roads one car every 20 minutes so dont go on about the slow driver troll )
However for corners it needs to be in lowwer gears for many reasons of control and it helps the clutch have less strain than going round corners with engine ticking over at 1000 RPM.
Automatic cars will tend to do that go into corners on tick over as there is no proper control of the gears for most of them .

Check the handbrake and brakes if handbrake its dragging or brakes are out of line and excessive dragging it can help screw up clutch .

My aunt could wreck a clutch every 2000 miles a real mechanics dream every few weeks new clutch until my uncle in law copped on and bought her only automatics

Jed

George Dalton

Agricola wrote: »

In the process of getting a new clutch myself. Have got a kit online for 100 quid and my local mechanic (who is good on time/labour costs) has said 100 for him should cover it. Have been told around 200 all in is the going rate for my car provided the fella has some experience of it and doesnt run into problems. The €500 and up jobs must mean a new flywheel, as any kits online that come with a new flywheel are mad money. €1000 seems excessive though.

What kind of car do you drive? €100 for kit and €100 for labour? Something tells me that Mr Revenue Commissioner won't be seeing much of the €200 price you are quoting

Flood

George Dalton wrote: »

What kind of car do you drive? €100 for kit and €100 for labour? Something tells me that Mr Revenue Commissioner won't be seeing much of the €200 price you are quoting

The fun police have rolled into town.

pred racer

Flood wrote: »

The fun police have rolled into town.

No a poor sap that has to pay all the stuff he mentioned and compete with cowboys and still try and make a few quid rolled into town

You know, the fella you go to when your mate that'll do it for €100 cocks it up!

Agricola

George Dalton wrote: »

What kind of car do you drive? €100 for kit and €100 for labour? Something tells me that Mr Revenue Commissioner won't be seeing much of the €200 price you are quoting

Clutch sourced online by myself, €105 including delivery. Mechanic reckons 2 / 2 and half hours tops, he gives me mate rates you might say. All legal and above board m'lord!

George Dalton

Your car - cheap clutch kit
OP's Astra - expensive kit with DMF

Your car - quick and easy job
OP's Astra - time consuming job involving removing the entire front subframe

Your mechanic - giving you mates rates and effectively doing the job at cost
OP's mechanic - trying to make a few quid


Hardly a like for like comparison there

spiggotpaddy

George Dalton wrote: »

Your car - cheap clutch kit
OP's Astra - expensive kit with DMF

Your car - quick and easy job
OP's Astra - time consuming job involving removing the entire front subframe

Your mechanic - giving you mates rates and effectively doing the job at cost
OP's mechanic - trying to make a few quid


Hardly a like for like comparison there

on the other hand, A mate's friends buddy had his car mended at a very respectable garage and it wouldn't run smoothly because they mixed the revenue fluid in with the overhead filter.

Flood

pred racer wrote: »

No a poor sap that has to pay all the stuff he mentioned and compete with cowboys and still try and make a few quid rolled into town

Every business takes cash and dont declare it, they might not admit it but they do.