Clutching at Straws

[-bobda-]

It's lasted 71000 miles, but last week my clutch started to slip slightly.
Doesn't do it all the time, only under higher than normal acceleration in 4th gear (usually).
I reckon it's got about another 2k miles left before it needs doing.

BUT - my 72k service (cambelt etc) is due, so would I be better off getting it done at the same time as that?

How much should I expect to pay for the clutch change?

[alsner]

Hi, personally I would have it done at the same time as the cam belt/service after all if they've got your car they might as well do the whole job in one.

As far as the price goes I can't help you on that one but I'm sure someone else will be able to advise you on the cost.

Ali

[TonyM]

I recently had my clutch replaced.

The Volvo dealer quoted £720

My local indpendant Volvo specialist quoted £470

Guess who got the job?

Originally Posted by -bobda-

How much should I expect to pay for the clutch change?

I was thinking it's about time your car went wrong again, it doesn't seem to have gone wrong for a while

For my T4, I was told it would be about 7 hour job (sounds reasonable). The independant specialist I contacted a while ago charged about £40 per hour so that's about £280 labour.

I was intending to buy parts separately rather than let the garage get them from volvo, dunno whether the garage would have been ok with this or not.

From PFVO I could get a Sachs clutch kit for £100 or so and on mine the slave cylinder is integral with the release bearing that was about £60 (OEM I think). Possibly add a bit more parts cost like £20 for misc seals etc. and call it £25 for new transmission oil lets say you have that done as well. But then you might be able to knock a bit of labour if they do the cambelt at same time because e.g supporting the engine only needs to be done once.

Anyway, for the sake of argument if it was my car you'd be looking at £280 + £100 + £60 + £20 + £25 = £485 total.

IIRC, from volvo the release bearing was £100 and the kit was £200 so add £140 for volvo parts = £625 total.

These prices DID include VAT.

Your car, I would guess you are looking at similar figures.

Cam belt, my car they quoted me £240 inc VAT all in IIRC. Same specialist garage.

Cheers,
Pete

[johnswlondon]

can i ask,why have you ruled out doing this yourself,so i know whether to bother if mine goes wrong

Johnswlondon: Who are you asking this question to?

If you are asking me, well it is no longer applicable for me. This was on my other s40 that I had but the current one still has on ok clutch (touch wood!) even after 130k miles. I'd probably consider doing the clutch myself now, although I would need to get hold of another car to use while I was doing it so I wasn't rushed to do it and might need to also get hold of a couple of tools as well.

But as I say, long may it not be applicable to me anymore!
And apologies if this question was directed at somebody else.

Pete

[-bobda-]

If it was directed towards me - then my excuse is that I don't have ramps and I would need to arrange alternative transport just in case it went wrong, plus - I can't be arsed!

[-bobda-]

Originally Posted by peteS40

I was thinking it's about time your car went wrong again, it doesn't seem to have gone wrong for a while

It's also gained a squeak and a rattle from the glovebox area which annoys me over bumps, but I can live with that!

Still got a fairly comprehensive warranty on it so I think it's about time I got my moneys worth from that and got some new bits.
I'm thinking wishbones/shock absorbers/engine mount.

It's done 71k, what usually goes wrong around then?

I mean, doing a clutch that's a big job involving lots of other jobs along the way... certainly something most DIY mechanics would give a miss I would think if they needed the car back on the road asap. I wouldn't want to do it unless I had another car available to use, just in case I found I needed a part or tool and had to leave the car laid up for a couple of days, I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone without a fair bit of experience try and do a clutch.

Mine also has a rattle from behind the glovebox. A funny one it is, I did have a quick look at some point but nothing obvious. I have been ignoring it for a least a few months now, maybe I'll have a look at some point.

Stuff can go wrong all the time, but for some people nothing ever goes wrong so for some 71k could be the beginning of the end but for others it could be "just run in". Personally I find most things start going wrong with any car just after the moment when it is bought by me!

Pete

[johnswlondon]

thankyou both for your advice its been ages since ive changed a clutch and luckily it was a ford fiesta,i just hope if it goes its in the summer with light evenings