C30 - Burnt clutch issues

Vesta Rose · Oct 3rd, 2011, 20:47

After noticing a burnt rubber smell inside the car, I arranged for the car to be taken to the Volvo garage. They have told me that I have burnt the clutch because of the way I have been using the car and because it is my fault it will not be covered by the warranty and I have to pay costs os around £1200.

How can this be. I have been driving for more than 15 years and have not changed my driving so how come I never burnt a clutch before? The car is diesel and only 2 Years old with 7000 on the clock and was serviced by Volvo in January. I use it for normal driving - I am no boy racer so how could this be fault?

I am having a computer no says moment when speaking to Volvo who are adamant this is my fault.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Many thanks.

SonyVaio · Oct 3rd, 2011, 21:14

Well the burden of proof is all on the garage. They have to prove that it is due to the way you have been driving that has caused it to fail. I think the garage is on a lose lose here IMHO.

I wouldn't have thought no mater how had you drive a car that the (under normal driving) that you could ruin the clutch in only 7000 miles. You would have to be revving the bollocks off the car and dropping the clutch every time you pulled off for it to fail normally.

The dealer CAN read data from the car on how it has been driven and they have the right to (read your handbook). This said though, just insist that it is not your fault and there must have been something wrong with the clutch. As long as you stick to this the dealer then has to prove otherwise.

It is a common problem on diesels that the DMF (dual mass flywheel) fails and this problem is in no way limited to Volvo. All manufacturers have these DMF problems.

t5_monkey · Oct 3rd, 2011, 21:18

Clearly a fault.

Reject the car, leave it on their forecourt.. and tell them you're getting trading standards (get an incident number) involved and sueing them.

Also - start calling and writing to the MD of their company.

They'll realize your trouble fairly quick and solve your issue!

Spanny · Oct 3rd, 2011, 22:10

Trust me, a clutch can be completely burnt out inside 50 miles if there is either something wrong with the car, driver, or something thats happend during installation......
7k miles you can rule out a genuine manufacture or material defect.... my guessing would be a thermal over load on the clutch lining..... Do you hold the car on the biting point on a hill?? move off in 2nd gear?? have they stated whats wrong with the clutch?? how's it burnt out?? lining completely gone on the plate??

Let me know what you can and ill try to advise..... also if you have any pictures let me know.
Regards
Dan

Spanny · Oct 3rd, 2011, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by t5_monkey

Clearly a fault.

Reject the car, leave it on their forecourt.. and tell them you're getting trading standards (get an incident number) involved and sueing them.

Also - start calling and writing to the MD of their company.

They'll realize your trouble fairly quick and solve your issue!

Not being funny but you can't just spit your dummy out like this.... it won't solve anything, if anything it'll make them dig there heels in and tell you to get it sorted, or get it off there property......

Vesta Rose · Oct 3rd, 2011, 23:10

Thank you for your posts. I do think I am being fobbed off by Volvo. The authorised garage simply have the view that if Volvo hold to their gun that this is not a fault under warranty then why should the garage pay for it. I will therefore have to argue it out with volvo rather than the authorised repair centre but I will give them a chance to do the right thing.

Wondering if anyone else has had similar problems with their clutch, as obviously if there is pattern that may help my case.

Many thanks.

v40bart · Oct 4th, 2011, 08:36

There could be various reasons for untimely demise of your clutch. First and most common is prolonged slipping of the clutch while moving off or resting your foot on the pedal while driving, but as you have been driving for 15 years without burning out all your other cars' clutches I think we can safely assume it was not the case. The other reason could be the slave cylinder not returning fully and not allowing the clutch to engage fully (seen that before). Next could be a knackered dual mass flywheel, in extreme cases causing clutch slip. Faulty master cylinder? Maybe something obstructing the clutch pedal not allowing it to return fully? Bad adjustment? Faulty self adjusting pressure plate? Without examination of the clutch components out of the car no one can tell. You could get the clutch examined by a third party engineering company or something to avoid the obvious bias.

t5_monkey · Oct 4th, 2011, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spanny

Not being funny but you can't just spit your dummy out like this.... it won't solve anything, if anything it'll make them dig there heels in and tell you to get it sorted, or get it off there property......

Maybe... but as he said he's just getting fobbed off.

I've worked in customer service (at John Lewis) before dealing with loads of complaints... and the people who make the biggest noise generally get what they want.

Buckers · Oct 4th, 2011, 08:57

Thought I would enter the fray with my ten pence. Having mentioned that it might be a faulty master cylinder it would be worth going to a Volvo dealer,my 2010 S40 2.0D R-Design was in the garage for a lumpy running engine for tests for two days. When I went to collect the car the service dept told me that they had replaced the clutch master cylinder as it was subject to a recall. I am sure there are more knowledgeable people here that can tell you how to check if your car is affected. Might be worth a look though, especially if it saves £1200.

v40bart · Oct 4th, 2011, 09:04

Recall is unrelated. It concerns a design fault where a pushrod is made of plastic and it can snap. Replacement has a metal pushrod.

Oct 3rd, 2011, 20:47	#1
Vesta Rose New Member Last Online: Oct 6th, 2011 00:43 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: London	C30 - Burnt clutch issues After noticing a burnt rubber smell inside the car, I arranged for the car to be taken to the Volvo garage. They have told me that I have burnt the clutch because of the way I have been using the car and because it is my fault it will not be covered by the warranty and I have to pay costs os around £1200. How can this be. I have been driving for more than 15 years and have not changed my driving so how come I never burnt a clutch before? The car is diesel and only 2 Years old with 7000 on the clock and was serviced by Volvo in January. I use it for normal driving - I am no boy racer so how could this be fault? I am having a computer no says moment when speaking to Volvo who are adamant this is my fault. Any guidance would be appreciated. Many thanks.

Oct 3rd, 2011, 21:14	#2
SonyVaio VOC Member Last Online: Feb 26th, 2016 19:58 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Exmouth	Well the burden of proof is all on the garage. They have to prove that it is due to the way you have been driving that has caused it to fail. I think the garage is on a lose lose here IMHO. I wouldn't have thought no mater how had you drive a car that the (under normal driving) that you could ruin the clutch in only 7000 miles. You would have to be revving the bollocks off the car and dropping the clutch every time you pulled off for it to fail normally. The dealer CAN read data from the car on how it has been driven and they have the right to (read your handbook). This said though, just insist that it is not your fault and there must have been something wrong with the clutch. As long as you stick to this the dealer then has to prove otherwise. It is a common problem on diesels that the DMF (dual mass flywheel) fails and this problem is in no way limited to Volvo. All manufacturers have these DMF problems. Last edited by SonyVaio; Oct 3rd, 2011 at 21:22.

Oct 3rd, 2011, 21:18	#3
t5_monkey Monkeying Around Last Online: Mar 13th, 2016 20:05 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York	Clearly a fault. Reject the car, leave it on their forecourt.. and tell them you're getting trading standards (get an incident number) involved and sueing them. Also - start calling and writing to the MD of their company. They'll realize your trouble fairly quick and solve your issue! __________________ Release the Monkey inside of you >>> Trunk Monkey

Oct 4th, 2011, 08:36	#7
v40bart Master Member Last Online: Jun 14th, 2015 13:09 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London	There could be various reasons for untimely demise of your clutch. First and most common is prolonged slipping of the clutch while moving off or resting your foot on the pedal while driving, but as you have been driving for 15 years without burning out all your other cars' clutches I think we can safely assume it was not the case. The other reason could be the slave cylinder not returning fully and not allowing the clutch to engage fully (seen that before). Next could be a knackered dual mass flywheel, in extreme cases causing clutch slip. Faulty master cylinder? Maybe something obstructing the clutch pedal not allowing it to return fully? Bad adjustment? Faulty self adjusting pressure plate? Without examination of the clutch components out of the car no one can tell. You could get the clutch examined by a third party engineering company or something to avoid the obvious bias. __________________ 2008 V50 2.0 D, silver, off-black leather interior, plod spec 320mm brakes and suspension, says 140 ps on the sticker but flies like proverbial off a shovell. NICE...

Oct 4th, 2011, 09:04	#10
v40bart Master Member Last Online: Jun 14th, 2015 13:09 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London	Recall is unrelated. It concerns a design fault where a pushrod is made of plastic and it can snap. Replacement has a metal pushrod. __________________ 2008 V50 2.0 D, silver, off-black leather interior, plod spec 320mm brakes and suspension, says 140 ps on the sticker but flies like proverbial off a shovell. NICE...

Oct 3rd, 2011, 22:10	#4
Spanny New Member Last Online: Oct 11th, 2011 21:15 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: rugby	Trust me, a clutch can be completely burnt out inside 50 miles if there is either something wrong with the car, driver, or something thats happend during installation...... 7k miles you can rule out a genuine manufacture or material defect.... my guessing would be a thermal over load on the clutch lining..... Do you hold the car on the biting point on a hill?? move off in 2nd gear?? have they stated whats wrong with the clutch?? how's it burnt out?? lining completely gone on the plate?? Let me know what you can and ill try to advise..... also if you have any pictures let me know. Regards Dan

Oct 3rd, 2011, 23:10	#6
Vesta Rose New Member Last Online: Oct 6th, 2011 00:43 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: London	Thank you for your posts. I do think I am being fobbed off by Volvo. The authorised garage simply have the view that if Volvo hold to their gun that this is not a fault under warranty then why should the garage pay for it. I will therefore have to argue it out with volvo rather than the authorised repair centre but I will give them a chance to do the right thing. Wondering if anyone else has had similar problems with their clutch, as obviously if there is pattern that may help my case. Many thanks.

Oct 4th, 2011, 08:57	#9
Buckers New Member Last Online: Oct 17th, 2011 08:48 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Henley on Thames	Thought I would enter the fray with my ten pence. Having mentioned that it might be a faulty master cylinder it would be worth going to a Volvo dealer,my 2010 S40 2.0D R-Design was in the garage for a lumpy running engine for tests for two days. When I went to collect the car the service dept told me that they had replaced the clutch master cylinder as it was subject to a recall. I am sure there are more knowledgeable people here that can tell you how to check if your car is affected. Might be worth a look though, especially if it saves £1200.

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