GCab Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 My clutch went on me in France with various catastrophic consequences, covered elsewhere. I've now had the car shipped back to the UK, based on the understanding that this would be covered by warranty and they were happy to do the work here even though the incident happened abroad. Now had a call from Audi saying (a) the flywheel has hotspots so they need to replace it as well as clutch; and (b) it's "wear and tear" so they want £1300 from me. Back history is that the same thing happened in the UK and it was fixed under warranty last year (and it's only an 04 car), together with some clutch-associated gubbins that was "causing clutch to slip". I've told them to go away and reconsider, for two reasons (i) if I'd been told I'd be charged for it, I might have had it done in France for the quoted Eu 700 and claimed it back under European warranty; and (ii) I don't see how it can be wear and tear one year after replacement for an identical fault which was done under warranty. Any opinions/advice ? Do I take it to Audi UK if the dealers insist on it being out of warranty ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 I've had a dealer tell me in the past (when arguing) that if you have any repair done (whether warranty or goodwill) for which you do not contribute anything then you effectively have no warranty on the work carried out. Otherwise I'd be looking for the standard 12 month fitted parts warranty escape here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 That's interesting; but surely Audi (the manufacturer) have some responsibility for a basic mechanical failure in a car less than 18 months old, whether or not it's been fixed and whatever the dealer's view on warrantying their own work ? The issue about the previous work was really that it seems too much of a coincidence that they found a mechanical reason why the clutch went so early last time, whereas now they're claiming it's just because I have a heavy left foot ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 i did not get over with adam to recover it for you , how many miles had the car done ? and the clutch went when the car was onyl a few months old ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy_uk Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 OK, got my tin hat and ready to duck..... I've always strongly believed that the clutch and brake pads on both my previous A4 cabs were manufactured from paper. Now that I don't have them and won't incriminate myself, there were a few occasions where did some hard driving and worked the clutch quite hard to the point it felt like slipping and made an awful smell. Even after the first proper full bore start in each car, the clutch was never the same. As for brakes, it just couldn't take more than 2-3 high speed hard stops without the most awful fade coming in. I never had this with any previous beemer and certainly don't get it on the Boxta. They may have a point with a wear and tear claim due to it being crap in the firstplace, but you have to argue the clutch was not fit for purpose in the first place if it wears so quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 I don't disagree Gcab Was just highlighting one of the novel "escape" angles you should be aware of. I'm sure you'll be inclined to ask your dealer or Audi UK to tell you what the predicted life of a Cab Clutch should be and whether its reasonable for it to have failed within 12 months - to which they will refuse to commit Can you remind me how the clutch went this time? Was it related to that incident?? I think eventually through arguing with Audi UK and your dealer you should be able to get somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 I think it was related to that incident, as couldn't get moving with quattro and it went pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy_uk Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Is there a touch of double bluff going on ? If they admit the clutch had a problem, do Audi leave themselves open to a personal injury claim ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Hmmm... Just had them back saying it's "definitely wear and tear" - I think Adam (quite blamelessly) mentioned the story in passing and when I asked "so how do you account for 'wear and tear after so short a time?" they spun this as "We hear it fell into a ditch and had to be reversed out"... Time to call Audi UK I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Richy - that's very interesting comparative data. I certainly didn't do anything with it that was beyond reason; the slope was a problem because the surface was loose, but it was hardly the sort of thing that you'd expect to need a Landrover and a front-mounted winch to get out of ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy_uk Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Hmmm... Just had them back saying it's "definitely wear and tear" - I think Adam (quite blamelessly) mentioned the story in passing and when I asked "so how do you account for 'wear and tear after so short a time?" they spun this as "We hear it fell into a ditch and had to be reversed out"... Time to call Audi UK I think [/ QUOTE ] I reckon it's time to reach for the legal Bat Phone if they don;t start playing ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Um... what would be the mechanism, exactly ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 just spoke to adam for you and all he said was it failed on a country road in france and he had to recover it ! would ther ento be damage to the car if it fell in a ditch ? it try and recover the full recovery cost from them to since the part failed and you had to get it back at your own expense ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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