chasdrury Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 My A4 is a 2004 model, 1.8T Quattro, 163Bhp model... Done 35000 miles, I have had it for about 15k miles. Went in today because a guy from the dealer drove it a couple of weeks ago and said he thought the clutch was high.. Got a call just now, We have taken the car for a drive and the clutch is very high... Well, yes, thats why its booked in.... We think the clutch may be worn.... OK, how much to fix i ask? Firstly, the service manager says that they can strip it all down and get the clutch out, and something might have broken and then it would be under warranty. If however, it was just worn then the clutch is about £200 - not too bad I am thinking, then he says 7-8 hours labour on a quattro at £98 something +VAT per hour!! So basically £1000 to fit a new clutch. He also said it may last 6 months or a year yet, there is no knowing how worn it is.... SO i told them to leave it for now. How come it takes so much longer in a quatty than a 2wd variant to change a clutch?? Cheers Chas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchet Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Surely just because the biting point is high, it doesn't mean it's on it's way out? Have you noticed any slipping. Try driving on a quiet, straight and level road at 30mph, put the car in 4th or 5th and floor it, see if it slips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_golf_tt Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 I thought the biting point on all A4's is high, mine is. Has it moved higher over the 15K miles that you've owned the car? I don't think I'd be changing the clutch until it starts to slip, and then I'd go to a specialist rather than Audi (warranty allowing). £1000 labour to change a clutch is daylight robbery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmmlmmam Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] How come it takes so much longer in a quatty than a 2wd variant to change a clutch?? [/ QUOTE ] Probably various bits of the drivetrain going to the rear that must be removed before they can drop the gearbox to change the clutch. These bits are simply not there on the FWD A4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted February 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Well, I thought that about the slipping, I has never, not once slipped... Apparently, they have a 'self adjusting mechanism' which would prevent a worn clutch from slipping, the pedal would just get higher?? I haven't noticed a difference in height of the clutch over 15k miles, but then again would I, if it was a progressive thing? What are the implications to my warranty of not having a new clutch put in by Audi, rather getting an Audi specialist to do it for me? Cheers Chas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Was there some sheep there... or is your a key stuck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizzy Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 If it was a recognised VAG specialist using OEM parts, then it shouldn't affect your warranty. There was a ruling on this a few years ago relating to the Block Exemption laws, basically saying that manufacturers could not legally force customers to use their workshops as long as OEM warrantied parts were being used for the job. A friend of mine had something similar with an Alfa where he didn't want the dealer to touch it (believe me Alfa dealers take mediocracy to a whole new level) and he was able to have the work done at a recognised independant without invalidating his three year warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 And you would only loose warranty on the clutch anyway, which is fair enough. I would get it done by a local garage and save yourself £500 or more. Supply the parts and tell the local garage Audi have said it could be up to 6 hours, tell them you are prepared to agree £300 for the work, if he gets it done in 4 hours he has done well out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Wow, wow wow.. are you mad?! What's all this talk about it being done all of a sudden?! Your clutch is probably fine. In my experience the biting point of just about any Audi I've driven has been fairly "high" and my FWD A4 TDi (remapped) did 152k and I still didn't put a clutch in it, despite me thinking at around 120k that it might need one. Live with it until it starts to slip, if indeed if ever does. Sounds like stealer bull to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeckel Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 I replaced mine at xmas on my 2004 TDI remapped to 175 just done 38k . You could actually feel the clutch slipping. Cost me €900 in total 5 hours labour. Dealer told me it would be about €1400 if it was quattro. I do a lot of stop start city driving which is probably partly the problem. Wasn't very impressed with the longevity but they wouldn't budge on warranty claim as clutch was worn evenly with no damage or faults. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 My A4 1.8T has done 100k and at 93k the clutch slipped a bit(only once or twice whilst giving it a bit of stick) Still got the same one. Had a service at 96k and mentioned that the pedal was very high and the service manager told me his was like mine and was still the same after another 20k. So save your money until it really needs it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 My A4 has done 103K and the biting point is high, it's not slipping, and it's just going to get left until it goes altogether. I can't believe how much these jobs are costing ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted March 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 I think I am going to leave it guys... I went to an audi apecialist, and they said for the work I could get it done for £500 - £200 parts and £300 labour, better than Audi's labour rates, but still gonna leave it a bit yet! Chaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted March 1, 2006 Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 If it's not broke.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted March 1, 2006 Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 Agree, unless it slips like a greased rat up a drainpipe, or is billowing smoke then I wouldn't bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted March 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 Settled... no new clutch for me until this one dies!! Chaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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