Another V12V question...

[SAG6Y]

I drove a V12 V yesterday and was surprised at how high the biting point of the clutch was. Again, got the 'the all do that sir' response. Is this the case? It was quite hard to modulate and the bite was right at the top of its travel. It felt odd and want make sure it's not a sign of clutch wear.

[silverspeed]

SAG6Y said:

I drove a V12 V yesterday and was surprised at how high the biting point of the clutch was. Again, got the 'the all do that sir' response. Is this the case? It was quite hard to modulate and the bite was right at the top of its travel. It felt odd and want make sure it's not a sign of clutch wear.

Mine is not high! I think they can tell you how much there is left on the clutch.

[SAG6Y]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't think it was right. I'll go back to them and ask to investigate. Apparently the sales man said they couldn't tell clutch wear. Is that definitely possible?

[Manwhoneverwas]

It is only on the Sportshift gearbox cars that the dealer can measure the "Clutch Wear Index" using the AM diagnostics

[DB9VolanteDriver]

SAG6Y said:

I drove a V12 V yesterday and was surprised at how high the biting point of the clutch was. Again, got the 'the all do that sir' response. Is this the case? It was quite hard to modulate and the bite was right at the top of its travel. It felt odd and want make sure it's not a sign of clutch wear.

Don't know how high is high in your case, but the V12 manuals do have a high bite point which does make modulation difficult from a stop. It can make you look like a rank amateur. The problem, as I see it, is that your foot must be completely off the floor to engage the clutch, which makes for difficult control. Other cars have a bite point low enough such that you can keep your heel on the floor which enables more precise modulation of the clutch.

[SAG6Y]

Yup. Exactly that. I had to take my foot fully off the clutch before applying the throttle. It also made moving from standstill a little clumsy.

[W1111AM]

What was the mileage? Sounds like a clutch close to the end of it's life...

[SAG6Y]

10k. So would be surprised if it's worn. I've asked the dealer to investigate before I part with any cash. They have 2 other v12vs I might drive to compare.

[handyman 1417]

I've a new clutch which replaced the squeaky one and it's a high bite point compared to the V8 I had before. It bites at the same point as the original which was replaced at 8000 miles.

[quench]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Don't know how high is high in your case, but the V12 manuals do have a high bite point which does make modulation difficult from a stop. It can make you look like a rank amateur. The problem, as I see it, is that your foot must be completely off the floor to engage the clutch, which makes for difficult control. Other cars have a bite point low enough such that you can keep your heel on the floor which enables more precise modulation of the clutch.

Never found that on my V12V. I did not have to take my heel off the floor. My feet are larger than average, though, size 12 or 13 depending on the shoe. What size are yours?

[mikey k]

Manwhoneverwas said:

It is only on the Sportshift gearbox cars that the dealer can measure the "Clutch Wear Index" using the AM diagnostics

Thy don't measure it
They simply read a couple of numbers from the AMDS
They are "parameters" the system uses to set bite and kiss points
They are not definitive measurements

OP some of the earlier V12's did suffer with "vague" clutches and many were changed
I drove one recently that had a clutch at 7k miles (wore out according to the dealer!) and the replacement wasn't great either.

[BigScotty]

SAG6Y said:

I drove a V12 V yesterday and was surprised at how high the biting point of the clutch was. Again, got the 'the all do that sir' response. Is this the case? It was quite hard to modulate and the bite was right at the top of its travel. It felt odd and want make sure it's not a sign of clutch wear.

I've had my clutch replaced, also. Before, and after, the clutch bite point was never uncomfortably high.

And, I've always been able to operate the clutch with my heel hinging on the floor.

It does sound to me as if the clutch operation needs looking at.

[cibble10]

BigScotty said:

I've had my clutch replaced, also. Before, and after, the clutch bite point was never uncomfortably high.

And, I've always been able to operate the clutch with my heel hinging on the floor.

It does sound to me as if the clutch operation needs looking at.

Agreed, I had the clutch replaced on my v12v at 2,900 miles due to a squeaky clutch (a known issue for a batch of v12vs but it seems AM did not recall them all, because -allegedly- not all squeaked. Anyhow, before and after I would not consider the clutch as biting particuraly high, and certainly not enough to warrant lifting my heel. Now, the Freelander 2 certainly does have a high biting clutch!

[SAG6Y]

Thanks for the responses. I've been in touch with AM and they've tried the other 2 V12v they have in stock and assure me they are all the same. They've had a good look over the clutch and it's operation and say its healthy. Running out of reasons not to buy this car!!

[BigScotty]

Make it known to them that you have a doubt regarding the clutch, and if a sale was to proceed then you would expect them to make good if a failure occurred within a reasonable amount of miles/time

I can hear them squirming already.

[cibble10]

SAG6Y said:

Thanks for the responses. I've been in touch with AM and they've tried the other 2 V12v they have in stock and assure me they are all the same. They've had a good look over the clutch and it's operation and say its healthy. Running out of reasons not to buy this car!!

Here the dealers thrown in 12 months AM warranty (probably to divert any potential liabilities for expensive repairs away from them). Would suggest that as minimum. In a 12 month period (aside from the clutch issue which was rectification rather than warranty) I needed a new fuel pump, a panel resprayed, a new leather strap for the boot... This on a 2 owner mint 3,000 miles - 5,000 miles car. 3 years old.

[sukh_m]

SAG6Y said:

Thanks for the responses. I've been in touch with AM and they've tried the other 2 V12v they have in stock and assure me they are all the same. They've had a good look over the clutch and it's operation and say its healthy. Running out of reasons not to buy this car!!

Buy it

I'd get something in writing about the clutch if your still unsure, use this as the basis for buying it.

[Far Eastender]

I drove three V12V's before I settled on mine, a Mako Blue 2012. I drove it for around 5K, I would say 'quite' hard and the clutch bite gradually rose over the 12 months or so that I had the car.

I had a couple of experiences where I changed gear down at high rev's (6,000 +) and got a terrible burning smell...

[Retman]

BigScotty said:

I've had my clutch replaced, also. Before, and after, the clutch bite point was never uncomfortably high.

And, I've always been able to operate the clutch with my heel hinging on the floor.

It does sound to me as if the clutch operation needs looking at.