Please help me before i toast another clutch!
Please help me before i toast another clutch!
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Discussion

1jeb

Original Poster:

254 posts

248 months

Friday 29th September 2006
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This is my P&J being karted off to an OPC for a new clutch.

It's pains me to pay up when i know there are independants out there who'd do a better job for less but since the car is under warranty it seems somehow "safer" to get it all sorted by porsche. Illogical, I know...

Anyway, I'm asking myself how a car that's only done 17,000 miles is in need of a new clutch. Whilst I'd love to blame a mechanical fault and lots of stop start driving, I guess it's more a problem with my left (or more right?) foot.

That and racing hot hatches from the lights... boxedin

Since I'd rather be spending a grand on a sports exhaust, i think it's a good idea to learn how to use the clutch properly so it doesn't happen again.

Some good advice here
Good Advice

but I was wondering if anyone here had any other words of wisdom?


(i don't want a tiptronic BTW... )

jonny996

2,717 posts

247 months

Friday 29th September 2006
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not being mechanical minded, does a tip have a clutch? if so has anyone had it changed? and at what cost?

wildoliver

9,312 posts

246 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
17000 miles? god you must be being hard on it, I drive mine hard, including a few standing starts but must be honest clutches last a long time with me, then again my clutch is either in or out I'm not a prolific slipper, I also tend to limit the power on take off till she's just rolling to avoid slipping the clutch.

Finn997

113 posts

241 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
That's never a nice sight...

17k does sound very low for a new clutch. I'm up to 15k on my 997 and everything feels perfect.

Stop playing with those hot hatches..!! nono

Wetwipe

3,019 posts

243 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
As the clutch is coming out get them to repalce the RMS at the same time. The last thing you need (warranty or not) is for the cluch to be repalced and a few months later the rear main seal needs doing!

1jeb

Original Poster:

254 posts

248 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Wetwipe said:
As the clutch is coming out get them to repalce the RMS at the same time. The last thing you need (warranty or not) is for the cluch to be repalced and a few months later the rear main seal needs doing!


Got them to check it and they said that it was fine and didn't need replacing. Should i have insisted?

Wetwipe

3,019 posts

243 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
1jeb said:
Wetwipe said:
As the clutch is coming out get them to repalce the RMS at the same time. The last thing you need (warranty or not) is for the cluch to be repalced and a few months later the rear main seal needs doing!


Got them to check it and they said that it was fine and didn't need replacing. Should i have insisted?


it is difficult. seems a bit pointless to me ripping the gearbox out and not replacing the seal.

OK I appreciate you have a warranty and the job would be covered even if the worse happened, but I was always under the impression the OPC's did the job then the box was out simply because on the balance of probability the seal will go.

r5gttgaz

7,897 posts

250 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
17k for a clutch, I know Porsche OPC's charge alot but not that much!

Just casting out

GreigM

6,740 posts

279 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
The clutch in my boxster went at 17K (well I was told it was "down to the rivets" and advised to replace it when my engine was out being replaced) - the clutch itself felt fine, but was assured it needed to be replaced. A friend's boxster also had the clutch replaced at 15K (was found to be "down to the rivets" when RMS was being done). On the other hand I have a Nissan with 125K and its still on the original clutch and had many many other makes of cars and never needed to replace a clutch before. Is because these cars are more powerful and hence wear the clutch more, or is it because the clutch is made of marshmallow?

arwebs

2,961 posts

280 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
GreigM said:
was found to be "down to the rivets" when RMS was being done

It wasn't at an OPC by any chance was it? rolleyes

xTVR

180 posts

249 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Got my 996 C2 with 17k miles on the clock, original clutch I assume. Got it home and noticed a slight judder when clutch engaged gently in 1st/reverse. OPC replaced it under warranty, no quibble - also rms while gearbox off.
I dont know how much actual wear there was so hard to judge if made of chocolate. Seems they dont last that long really.
However the mechanic (sorry, technician) reckoned 40-50k miles of varied everyday driving at rates of acceleration less than warp 5 should be achievable.
What is everyone elses experience on this? Interesting to know.

Wetwipe

3,019 posts

243 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
xTVR said:
Got my 996 C2 with 17k miles on the clock, original clutch I assume. Got it home and noticed a slight judder when clutch engaged gently in 1st/reverse. OPC replaced it under warranty, no quibble - also rms while gearbox off.
I dont know how much actual wear there was so hard to judge if made of chocolate. Seems they dont last that long really.
However the mechanic (sorry, technician) reckoned 40-50k miles of varied everyday driving at rates of acceleration less than warp 5 should be achievable.
What is everyone elses experience on this? Interesting to know.


I am at 40K and still on the original clutch. My OPC confirmed your experience - 40/50K of normal driving........although they did say they had to replace a tt clutch after 4000 miles after an owners "sprited" driving....

xTVR

180 posts

249 months

Friday 29th September 2006
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Must've been using the post modern flat out full on, running-in technique.

xTVR

180 posts

249 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Must've been using the post modern flat out full on, running-in technique.

dazren

22,612 posts

291 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
[quote=Wetwipe[
I am at 40K and still on the original clutch. My OPC confirmed your experience - 40/50K of normal driving........although they did say they had to replace a tt clutch after 4000 miles after an owners "sprited" driving....[/quote]
I've heard similar stories, although after 33k miles of spirited driving in my 996TT, the clutch is still original and going strong. Having said that, my spirited driving takes place once on the move as opposed to traffic light grand prix.

Ref 1JEB's post and clutch, there may be nothing wrong with your driving style, is the car used to commute through traffic every day?

DAZ

GreigM

6,740 posts

279 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
arwebs said:
GreigM said:
was found to be "down to the rivets" when RMS was being done

It wasn't at an OPC by any chance was it? rolleyes

Was it THAT obvious hehe

to some extent I wasn't too upset as I was having the engine replaced anyway and I would just pay parts for the clutch it was a reasonable thing to do, but I simply didn't believe the amount of wear they were suggesting as I'm generally very gentle on clutches and heel/toe as much as possible to reduce wear.

anglebox10

2,733 posts

241 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
One thing to remember with the clutch :
If you ever have a blow out and try to manoeuvre the car with a flat tyre, this will take miles off the cluth life.
I did this once and after only a few yards the smell from the clutch was very strong, maybe this has happened in the past ??

Dave 321

558 posts

270 months

Friday 29th September 2006
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My dads Boxster S had 2 clutches in 15k miles...! One when engine was replaced at 3k miles, another at 15k. Was relpaced because it was soo heavy to press. Apparently that is why GT3 clutches get replaced too..

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Friday 29th September 2006
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Out of interest, do you push the clutch to the floor when changing gear or just beyond the bite point?

ballcock

3,855 posts

249 months

Saturday 30th September 2006
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I hear that if you've got the habit of resting your foot on the clutch in traffic you may be slightly engaging it without meaning to , making for much more premature wear and tear....

Also wears the clutch (supposedly) if you sit at lights etc with the clutch pedal in for lengthy periods.