Dodgy clutch - risk it or change it???
Discussion
There might not be an answer to this but thought I'd ask if anyone had any similar experiences.
Car is a 2006 ford Galaxy 2.0tdci manual. 91k miles.
It's a good car, for what it is and has an excellent service history. It had a big service december last year including a pair of rear brake calipers a couple of tyres and a timing belt/water pump etc done last year to the tune of £850ish quid all together. I jokingly said to the mechanic on the way out that sods law states the clutch will start to go now!
So about 2months ago it started making a noise. It doesn't slip, the bite point is fine, the pedal action is fine (99% of the time - the pedal has been slow to return, but only 3 times). The noise comes on when you apply a little pressure to the pedal then goes after about 50% of the pedal action. It's the clutch release bearing, just like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7A0ug_lbE8
Given the car runs and drives fine I'm just wondering what you chaps think on terms of winging it until it gets worse, or fails completely, or just get it sorted. The problem with getting it fixed is the whole clutch has to be opened up which is a day's labour on these so you are looking at changing the clutch and DMF whilst you're in there. It's a £1200+ job at ford, about £850 at my very local garage and £675 cash in hand at a place I know a bit further away, they are very good BTW.
I'd just rather not spend any more on a car that I have no real affection for. I have been looking at trading it in for a merc E class estate (7 seat version) but they are hard to come by and part of me, the sensible part, is saying keep it for another 12 months and save up some more cash. Sods law though.....id I change the clutch, the fekin steering rack will go, or something else expensive!
Any tales, good or bad about driving around with a slightly dodgy clutch and it lasting years, or going bang in a cloud of metallic shrapnel.
Car is a 2006 ford Galaxy 2.0tdci manual. 91k miles.
It's a good car, for what it is and has an excellent service history. It had a big service december last year including a pair of rear brake calipers a couple of tyres and a timing belt/water pump etc done last year to the tune of £850ish quid all together. I jokingly said to the mechanic on the way out that sods law states the clutch will start to go now!
So about 2months ago it started making a noise. It doesn't slip, the bite point is fine, the pedal action is fine (99% of the time - the pedal has been slow to return, but only 3 times). The noise comes on when you apply a little pressure to the pedal then goes after about 50% of the pedal action. It's the clutch release bearing, just like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7A0ug_lbE8
Given the car runs and drives fine I'm just wondering what you chaps think on terms of winging it until it gets worse, or fails completely, or just get it sorted. The problem with getting it fixed is the whole clutch has to be opened up which is a day's labour on these so you are looking at changing the clutch and DMF whilst you're in there. It's a £1200+ job at ford, about £850 at my very local garage and £675 cash in hand at a place I know a bit further away, they are very good BTW.
I'd just rather not spend any more on a car that I have no real affection for. I have been looking at trading it in for a merc E class estate (7 seat version) but they are hard to come by and part of me, the sensible part, is saying keep it for another 12 months and save up some more cash. Sods law though.....id I change the clutch, the fekin steering rack will go, or something else expensive!
Any tales, good or bad about driving around with a slightly dodgy clutch and it lasting years, or going bang in a cloud of metallic shrapnel.
Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 14th July 09:00
LaDS3arri said:
I'd look to change it asap. I certainly wouldnt be spending any more money on it. Appears to be on its way out now seeing as it had a costly issue back in December. You could be in the area of £2000 spent repairing a 2006 ford Galaxy if you get the clutch looed at.
I can get the clutch/dmf done for £675.In fact it's booked in a week on monday for it but I'm still not sure I want to spend anything on it.
I'm having the same dilemma. I don't think there is a right answer. You could have fixed all the problems and it could go for another 2 years or something else might go tomorrow. My vectra is at the same stage. Done a lot of work on breaks etc and it going ok but it needs a new timing belt which will likely cost near 200 . Do i keep it or get new. Will the newer one throw an even worse bill. If you ask me either way is a gamble. Sorry not very helpful!
I would get the clutch changed soon though as it could end up doing damage to something else.
I would get the clutch changed soon though as it could end up doing damage to something else.
My son had a noisy release bearing on his Pug a few years ago now. I advised him to get it sorted out soonest but he ignored my advice as well as my offer to help him do it. "It still works, can't be arsed. Need the car. Yada, yada, yada."
It eventually failed spectacularly, sort of jammed and unwound itself and jammed the clutch completely stranding him by the side of the road. He, of course, had no breakdown/recovery cover and I was working away abroad at the time. Between the recovery costs and garage costs to fix it the episode turned out to be very expensive lesson for him!
It eventually failed spectacularly, sort of jammed and unwound itself and jammed the clutch completely stranding him by the side of the road. He, of course, had no breakdown/recovery cover and I was working away abroad at the time. Between the recovery costs and garage costs to fix it the episode turned out to be very expensive lesson for him!
Cheers.
I think I will get the clutch done then after all. I can at least then sell it privately rather than PX. It'll be much easier to sell and probably worth a few quid more with all the belts done and a new clutch.
Really, I just want a new car! had it 3 years which is the longest I have ever owned anything and I only got this because of the bloody kids.
I'm hankering after an S212 mercedes E class estate with the 7 seat options. I think I might miss the space of the galaxy though.
I also can't help looking at a newer Smax. A titanium X sport with a petrol engine and auto box might be a good bet.
one of these
With this option....oh and only a 350cdi btw...
Or
I think I will get the clutch done then after all. I can at least then sell it privately rather than PX. It'll be much easier to sell and probably worth a few quid more with all the belts done and a new clutch.
Really, I just want a new car! had it 3 years which is the longest I have ever owned anything and I only got this because of the bloody kids.
I'm hankering after an S212 mercedes E class estate with the 7 seat options. I think I might miss the space of the galaxy though.
I also can't help looking at a newer Smax. A titanium X sport with a petrol engine and auto box might be a good bet.
one of these
With this option....oh and only a 350cdi btw...
Or
Eventually it will seize, rip the fingers out of the pressure plate and you'll be stuck by the side of the road. Clutchless gear shifts are possible.....
It won't do any more damage if you run it till it fails. You need a new pressure plate anyway when changing the clutch. It won't damage the DMF. So the only downside is that one day you will get stranded. I had a Alfasud years ago that did the same, about 10,000 miles later the noise became shrill and constant, and it failed that week.
Drive it, make sure you have AA cover and keep the pedal pressed as little as possible. Don't sit at the lights in first with the pedal down - that will kill it in short order. If the noise becomes materially worse (i.e. constant squealing) get it changed.
Always remember that it doesn't matter what the car is worth - it is what it would cost to replace that matters. An old car with a busted clutch is worth nothing. If a different car costs a few grand, it is cheaper to fix the clutch. And that different car will come with a new load of problems (such as timing belts, calipers, tyres etc.)
It won't do any more damage if you run it till it fails. You need a new pressure plate anyway when changing the clutch. It won't damage the DMF. So the only downside is that one day you will get stranded. I had a Alfasud years ago that did the same, about 10,000 miles later the noise became shrill and constant, and it failed that week.
Drive it, make sure you have AA cover and keep the pedal pressed as little as possible. Don't sit at the lights in first with the pedal down - that will kill it in short order. If the noise becomes materially worse (i.e. constant squealing) get it changed.
Always remember that it doesn't matter what the car is worth - it is what it would cost to replace that matters. An old car with a busted clutch is worth nothing. If a different car costs a few grand, it is cheaper to fix the clutch. And that different car will come with a new load of problems (such as timing belts, calipers, tyres etc.)
Clutch failed on my 406 Coupe at just past 100,000 miles. Just as I arrived at my destination (a hotel at Glasgow Airport). I tried to change to reverse gear, and found I couldn't select any gear at all.
The thrust bearing had failed. Had to be taken back home (Aberdeen) on the back of an AA low-loader. Got the complete clutch kit replaced and the car lives on.
The thrust bearing had failed. Had to be taken back home (Aberdeen) on the back of an AA low-loader. Got the complete clutch kit replaced and the car lives on.
rxe said:
Eventually it will seize, rip the fingers out of the pressure plate and you'll be stuck by the side of the road. Clutchless gear shifts are possible.....
It won't do any more damage if you run it till it fails. You need a new pressure plate anyway when changing the clutch. It won't damage the DMF. So the only downside is that one day you will get stranded. I had a Alfasud years ago that did the same, about 10,000 miles later the noise became shrill and constant, and it failed that week.
Drive it, make sure you have AA cover and keep the pedal pressed as little as possible. Don't sit at the lights in first with the pedal down - that will kill it in short order. If the noise becomes materially worse (i.e. constant squealing) get it changed.
Always remember that it doesn't matter what the car is worth - it is what it would cost to replace that matters. An old car with a busted clutch is worth nothing. If a different car costs a few grand, it is cheaper to fix the clutch. And that different car will come with a new load of problems (such as timing belts, calipers, tyres etc.)
Exactly this, the clutch on my Pug 2.0HDi has felt horrid for the last 6-12 months. I knew there was a problem and what the problem was but just couldn't be bothered to fix it on a cheap beater. I knew it would fail eventually, just didn't know when, so just made sure to keep my Autoaid membership up to date. Then last week in traffic on the ring road on the way to work it started making a nasty noise and a couple of minutes later, smoke and no gears.It won't do any more damage if you run it till it fails. You need a new pressure plate anyway when changing the clutch. It won't damage the DMF. So the only downside is that one day you will get stranded. I had a Alfasud years ago that did the same, about 10,000 miles later the noise became shrill and constant, and it failed that week.
Drive it, make sure you have AA cover and keep the pedal pressed as little as possible. Don't sit at the lights in first with the pedal down - that will kill it in short order. If the noise becomes materially worse (i.e. constant squealing) get it changed.
Always remember that it doesn't matter what the car is worth - it is what it would cost to replace that matters. An old car with a busted clutch is worth nothing. If a different car costs a few grand, it is cheaper to fix the clutch. And that different car will come with a new load of problems (such as timing belts, calipers, tyres etc.)
So cheap beater, scrap and replace or fix? In the end it cost about £100 in parts and a Saturday spannering to fix it. Should have just got on and fixed it ages ago tbh, it's so much less unpleasant to drive now.
If I'd been paying someone else significant amounts of cash to fix it for me though, it would probably have been a tougher decision.
Edited by Nealio on Friday 14th July 12:20
justleanitupabit said:
Chop it in to WBAC or something and get something else?
It's on my list of possibilities.What complicates it a bit is it's booked in for an MOT next monday. I'm pretty sure it'll pass, might need new tyres on the rear but could scrape through. Either way I will have to spend something on it soon.
I don't have enough time to do anything before then.
You lot haven't helped BTW
it's a difficult decision either way. If a clutch on one of these was just a few hundred I wouldn't be too fussed but when it's nearly £700, and that's a bloody cheap price!, it grates. A lot. Damn you Ford!!If I changed it I'd be looking at spending £15k tops, assuming mine would trade in at about £2.5k.
Back on the old loan repayment merry go round then as this car is paid for. Life's too short though I suppose.
This has just popped up on autotrader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
No pics yet but it's the 7 seat version.
Going to go for a look in the morning with a bit of luck.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
No pics yet but it's the 7 seat version.
Going to go for a look in the morning with a bit of luck.
LaDS3arri said:
I'd look to change it asap. I certainly wouldnt be spending any more money on it. Appears to be on its way out now seeing as it had a costly issue back in December. You could be in the area of £2000 spent repairing a 2006 ford Galaxy if you get the clutch looed at.
I find this a very strange way of looking at things. Put the current value of the car together with the price of a new clutch and what is going to replace it for the same money? Most likely something that will need all sorts of repairs in the near future.Mr2Mike said:
LaDS3arri said:
I'd look to change it asap. I certainly wouldnt be spending any more money on it. Appears to be on its way out now seeing as it had a costly issue back in December. You could be in the area of £2000 spent repairing a 2006 ford Galaxy if you get the clutch looed at.
I find this a very strange way of looking at things. Put the current value of the car together with the price of a new clutch and what is going to replace it for the same money? Most likely something that will need all sorts of repairs in the near future.All being well I'm off to look at that Merc in the morning. Which is up at a whisker under £15k. So it's not (hopefully) out the frying pan and into the fire. It will obviously cost a shltload more to buy the merc than it would to fix up the Ford.
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