Discussion
Just had a 12,000 mile service done, car has done 37,500 miles. Had brake pads changed, and they needed to adjust the handbrake, so put a new backing plate in. Anyhow was looking forward to getting the motor back all serviced up. However drove car home from the dealers and straight away noticed that the gears were so hard to get in, reverse is almost impossible. Called dealer and they are having it back in. They initially said that it could be because the clutch fluid is thicker so the gears need to adjust to it. Im just concerned that Im going to get stitched up now. The gearbox has always been great on the car. Any ideas what it could be, would it be related to the service at all? Appreciate your help. Thanks
I agree with the improperly bled clutch fluid.
If someone told me the gears needed to adjust to the thicker oil I'd laugh loudly in their face.
Either you are too polite to laugh at them or they have you pegged as someone who doesn't know anything about cars, or they don't know anything about cars.
Really any of the above would mean that I wouldn't take the car back to that garage a second time.
If someone told me the gears needed to adjust to the thicker oil I'd laugh loudly in their face.
Either you are too polite to laugh at them or they have you pegged as someone who doesn't know anything about cars, or they don't know anything about cars.
Really any of the above would mean that I wouldn't take the car back to that garage a second time.
Ah, Fat gearbox fluid! Would sir like us to put the diet fluid in the box instead?
I'm hoping that you were speaking to someone whose job it is to answer the phone rather than work on the cars. Probably suffering from Doctor's receptionist syndrome.
Poorly bled clutch as others have said.
I'm hoping that you were speaking to someone whose job it is to answer the phone rather than work on the cars. Probably suffering from Doctor's receptionist syndrome.
Poorly bled clutch as others have said.
Be careful here my friend!!! Who are these kindly souls that sell extra thick clutch fluid. Please tell as I'll give them a wide berth. They probably didn't put something back in properly so don't take any bullsh*t from them. You've paid your money, had the job done and now your car is not as it was. Stick to your guns and tell them to put it right (for no extra cost). I wouldn't trust anyone who tells me I've got thick clutch fluid!!!
MB
MB
Hello,
I have an update on the car. They are now saying that they have taken the clutch and gearbox apart and have found that on the clutch cover one of the fingers is broken, so it will need a new clutch assembly, and because of the model its a 97 car it may need a new fly wheel. They are currently getting prices from TVR. Does this sound cosure. They also said that they thought the clutch pedal was spongey. Should they have discovered all this on the service? thanks for your help
I have an update on the car. They are now saying that they have taken the clutch and gearbox apart and have found that on the clutch cover one of the fingers is broken, so it will need a new clutch assembly, and because of the model its a 97 car it may need a new fly wheel. They are currently getting prices from TVR. Does this sound cosure. They also said that they thought the clutch pedal was spongey. Should they have discovered all this on the service? thanks for your help
£542 inc VAT for the clutch assembly from TVR plus labour plus flywheel - you're probably looking at £1k all in. There have been other options discussed on here regarding the clutch cover plate - rebuilds etc. Try a search 
To be honest given what they've been telling you (thick fluid 
) - I'd be round there personally, unannounced and asking to look at the damaged fingers to make sure they're not pulling your plonker. 
>> Edited by keithyboy on Wednesday 26th April 09:39
To be honest given what they've been telling you (thick fluid ) - I'd be round there personally, unannounced and asking to look at the damaged fingers to make sure they're not pulling your plonker. >> Edited by keithyboy on Wednesday 26th April 09:39
SEVEN said:
Hello,
I have an update on the car. They are now saying that they have taken the clutch and gearbox apart and have found that on the clutch cover one of the fingers is broken,
So they had the car back yesterday afternoon and by 9ish this morning they are telling you they've taken it apart and found broken fingers. Plausible I guess but I would take the previous advice and get my ass round there wanting to see the broken pieces and asking why it was ok before the service and after it you are having problems selecting gears. They can fail quite unexpectedly but it just seems a little convenient.
SEVEN said:
They also said that they thought the clutch pedal was spongey. Should they have discovered all this on the service? thanks for your help
Spongey clutch is air in the system. They should have bled it properly and checked it afterwards. This could also give you problems selecting gears as said above.
While on the subject of clutches, just had my engine rebuilt and had a new clutch fitted at the same time, have noticed that the biting point is a lot sooner (higher up) than it was before, anyone else noticed the same thing? Will report back on the engine rebuild when the beast is run in. Will be at Pistonfest (in my Navarra truck) if anyone wants to hear about my engine rebuild (with porting).
[hypothetically] It could be that at some point the slave cyl has been re-sealed or replaced and put in with the bleed holes horizontal .. when you then change the fluid you can't bleed the upper half of the cylinder so you can never get a good pedal.
To rectify that problem you *have* to take the gearbox out .. obviously that's a lot of labour so an unscrupulous outfit would want some money to make on parts and also claim it as not thier fault etc etc .. note I'm not suggesting for one second that this is what has happened here .. but it's one possible scenario I've heard about all-too often
fore-warned is fore-armed as they say. [/hypothetically]
It could just be that the finger chose that precise time to break .. I've worked on these things for over a decade .. strange stuff does happen! You'll not no till you go and see.
Do it today, this minute , before they have chance to read this thread
To rectify that problem you *have* to take the gearbox out .. obviously that's a lot of labour so an unscrupulous outfit would want some money to make on parts and also claim it as not thier fault etc etc .. note I'm not suggesting for one second that this is what has happened here .. but it's one possible scenario I've heard about all-too often
fore-warned is fore-armed as they say. [/hypothetically]
It could just be that the finger chose that precise time to break .. I've worked on these things for over a decade .. strange stuff does happen! You'll not no till you go and see.
Do it today, this minute , before they have chance to read this thread
naming and shaming isn't allowed, but the TVR world is a small one .. drop enough subtle hints and people will get the message
it could well be though that there's nothing sinister at all and it really was one of those things .. like I say .. i've seen it all happen first hand, the customer's never believe you though
it could well be though that there's nothing sinister at all and it really was one of those things .. like I say .. i've seen it all happen first hand, the customer's never believe you though
Hello, thanks for all the advice guys. I am still waiting to hear back from the garage with prices for the clutch assembly etc!!! Im going to stick to my guns on this one, it does all seem a little too convenient. I really want to get to the garage but it’s a long way from work, out in the sticks in Suffolk, but with work commitments it’s proving very difficult. Will keep you posted on what happens.
SEVEN said:
Hello, thanks for all the advice guys. I am still waiting to hear back from the garage with prices for the clutch assembly etc!!! Im going to stick to my guns on this one, it does all seem a little too convenient. I really want to get to the garage but it’s a long way from work, out in the sticks in Suffolk, but with work commitments it’s proving very difficult. Will keep you posted on what happens.
You could send a 'Representitive'
Me again, Just spoke to the garage and I told them that I was really unhappy and that the car went in, in an excellent condition and has come out buggered. They are insisting that the clutch fingers could have broken at anytime and it’s just unlucky it happened after the service. They said that on my model 97 regd car, that TVR don’t make the clutch assembly anymore, so I have to have a newer clutch assembly fitted which means the current flywheel won’t fit. They have said that TVR will not make the flywheel my car needs until 25 are needed (apparently 5 cerbies are sat waiting for them), so as a result they can machine the flywheel to fit the new clutch. It will need a new bell housing. So all in all with labour its going to cost me £1735!!! I have asked them to try and do something with the price, but that’s as far as I have got, oh joy!!! I just spent £1500 on the service, new pads and discs and a new backing plate for the handbrake, so I really don’t need this as well!!
Hopefully that'll be your 3000 pounds of the 3000 pounds per year running costs we keep telling everyone about.
Clutch replacement sounds expensive compared to an indie, but if it's a dealer it's probably what you'd expect
Best of luck chasing this one through .. would be nice if they bent a little bit.
One last thing though .. what are you doing taking a 97 cerbera to a dealer for!? Find your nearest indie ASAP.
Clutch replacement sounds expensive compared to an indie, but if it's a dealer it's probably what you'd expect
Best of luck chasing this one through .. would be nice if they bent a little bit.
One last thing though .. what are you doing taking a 97 cerbera to a dealer for!? Find your nearest indie ASAP.
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