Golf MK5 GT TDi
Discussion
My daily runner is the above car, and I am extremely happy with its combination of economy and performance for boring daily driving. The only downside I thought, was the engine was a bit inflexible, so I chipped it. Fantastic, totally transformed the engine characteristics, and given it a useful boost in performance aswell, and it still does 50mpg!
That was until about a week ago, when the clutch started slipping! I suppose I ought not to be surprised really given the significant torque increase, but I have since been informed that the dual mass flywheel is a weakness. The car is still under warranty, so I could de-chip it, and attempt to claim the repair under warranty, but how long will it last when I re-chip it, so whats the point...with anything, but thats another story.
I have been told it will cost about £1000-00 pounds to upgrade the clutch....does this seem right? Does anyone have any experience of such issues??
Thanks
Mark
That was until about a week ago, when the clutch started slipping! I suppose I ought not to be surprised really given the significant torque increase, but I have since been informed that the dual mass flywheel is a weakness. The car is still under warranty, so I could de-chip it, and attempt to claim the repair under warranty, but how long will it last when I re-chip it, so whats the point...with anything, but thats another story.
I have been told it will cost about £1000-00 pounds to upgrade the clutch....does this seem right? Does anyone have any experience of such issues??
Thanks
Mark
I am not sure how to take your question....are you saying that manual gearbox cars are a thing of the past and taking the mickey?...which they probably are.
If it is a straight question....the clutch is a dish like plate usually made of a friction material, which is pressed against the engine output flywheel. The flywheel is a heavy dished plate used to dampen the engine vibrations, and for the clutch plate to bear against. The clutch plate is connected to the gearbox input shaft, and is used to transmit the torque from the engine to the gearbox etc. With a manual gearbox it is necessary to disconnect the engine torque from the gearbox, in order to change gear. When you depress the clutch pedal, it disengages the clutch plate from the flywheel, thereby allowing free movement of the gears. When the desired gear is selected, the clutch is released, reconnecting the engine to the gearbox.
Clutch slipping is when the clutch plate no longer has enough friction to transmit the torque from the engine (usually due to wear). Fitting the upgrade chip, has increased the torque from 240Nm, to 290Nm (&185bhp). I would normally expect a clutch to be able to cope with more torque (especially a German engineered car) than the basic engine would produce. I am amazed that Volkswagen would fit a lower capacity clutch plate to the 140hp engine, than fitted to the 170hp version, given economies of scale etc. Virtually the same engine is used in the Passat which has up to 200hp.
I want to keep the car, but this has seriously dented my enthusiasm.
If it is a straight question....the clutch is a dish like plate usually made of a friction material, which is pressed against the engine output flywheel. The flywheel is a heavy dished plate used to dampen the engine vibrations, and for the clutch plate to bear against. The clutch plate is connected to the gearbox input shaft, and is used to transmit the torque from the engine to the gearbox etc. With a manual gearbox it is necessary to disconnect the engine torque from the gearbox, in order to change gear. When you depress the clutch pedal, it disengages the clutch plate from the flywheel, thereby allowing free movement of the gears. When the desired gear is selected, the clutch is released, reconnecting the engine to the gearbox.
Clutch slipping is when the clutch plate no longer has enough friction to transmit the torque from the engine (usually due to wear). Fitting the upgrade chip, has increased the torque from 240Nm, to 290Nm (&185bhp). I would normally expect a clutch to be able to cope with more torque (especially a German engineered car) than the basic engine would produce. I am amazed that Volkswagen would fit a lower capacity clutch plate to the 140hp engine, than fitted to the 170hp version, given economies of scale etc. Virtually the same engine is used in the Passat which has up to 200hp.
I want to keep the car, but this has seriously dented my enthusiasm.
If you drive the car hard then the clutch will go sooner, if you're mr gentle then it could last 1000s of miles. Trouble is, one day you'll get to a long hill or get stuck on a hill in traffic and the clutch will give up. It needs doing, get it fixed. My brother has an old Corolla with a slipping clutch which has been doing so for the past year.
As for why it has gone - could just be down to driving style, or how the remap allows torque through the system (maybe a std 170 is gentler lower down the revs in lower gears).
As for why it has gone - could just be down to driving style, or how the remap allows torque through the system (maybe a std 170 is gentler lower down the revs in lower gears).
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