Clutch / Gearbox issue
Discussion
I just wanted to throw something to the floor if I may...
Our 2013 Kia Ceed has over the last 8 months been developing an issue, whereby it crunches sometimes when changing gear ( normally 2/3/4). When you put it into reverse it crunches badly too, on occasion. Trying to put it into 1 when slowly rolling is almost impossible, the stick is stiff and non compliant. All i all the gearbox feels shocking, stiff and unco-operative.
I got the exact response from the Kia showroom that I expected, huge cost to investigate due to having to take the box apart ( £400 - 500 ) with no ability to claim under warranty due to it being a wear and tear item. One of their mechanics has taken the car for a 10 - 15 min drive and concluded with me that the clutch is fooked, the biting point is very low to the ground and the gear stick is volatile and stiff. However, it is still perfectly driveable and his suggestion was to keep it going until it needs the work doing. Cost of new clutch with them will be £750. Cost at a local independent will be roughly £600.
Meanwhile the wife takes it down to the country where her father states oh no, its not the clutch and my local garage will be able to sort it for you for much less. He is not a mechanic but is fairly good with his hands etc. He says when a clutch goes the biting point is high not low, and it will be something like something needing bleeding. She now wants to go down this route, however, I think what I have been told by Kia is correct. My initial pl an was to run it further until it needs doing then take it to some local indepedents to get quotes / sorted.
Am I off the mark with my thoughts?
Our 2013 Kia Ceed has over the last 8 months been developing an issue, whereby it crunches sometimes when changing gear ( normally 2/3/4). When you put it into reverse it crunches badly too, on occasion. Trying to put it into 1 when slowly rolling is almost impossible, the stick is stiff and non compliant. All i all the gearbox feels shocking, stiff and unco-operative.
I got the exact response from the Kia showroom that I expected, huge cost to investigate due to having to take the box apart ( £400 - 500 ) with no ability to claim under warranty due to it being a wear and tear item. One of their mechanics has taken the car for a 10 - 15 min drive and concluded with me that the clutch is fooked, the biting point is very low to the ground and the gear stick is volatile and stiff. However, it is still perfectly driveable and his suggestion was to keep it going until it needs the work doing. Cost of new clutch with them will be £750. Cost at a local independent will be roughly £600.
Meanwhile the wife takes it down to the country where her father states oh no, its not the clutch and my local garage will be able to sort it for you for much less. He is not a mechanic but is fairly good with his hands etc. He says when a clutch goes the biting point is high not low, and it will be something like something needing bleeding. She now wants to go down this route, however, I think what I have been told by Kia is correct. My initial pl an was to run it further until it needs doing then take it to some local indepedents to get quotes / sorted.
Am I off the mark with my thoughts?
Cheers all - pedal feels fairly normal for a clutch, on close scrutiny one could argue it is stiffer than normal but it has not caused me any concern in itself, I am a professional driver and drive a variety of vehicles, this one "feels" but it is the crunching ( which does happen once gear has been engaged and clutch pedal is being released ).
I have now got a price of £537 from a local garage, broken down for me. Clutch kit costs 137 apparently, labour being 280 - with some fluids on top.
I have now got a price of £537 from a local garage, broken down for me. Clutch kit costs 137 apparently, labour being 280 - with some fluids on top.
Update.
I have the car at a local independent garage.
They have deduced "the clutch is heavy with age, slave cylinder not functioning correctly, recommend bleed slave cylinder and if no different replace it". This is all external to the gearbox.
The cylinder has been bled, air was found within it, and the issue remains. The cylinder is due to be replaced this afternoon, and hopefully that will at least improve the situation and by some more time. They have stated it may still be a new clutch but at least they are taken the small steps first that Kia would not.
This leaves me absolutely tamping mad with Kia. The main dealer we have bought 3 cars from in the last 10 years told me it was simply the clutch that needs replacing and no further tests could be carried out without pro longed deconstruction of the gearbox. A local garage have been able to inspect and carry out work on the cylinder which is external to the gearbox ... and this work seems like it should be covered under warranty.
So, I haven't got the car back yet, but fingers crossed. Total cost for that so far will be £170.
I have had a long chat with the "manager" at Kia. He was very defensive, saying they have given an honest opinion, and nobody is perfect etc - my main argument is that there was more that could be done by them, and there were smaller steps such as checking the cylinder which they could have suggested, but they didn't. My question to him was why was this not considered by them, or offered, and why were we brick walled into a one way avenue of "it is the clutch, gearbox needs to come out, the end". I also made the point that they have forced long term customers to go elsewhere to seek a remedy to a problem that is potentially covered under warranty.
Kia want to inspect the car and old parts and have suggested if it was just the cylinder they can offer a gesture of goodwill. But to me it is just not good enough. This is the first time we have ever approached Kia for any sort of issue, and it seems they have just shirked responsibility and selected the easiest most cost effective option for them. Unimpressed and my whole view of Kia has changed.
I have the car at a local independent garage.
They have deduced "the clutch is heavy with age, slave cylinder not functioning correctly, recommend bleed slave cylinder and if no different replace it". This is all external to the gearbox.
The cylinder has been bled, air was found within it, and the issue remains. The cylinder is due to be replaced this afternoon, and hopefully that will at least improve the situation and by some more time. They have stated it may still be a new clutch but at least they are taken the small steps first that Kia would not.
This leaves me absolutely tamping mad with Kia. The main dealer we have bought 3 cars from in the last 10 years told me it was simply the clutch that needs replacing and no further tests could be carried out without pro longed deconstruction of the gearbox. A local garage have been able to inspect and carry out work on the cylinder which is external to the gearbox ... and this work seems like it should be covered under warranty.
So, I haven't got the car back yet, but fingers crossed. Total cost for that so far will be £170.
I have had a long chat with the "manager" at Kia. He was very defensive, saying they have given an honest opinion, and nobody is perfect etc - my main argument is that there was more that could be done by them, and there were smaller steps such as checking the cylinder which they could have suggested, but they didn't. My question to him was why was this not considered by them, or offered, and why were we brick walled into a one way avenue of "it is the clutch, gearbox needs to come out, the end". I also made the point that they have forced long term customers to go elsewhere to seek a remedy to a problem that is potentially covered under warranty.
Kia want to inspect the car and old parts and have suggested if it was just the cylinder they can offer a gesture of goodwill. But to me it is just not good enough. This is the first time we have ever approached Kia for any sort of issue, and it seems they have just shirked responsibility and selected the easiest most cost effective option for them. Unimpressed and my whole view of Kia has changed.
We had the Ceed Clutch replaced. It cost 400 exactly through a friend who is a mechanic. Better than the 1500 daylight robbery Kia wanted. I just cannot understand how these car dealerships get away with these charges, and also why people are so stupid that they are prepared to pay. The problem has been resolved, but, the gearbox still feels a bit s
te. I concur that Kia's achille heel is their gearboxes - they are totally crap.
This has ben re-enforced by the symptoms I am now getting on my 20k mile Kia Picanto. Reverse on most occasions has to be rammed into - it feels like the gearbox is out of alignment and reverse gear is off to the side. It clicks into place once rammed, it truly is awful. No symptoms with the other gears really or the clutch, but just last week I noticed that going into 5th gear, there was a really weird limp feeling that I could not replicate, understand or explain. It felt like the stick was going to fall over. Of course, after then repeating the same movement time and time again, I couldn't replicate it. It did happen again the same day, just felt rubbish but in a way I can't describe. Again, Kia gearbox = made of butter. Seriously unimpressed. And forget the 7 year warranty - meaningless.
I now also have the most bizarre issue I have ever encountered with a car. At max speed around 100 mph and at the upper echelons of 5th gear( not on a public road obviously ) I get, on very rare occasions, I loud metallic alarm clock jangling that sounds like it's coming from a wheel arch. It is sudden, loud, and rings for a few seconds, before vanishing never to be a heard again. Its VERY unnerving and has happened 2 or 3 times now in 6 months. Its not quiet, and has to be something. If I didn't know cars well enough, I would think something was about to fall out the engine bay.
Done with Kia now.
te. I concur that Kia's achille heel is their gearboxes - they are totally crap.This has ben re-enforced by the symptoms I am now getting on my 20k mile Kia Picanto. Reverse on most occasions has to be rammed into - it feels like the gearbox is out of alignment and reverse gear is off to the side. It clicks into place once rammed, it truly is awful. No symptoms with the other gears really or the clutch, but just last week I noticed that going into 5th gear, there was a really weird limp feeling that I could not replicate, understand or explain. It felt like the stick was going to fall over. Of course, after then repeating the same movement time and time again, I couldn't replicate it. It did happen again the same day, just felt rubbish but in a way I can't describe. Again, Kia gearbox = made of butter. Seriously unimpressed. And forget the 7 year warranty - meaningless.
I now also have the most bizarre issue I have ever encountered with a car. At max speed around 100 mph and at the upper echelons of 5th gear( not on a public road obviously ) I get, on very rare occasions, I loud metallic alarm clock jangling that sounds like it's coming from a wheel arch. It is sudden, loud, and rings for a few seconds, before vanishing never to be a heard again. Its VERY unnerving and has happened 2 or 3 times now in 6 months. Its not quiet, and has to be something. If I didn't know cars well enough, I would think something was about to fall out the engine bay.
Done with Kia now.
My 2015 Picanto, and I am pretty sure my wifes 13 plate Ceed, both have a really annoying problem at the moment. Mine especially.
First thing in the morning, the inside of the windscreen is frozen solid. Yesterday it still hadn't dried fully after a 35 mile trip into London. The entire windscreen is frozen water.
First thing in the morning, the inside of the windscreen is frozen solid. Yesterday it still hadn't dried fully after a 35 mile trip into London. The entire windscreen is frozen water.
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