Help,...hit and run... clutch, timing belt...!!

[acacb]

Hi guys,

Soz i've kinda not posted for a while, been a great but crazy year 2010 appart from the hit and run on my elise that i'd only had 3 months, thanks to 5 fantastic witnesses he's been caught and charged

However, my car has been away 2 months!!!! getting fixed and need some advice,various problems occurred along the way but basically took it to Murrys who said go to WIllowbrae, accident happened in august, front clam arrived end october and car was taken beginning of nov, i new it needed a new resister pack for heater and two days before willowbrae took it the temperature level started to rise, was then told it needed new fans (not part of accient apparently)
then after further delay just as snow arrives i'm told its ready but can't collect it becasue of snow, snow clears 2 weeks later, arrange ot collect to then be told they hadnt moved it in 2 weeks and when they went to move it the clutch went and i have to pay the £900 odd bill that Murry's have quoted me!?!?! any advice?? am i being shafted?
also it just had its C service in May at 54000 but i've not had the timing belt changed - should i get this done while the clutch is getting done and is there anything else??

Help would be great
Thanks

[Rich H]

Clutches don't just go... Well they can but I'd be very surprised on a stationary car! I'd be asking for more info.

My clutch got stuck - the release fork got jammed, but that's not the clutches fault. Still a pain to fix unless it can be pursuaded to release.

Alternatively it's just stuck to the flywheel from lack of use and won't release, usual fix is jack up the back of the car, start it up in gear let the rears spin off the deck then hold the clutch in and stamp on the brakes to try and free it off.

[robin]

What car? Am assuming S2 K-series? Clutches on these don't normally wear out in the conventional sense. Agree with Rich re: sticking parts being more likely.

Cheers,
Robin

[acacb]

Good guess, yeah 05 S2 K-serise, thats whats i though, they were taking the gearbox out to have a look over Christmas and should be calling me back today with an update.

[robin]

Well, the labour is 80% of the cost, so now they've removed the gearbox you may as well buy a new clutch ...

BUT, if by some chance they have not actually done the work to remove the gearbox yet, I might try some brute force violence to see if I could free off the clutch before agreeing to the box being removed.

Cheers,
Robin

[Rich H]

What he said. If the box is off then new clutch is a no-brainer but £900 seems an awful lot!
I'd also want to see them change the gearbox seals and oil while they are in there.

Phoenix Motorsport swapped a gearbox for me for £150 a few years back and my stuck clutch trunnion cost the AA parts and labour £450 including a new clutch at Falkland Motorsport.