"AA warranty under siege" the Conclusion! :)

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:04 pm

Somethings gone pop with my clutch...

Just going to the shops, hopped in started up, selected reverse and hello, clutch pedal slow to rise...
switched off (now fixed) radio (It's that bad..)
Got out, had a look, nothing to see, brake resi full, no leaks front or rear, got back in, selected reverse again,
gingerly reversed out of space, seemed ok,
selected 1st, pedal slow to rise,
drove round corner slowly,
2nd gear, clutch in, slow to rise, Pedal almost at floor rising slowly.
no drive.....clutch seems dis-engaged.
Bugger...

Push off road, stare at clutch master and slave. swear.

swear again, quite alot.

Now I have no clutch, at all, it is like it is dis-engaged permanently. I did get a brief whirr and a slight smell of hot clutch. But now nothing.

Calling the AA now.....

Rich

Post by **simon** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:13 pm

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:16 pm

Parts and labour is my friend!
(I hope!)

AA here at 9

Post by **simon** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:25 pm

Good luck!

jj · Post by jj » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:39 pm

AA here at 9

Might even be Gordon!

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:43 pm

No such luck, it's Ace recovery or something....

Be here in 10 mins

*Looks for grimace smiley*

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:13 pm

Waited an hour and he's confirmed its......

....clutch failed.

Thanks alot.

Wanted £80 to take away now and store overnight then deliver to Falklands Performance (Or could go to MMC Edin but I would think my £500 would go further at Falklands, Sorry Pauline!

) in the morning or I can call out the AA again tomorrow.

Hmph.

Nice enough mechanic though. I wouldn't have objected to them taking her away, tidy truck, well kept, asked about towing points, etc.

Rich

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:12 pm

Cheap clutch £75
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-MGF-Lotus-E ... dZViewItem

AP from Elise Parts £170

Motobuild: £130
http://www.moto-build.com/mainsite/elis ... chkit.html

OEM (Rover I assume)? £??

Anything else worth considering while the back end of the car is in bits?

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:35 am

AA on the way again, after a little "negotiation" apparently you only get a 10 mile recovery from home. Falklands is 20, but I made a point of mentioning them at every opportunity and they all said no problem....

They have agreed to honour this, so

the AA!

Going to get an A service while she's off the road (800 miles early mind) and I'll ask about the wheel bearing noises.

RobC on SEL*CK reckons the clutch arm is siezed, but I am dubious. The slave moves all the gubbins ok. Could it be that the release bearing has siezed onto the shaft? I suppose I'll find out.....

Rich

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:42 am

She's gone to Falklands...

Didn't want to let go of the keys

Rich

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:33 am

Might be worth upgrading that membership to relay. Then you wont have the 10mile limit, which lets be honest, isn't much use if you drive more than 10miles for your home or garage.

Feel free to Pm me and i'll work you a deal to trade you up.

Think you got a real good deal for them to take you 20miles. Normally it'd be 12-15 absolute max.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:17 pm

Cheers for the offer Gordon, I had to pay up to get a recovery.... £60 Can't be helped.

I am now in dispute with the Parts and Labour lot who won't pay up....

Watch this space....

Rich

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:17 pm

Ah, the old "clutch is a wear and tear item sir". It's all down to the way the garage put it to the warranty company. I've done this when i was in the dealer. Call in and get knocked back, then call back "after further investigation" with a different story and they pay out. If they say the clutch is burnt out or worn out, then the warranty wont pay out as that could be down to poor driving. But if say the garage said the clutch bearing had seized destroying the pressure plate, or the plate had collapsed due to faulty springs. You'd prob get paid out no probs as that is complete failure of the component and isn't driver related.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:39 pm

Ah if only it were so, current problem is this:

Last week:
Clutch fork seized, fcuks clutch and thrust bearing - P&L claim seized=corrosion=no cover - garage says no evidence of corrosion...then claim gradual deterioration=no cover: garage says probably no & I haven't felt any detirioration.

This week:
Clutch fork freed up and put back - P&L change story and say no part replaced=no claim....

Hmm, is that so.... Not according to P&L terms and conditions, no mention of parts having to be replaced.

[Blackadder]
I'm a reasonable person, but benieth this charming boyish exterior

beats the heart of a ruthless, sadistic, maniac.

[/Blackadder]
You have been warned P&L: Prepare to reap the (Legal) whilwind.

Or you could just point me at the bit that I must have missed in the T&Cs....

(Can you tell I'm a bit pissed off at facing a bill of £300-£400?)

I'm going to call them again in the morning if I can (Off to Elgin, do they have phones up that far?

) and see if sense has prevailed. I have no problem if it's not covered, I'll just have to cough up, just as long as it is clearly stated in the T&Cs, but nothing they have told me has been so far.

Hmph. I'll keep you all posted.

BTW:
All the rest of the boys in yellow and Falkland Performance have been great!

Rich

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:35 pm

In my experience ANY after market warranty isn't worth the electronic paper it's printed on.