Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal
I just wanted to get some opinions on this one. Just bought a beautiful 2002 GTI 1.8t with 20K on the odometer. It’s a VW Certified Pre-owned car. Looking at the checklist, the clutch is on there. I can understand how this could be overlooked as you would have to put it on a dyno to test. Have had the car 1 week and while on a trip this weekend the clutch started smelling and slipping in 3rd on a hill. Had to buy another car after a burned to the ground 03 1.8t Jetta. Had no problems with the Jetta clutch. Finally talked with the service manager today and he says clutch smell and slippage is normal but is willing to look at the car. I know clutch smell and slippage isn’t normal. How would you suggest dealing with this? Clutch was probably trashed by the previous owner.
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matt petrucelli Said,
December 28, 2004 @ 4:41 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – I would first get a 2nd opinion from a Dealer or a shop that deals with mostly VW’s. Have then take a look at it.
matt petrucelli Said,
December 28, 2004 @ 4:42 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – That’s not normal for a car with 20k. Get a carfax report.
Clint Said,
December 28, 2004 @ 5:17 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – Hey Paul if you got any help for this guy.. let him have it lol.. i pulled him from VWVortex… you can get more help here about this kind of problem then the TEX… Thanks in advance!!
Andrew_J Said,
December 28, 2004 @ 8:15 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – Carfax came up spotless. I just can’t imagine a knowlegable car person in their right mind to say a smoking clutch and slippage is normal. This scares me and I want to know how to approach him to get this clutch fixed under warranty.
Shomare Said,
December 28, 2004 @ 9:52 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – Flip out, jump up and down, swear, threaten to sue….
Get your second opinion first and then go to town on him for spouting such a line of crap.
Better yet, demand your money back leave the car there and puchase another make and model!
What a bunch of crap!
Shomare Said,
December 29, 2004 @ 1:17 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – Indeed.
What I should have said is cooly confront them about the line of crap they are shoveling and when all else fails (and it will) let them know that you intend to take legal action.
What I said was partly in jest having been there myself. Bottom line, don’t stand for it. I was prepared to be haulled off by the police if necessary to stop the lies!
bruce Said,
December 29, 2004 @ 12:18 pm
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – shomare, unfortunatly if you want a dealer to help you, you need to kill them with kindness. yelling and screaming will mean they will do only what they are obligated to do to help you. nothing more.
Chombi Said,
January 2, 2005 @ 2:44 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – Bruce, it’s too late to do the shower with kindness approach with the dealership he’s dealing with. Specially right after they insulted his intelligence saying that a slipping and burning clutch is normal. But knowing VW’s bad quality control with it’s cars, maybe IT IS normal for VWs!
297 Said,
January 3, 2005 @ 10:41 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – It would be interesting to find out what the previous owner did to that clutch before you got it.
The clutch failures I’ve heard about don’t come with those symptoms — they simply fail catastrophically (the clutch literally breaks in two) — these were mostly on ‘03 1.8T Jettas, which makes this a little ironic.
Everyone is correct: the dealer is either ignorant or deliberately forcing you to pay them for a clutch repair job that should be covered by the VW pre-owned certification.
And yes, you have to kill them with kindness.
Another thing, though — what kind of hill, how steep an incline, and what was your speed and RPM at the time it started slipping? The dealer’s going to make a big deal about that, so make sure you have this information ready.
bruce Said,
January 3, 2005 @ 11:05 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – it appears that it is too late to be nice to this particular dealer. but if you expect anyone do do anything to try and help, as a rule of thumb for every aspect of life, is be nice to them.
boobietoo Said,
January 5, 2005 @ 1:50 am
Service Manager says clutch smell and slippage is normal – Go to a different service department dealing in VW service only. No this is not at all normal. Also, don’t drive like a wild person or abuse your clutch and expect any kind of lengthy service. If you don’t drive wild, that’s good. Also if they pull the clutch apart and find any parts abused, it will not be taken care of by certification. The certification process is extremely lengthy and a vehicle has to pass fully. Also, in your favor, if they pull the clutch aprt and you’ve had problems with it immediatley call VWOA ask for a case or reference number and tell them your story. 1-800-822-8987. good luck