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Our car stopped working a few weeks ago. Clutch went when I was driving home. Our 2015 Citroen C4 Picassa needs to declutch to start the car. I couldn't start it, AA managed to so could drive it to garage.
Local garage looked at it but also couldn't start it, did some checks but said needed to go to dealers. Lead time 6 weeks! Found one an hour away with 2 week lead time.
Went to Dealers yesterday, got quote back for repairs today £5.5k!!!! We need to decide by tomorrow what we do. That does include some a service for nearly £400, but the cluth bits inc labour are £4k - is this reasonable? I can't believe it.
Car is worth £4-6k I think.
I am sure we are being fleeced. Going to speal to local garage again tomorrow to see if they can try (but will need recovery truck to get it there - it's an hour away now). If they say no really not sure what to do (I know nothing about cars).
I'm not really sure what I'm asking, we will probably need to scrap it at this rate and get something new - if anyone has any ideas I'm open to them!
Labour on that job can be anywhere from 6 - 9.5 hrs.
You shouldn't be paying more than £1000 tops to get it done. The garage have priced the job to sell you a new car or because they can't handle their workload and don't want to admit it.
Ask around and find a 'reputable' independent.
Chairman of the Junior Hoilett appreciation society
Modern cars especially diesels have a dual mass flywheel , essentially 2 flywheels joined together with springs to make the take up of drive softer.
It would not be worth replacing the clutch without the flywheel, this increases the parts cost by 300-400(more from a dealer with genuine parts ) . if the flywheel has broken up it may have done some damage possibly the switch /sensor that enable it to start , the quote should identify this .
I had many clutches over the years when I was driving for a living . My advice would be to find a Citroen specialist , there may be some online forums which will guide you .
They will use decent quality pattern parts , probably have Citroen trained techs and have any specialist tools . They will also have done the job before and know any specific methods .
I spent many years in Dealers , contrary to belief there is nothing underhand going on in the pricing . They do use genuine parts , the techs are trained by the manufacturer , they do have to invest in specialist tools and provide all of the stuff we now expect , collection and delivery , courtesy cars , a minibus to the station , wash the car after repair , reception with TV newspapers , coffee, all of this and the bills for energy, rent rates , staff, corporate clothing and loads of other stuff and have sufficient cash flow to initially cover warranty repairs before getting reimbursed before actually making any profit to make being there worthwhile .
There have been some unscrupulous franchises in the past in my experience who have charged you for an entire unit and only changed the centre plate and not the cover plate/release bearing as well.I mean how are you going to check without pulling the damn thing apart yourself? I'll bet you a Pound to a pinch of porcupine excrement it's just a worn centre plate.
Whereabouts are you based Oak? I've used Collins Motors near Willesden Junction for some time and they're not only very good and reasonably priced, they're also QPR fans.
Whereabouts are you based Oak? I've used Collins Motors near Willesden Junction for some time and they're not only very good and reasonably priced, they're also QPR fans.
Modern cars especially diesels have a dual mass flywheel , essentially 2 flywheels joined together with springs to make the take up of drive softer.
It would not be worth replacing the clutch without the flywheel, this increases the parts cost by 300-400(more from a dealer with genuine parts ) . if the flywheel has broken up it may have done some damage possibly the switch /sensor that enable it to start , the quote should identify this .
I had many clutches over the years when I was driving for a living . My advice would be to find a Citroen specialist , there may be some online forums which will guide you .
They will use decent quality pattern parts , probably have Citroen trained techs and have any specialist tools . They will also have done the job before and know any specific methods .
I spent many years in Dealers , contrary to belief there is nothing underhand going on in the pricing . They do use genuine parts , the techs are trained by the manufacturer , they do have to invest in specialist tools and provide all of the stuff we now expect , collection and delivery , courtesy cars , a minibus to the station , wash the car after repair , reception with TV newspapers , coffee, all of this and the bills for energy, rent rates , staff, corporate clothing and loads of other stuff and have sufficient cash flow to initially cover warranty repairs before getting reimbursed before actually making any profit to make being there worthwhile .
A courtesy car at my local main dealer is not actually a “courtesy” at all , it costs £15 a day “excess insurance” cover and you have to give your NI Number!! This is the last free service and MOT after that I shan’t be darkening their door again!
He really fcuked up that timing .He should have at least waited until she reached work called her to make sure then took her panties . Look on the bright side it would be a lot worse if it was her sisters underwear
Whereabouts are you based Oak? I've used Collins Motors near Willesden Junction for some time and they're not only very good and reasonably priced, they're also QPR fans.
They have another branch in Hammersmith.
Grimsdyke Motors in Harrow Weald is another reliable and honest garage. Friend of the family runs it - James.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
There is obviously something else wrong apart from the clutch.
If it was just the clutch that needed replacing your local garage would have done the job: if they said it must go to a main dealer there must be something major.
Have you asked for a written breakdown of what constitutes the £5500 as that must cover a lot more than just a clutch replacement.
There is obviously something else wrong apart from the clutch.
If it was just the clutch that needed replacing your local garage would have done the job: if they said it must go to a main dealer there must be something major.
Have you asked for a written breakdown of what constitutes the £5500 as that must cover a lot more than just a clutch replacement.
A courtesy car at my local main dealer is not actually a “courtesy” at all , it costs £15 a day “excess insurance” cover and you have to give your NI Number!! This is the last free service and MOT after that I shan’t be darkening their door again!
Unless something goes wrong that an independent can’t fix ..
Take 4 year old car in for repair and give the customer a brand new courtesy car and it can be a problem getting it back , especially over a weekend so an incentive is sometimes needed . That car will be booked out to another customer on Monday and will be returned like a skip ..
One of the big reasons I left the motor trade was the dishonesty of the customers ..
Unless something goes wrong that an independent can’t fix ..
Take 4 year old car in for repair and give the customer a brand new courtesy car and it can be a problem getting it back , especially over a weekend so an incentive is sometimes needed . That car will be booked out to another customer on Monday and will be returned like a skip ..
One of the big reasons I left the motor trade was the dishonesty of the customers ..
"Courtesy" cars can get parts substituted with knackered ones,even engines and gearboxes.
Thanks everyone - I've found a clutch specialist who has quote £1,050 to do two parts of the clutch (Cluth and flywheel, not master cylinder). Of course he won't be using Citroen parts. We will see how it goes.
Ned in answer to your question it was:
£3,919 for replac the clutch, flywheel and master cylinder - that was the bulk of it.
Other bits they want us to do Service and Brakes £700, and changing something re the Thermostat for £675.
We will see if we can get moving again after the clutch is done, then get some of the other bits looked at locally.
The clutch specialist fixed / replaced all the clutch related issues, and a couple of minor things for £1,050. He didn't use Citroen parts. Parts guaranteed for 2 years.
I suspect the main dealer reset the electronics on the car when they had it as the recovery driver was able to drive it up onto his truck on the way to the clutch specilaist.
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