Just had a clutch change - expensive!

kenbw2 · 2021-04-15 14:59:03

Ever since I bought this van, it's always had a strange clutch. It didn't really have a biting point - it just kind of ambiguously engaged.

But more recently it's been getting harder and harder to get into gear, and it always crunches into reverse. Fearing knackering the gearbox I finally got it changed

Just for labour (I provided the parts), they charged £420, and that's cash price. Jesus christ!

That included a gearbox oil change, changing the crankshaft seal and swapping wheels, but still, ouch!

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-04-15 16:31:24)

dispatch dave · 2021-04-15 17:45:19

Where are these prices coming from
Is everyone trying to get last year's money back because they had to close??

kenbw2 · 2021-04-15 20:32:43

I wish it were that, but garages stayed open throughout neutral

I reckon it's rusty van tax, it's not pleasant to work on

JohnDragonMan · 2021-04-15 21:02:26

for future reference, always take our much loved vans to the same places that work on taxies. they clutch change these things daily so know every trick to do it cheaper. i was quoted £150 for just the labour at a local taxi place... also good place to find spare parts too big_smile quite a few taxies get scrapped with new parts on them but you have to get them quick!

kenbw2 · 2021-04-16 00:53:49

Hmm that's a good idea, I'll have to seek one out as I want a timing belt change too

JohnDragonMan · 2021-04-16 20:41:13

kenbw2 wrote:

Hmm that's a good idea, I'll have to seek one out as I want a timing belt change too

quite an easy vehicle to do a belt change on to be far. plenty of access. just one 10mm bolt on the back of the head that holds the plastic belt cover on that can be a pain to get to. otherwise pretty damn easy.. i never even had to lock the pulleys for the timing marks as everything seems to stay in place pretty solid on its own while you slip the old belt off, change the water pump and other idler and tensioner pulleys.

i do however have a good fair amount of experience in changing timing belts though (i always buy end of life vehicles... that end up being very far from end of life when i sell them on haha!)

OAT · 2021-04-16 22:57:00

Was that at DD's Ken?

kenbw2 · 2021-04-17 01:06:53

OAT wrote:

Was that at DD's Ken?

No it was a place near Preston, although DD was also quoting similar numbers unfortunately. Think he said £450, although I think that included parts

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-04-17 01:07:22)

vaz2121 · 2021-04-17 12:56:19

JohnDragonMan wrote:

for future reference, always take our much loved vans to the same places that work on taxies. they clutch change these things daily so know every trick to do it cheaper. i was quoted £150 for just the labour at a local taxi place... also good place to find spare parts too quite a few taxies get scrapped with new parts on them but you have to get them quick!

I'm kinda with you on this to a point.......
I would say if its a Taxi or police vehicle that's a regular.......
Even if it some kind of boring old Sh** at least if it's not simple tech.........
It's a good reliable base with maintainance that should stand the rigours of use..............

If it's not working it's not earning............

JohnDragonMan · 2021-04-17 23:53:27

well for me here in Derby the E7 Eurocab is a big player in taxi service. a good 50% of taxies are basically our vans dressed up as a taxi. i just think it makes sense to take it to a place that pretty much solely works on our types of van. knowing every trick and knack to getting these vans fixed as quickly and cheaply as possible.

i was actually talking to one of the chaps that weighs in some scrap where i work, he reckons that he can do a clutch change on a HDI for £150 and even supply the clutch! yikes
well worth asking!

woodbine · 2021-04-18 23:06:36

JohnDragonMan wrote:

kenbw2 wrote:
Hmm that's a good idea, I'll have to seek one out as I want a timing belt change too
quite an easy vehicle to do a belt change on to be far. plenty of access. just one 10mm bolt on the back of the head that holds the plastic belt cover on that can be a pain to get to. otherwise pretty damn easy.. i never even had to lock the pulleys for the timing marks as everything seems to stay in place pretty solid on its own while you slip the old belt off, change the water pump and other idler and tensioner pulleys.
i do however have a good fair amount of experience in changing timing belts though (i always buy end of life vehicles... that end up being very far from end of life when i sell them on haha!)

John, is the cam belt tensioner automatic/spring loaded - or do you have to tension it yourself on the 2.0 HDIs/JTDs?

Also, what do you use to jam the flywheel with - screwdriver or can you get a special wedge for the ring gear?

If the tensioner is auto, may be twmpted to have a go myself when cam belt change is due.

JohnDragonMan · 2021-04-19 23:06:21

my one just used a manual tensioner. i did have to make a little tool from a allen key (ground to a square) to fit the tensioner.
the old XUDs had automatic ones and i have no idea why they moved away from them.

i never locked anything when i did mine.. turned the engine to TDC on cyl 1, used vice grips to clamp the old belt to the cam and crank pulleys, changed the water pump, tensioner and idler, tentioned the belt back up, slackened the belt off slightly, pushed it as for back on the pulleys as i could, slipped the new belt onto the newly exposed bit of the pulleys, cut the old belt off and pushed the new belt into place.

i know.. lazy.

one thing i will admit to is not having the correct "tension" setting tool. but what i did was tied a heavy socket on a bit of string with a knot in the middle of it to a little hook thing that i made out of a old toilet roll holder some years back that slots over the belt, the belt twists a bit due to the socket being heavy, i marked where the knot on the string sits on the side of the engine with a pen/tipex. when i fit the new belt i put the hook in the same place and set the knot to the same level as the old belt but maybe 1mm higher than before to compensate for the belt being slightly stretched.. (my belt was cracked.. it must have stretched) and left it at that. after a few hundred miles i checked on the belts tracking and its still perfectly in the middle.

no tech like low tech.

woodbine · 2021-04-20 21:14:55

That's a shame it's not automatic. Some look really easy - there's a pointer on the tensioner that you have to line up with a marker by putting allen key in and turning tensioner. Even I could manage that.

Thanks for the tips, John and keep up the good work.

As for clutch prices, mine was just short of a grand for fitting and parts (Valeo DMF, Valeo clutch kit, clutch guide tube and new main/crank oil seal). It's a 100,000 miles van so hoping to get another 5 years out of it. If I do I will have owned it for 19 years, so the clutch price isn't too bad really as it's the only major replacement.

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#1 2021-04-15 14:59:03

Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#2 2021-04-15 17:45:19

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#3 2021-04-15 20:32:43

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#4 2021-04-15 21:02:26

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#5 2021-04-16 00:53:49

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#6 2021-04-16 20:41:13

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#7 2021-04-16 22:57:00

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#8 2021-04-17 01:06:53

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#9 2021-04-17 12:56:19

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#10 2021-04-17 23:53:27

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#11 2021-04-18 23:06:36

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#12 2021-04-19 23:06:21

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

#13 2021-04-20 21:14:55

Re: Just had a clutch change - expensive!

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