I have a MK8 FIESTA ST-LINE 125 2019, The clutch has been fine since i got the car in April this year, I have had it for less than 6 month's and the clutch decided to go last Thursday.

It was fine then suddenly I couldn't select a gear and the pedal just lost all the tension and became floppy, had to get towed home. It has 27k miles with it being 2 years and 4 months old, is this normal for a clutch to go this early ?

 

I have read through what the problems could be and i was just wondering what the prices of the different scenarios would be from anyone who has had something similar.

 

There was no apparent leakage from what i could see, people are telling me it could be a bearing breakage or a pipe issue. I am hoping it isn't anything really serious which comes with  a hefty repair cost. 

 

I hate not having my car as i am relying on getting lift's to work, but it just feels grim not having my car that i pay north of £250 a month for.

 

I didn't buy direct from ford, but i am hoping the base warranty will cover the repairs i do not fancy having to fork out hundreds of quids worth of costs for what it might be.

 

 

Thanks.

Need to talk it over with the Warranty company. Talk to the supplier first and explain what has happened and get them to speak to the warranty company.

They might well say due to the "relatively high" mileage of the car in its short life span the clutch components come under a wear and tear group. Someone at Ford CRC gave me the list over the phone a couple months ago, I cant recall it all but i'd imagine that is what they'll say unfortunately. I hope not though. 🤞

35 minutes ago, Tom44 said:

due to the "relatively high" mileage

I wouldn't have thought that 27,000 miles on a car 2 years and 4 months old could be classed as high, it's only about 12,000 per year. For the clutch to go so suddenly and without warning would lead me to think it is a linkage problem rather than a clutch plate.

I would expect that this should be covered under the standard Ford warranty, unless the clutch friction plate is worn out due to bad driving habits.

Based on the mileage it should not be a problem. I've driven over 80,000 miles on one of my cars and never had a problem with the clutch.

Unless it's down to bad driving habits it will most probably just be a faulty component and should be covered by the warranty if you have one.

Yes, I've had cars go past 100k on the original clutch, so that mileage shouldn't be an issue. 

Doesn't sound like a wear and tear issue anyway if it just "went", more a linkage problem. Wasn't there an issue with the rod from the pedal to the master cylinder slipping off on earlier models? Should be sorted by now, though.  Slave cylinder failure, possibly?

Should still be covered by Ford warranty assuming servicing requirements have been met.

On 10/4/2021 at 7:06 PM, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Yes, I've had cars go past 100k on the original clutch, so that mileage shouldn't be an issue. 

Doesn't sound like a wear and tear issue anyway if it just "went", more a linkage problem. Wasn't there an issue with the rod from the pedal to the master cylinder slipping off on earlier models? Should be sorted by now, though.  Slave cylinder failure, possibly?

Should still be covered by Ford warranty assuming servicing requirements have been met.

Update: Car has been at Evans Halshaw since 13th October had to wait 2 weeks for it to be taken as they were back logged, had it's health check and it's been diagnosed with a slipped clutch. New clutch and slave cylinder £695... isn't covered on the base warranty. The worrying thing is i was told telltale signs are burning smell, very high revs for no reason....The burning smell was there from day one when i bought the car but didn't think nothing of it and carried on. I know for the future any smell or dodgy revs it will be going straight back and they can pay for it to be sorted out.

 

It's mostly my own fault for not taking it back to where i bought it from when i smelled the burning, but i just thought it was the turbo because i took it out at night for a nice little cruise. Expensive mistake..... I am really annoyed at The Car Shop, they seem to just take cars in, valet it and stick it on the forecourt. The car should have been checked properly and this could've been avoided, instead I'm left with a £695 bill and I haven't had a car since 30th September, the garage i took it to haven't got any courtesy cars either....i know it's first world problems but i never imagined i would have to go through all this from buying a car only just 2 years old. My old mk7 was 8 years old and there wasn't a thing wrong with it.

Live and Learn eh.

 

25 minutes ago, KiReg said:

It's mostly my own fault for not taking it back to where i bought it from when i smelled the burning, but i just thought it was the turbo because i took it out at night for a nice little cruise. Expensive mistake..... 

Yes, I suppose after 6 months the seller would claim it happened after you bought it and I doubt Ford would entertain it now if its a wear issue. Still seems odd that you didn't notice any of the other signs of a slipping clutch though, e.g. revs rising without increase in speed, etc.

Still a low mileage for that to happen, but you don't know how the previous driver(s) treated it.

That said, I once had a brand new company car delivered to my office and I could tell the clutch was slipping the moment I left the car park that evening. I got the AA to recover the vehicle and dump it outside the supplying dealership and had "words" with the dealer principal first thing next morning about the quality of their pre-delivery inspection!

 

My Father's company Maxi was like that. Nine times in nine months.

The Princess's clutch exploded as it left the forecourt for the first time.

Ah, British Leyland. Wonder what happened to them?

17 minutes ago, anon said:

Ah, British Leyland. Wonder what happened to them?

Lol, let's not go into that one again!😀

Yeah

On 10/18/2021 at 4:23 PM, Eric Bloodaxe said:

 

Yes, I suppose after 6 months the seller would claim it happened after you bought it and I doubt Ford would entertain it now if its a wear issue. Still seems odd that you didn't notice any of the other signs of a slipping clutch though, e.g. revs rising without increase in speed, etc.

Still a low mileage for that to happen, but you don't know how the previous driver(s) treated it.

That said, I once had a brand new company car delivered to my office and I could tell the clutch was slipping the moment I left the car park that evening. I got the AA to recover the vehicle and dump it outside the supplying dealership and had "words" with the dealer principal first thing next morning about the quality of their pre-delivery inspection!

 

Update: The mechanic didn't notice that part of the clutch was damaged, they've just realized now when attempting to fit the new clutch. The part they need is on back order so they have no idea when it will be available.... Nightmare continues, I haven't had my car for 3 weeks now, I still have to pay my finance on it.

 

Does anyone know if its possible to get a break from paying until its fixed ?

 

They have also said they will get me a courtesy car....finally, I am not bothered what Ford it is as long as it is sooner rather than later....I just need a friggin car !

 

 

25 minutes ago, KiReg said:

Does anyone know if its possible to get a break from paying until its fixed ?

Legally the answer is no. It is not the fault or problem of the finance company that your car is broken. They lent the money for you to be able to buy the car and so have fulfilled their part of the contract.

You could speak with them and see as a guesture of good will they may give you a months payment break but they don't have to. If they do suspend payments it is likely they will add extra intrest on the payments not made.

16 minutes ago, KiReg said:

I still have to pay my finance on it.

 

Does anyone know if its possible to get a break from paying until its fixed ?

 

2 minutes ago, unofix said:

Legally the answer is no. It is not the fault or promblem of the finance company that your car is broken. They lent the money for you to be able to buy the car and so have fulfilled their part of the contract.

You could speak with them and see as a guesture of good will they may give you a months payment break but they don't have to. If they do suspend payments it is likely they will add extra intrest on the payments not made.

Not 100% sure on that. If you bought the car on finance you also have protection under the Consumer Credit Act. Depending on the type of finance, you could in effect have a contract with the finance company for the supply of the vehicle and, like @unofix I have heard of payments being suspended until sorted out. You need to look carefully at your finance agreement and get them involved if appropriate. Citizens Advice may be able to help:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/buying-or-repairing-a-car/problems-with-a-used-car/

Other advice:

https://www.whatcar.com/news/your-legal-rights-if-something-goes-wrong-with-your-car/n3307

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/the-car-i-bought-has-a-problem-what-are-my-rights-aAnMC5b0ZzJb

Thanks for all your help and suggestions, really appreciate it. What a good bunch of people this forum has. 
 

I know there’s bigger problems on the world but this one affects me massively, I have no car and it’s been like that for 3 weeks now. 
 

I still have to wait until Ford get round to processing the request for a hire car, sod knows how long that will be. I’m not bothered if it’s a Fiesta style, I don’t need a ST line replacement, a bottom spec will be fine to get me to work and around until mine is finally sorted. 
 

I’ll keep you updated when I hear something as I really appreciate all your reply’s, makes it a little easier when people pop in to give their opinion so thanks 🤙🏻

2 minutes ago, KiReg said:

a bottom spec will be fine to get me to work

What about an e-scooter ? or better still a 'Boris' bike, they are very good on MPG 🤣

Haha It’d probably be more reliable at this point 😂 

 

Update : The Evans Halshaw told me they had requested a car for me on 21/10, I got no phone call Friday until I called after 15:00 and got it out them that the request for a hire car was approved at 09:30 in the morning and that I would be contacted about insurance and they would sort me out, never got a phone call. Roll on to this morning I got a phone call from Ford hire who said they will get Enterprise to reach me asap, they called a little later and basically told me they didn’t have a car for me until Wednesday, I called Ford back and they said they would try Europcar and make it an urgent matter, that was at 10:00 this morning and I have nothing from anyone since. I called the Evans Halshaw to see if they had anything and I was left dialling for 5 minutes for the service desk. I called again and chose the New car sales to see if they could put me through and the lad said I can take a name and number and someone will call you back, ( bare in my mind over the last 4 weeks I have done all the chasing nobody has called me to update me after waiting all day to leave them to it, so I said and quote ‘I’m not really interested in doing that, I’d like to speak to somebody right now as this is beyond urgent’ and the fella said well I don’t care if you’re interested or not you can either do that or nothing, now I realise I should’ve been nicer and just gone with what he said but at this point my car has been undriveable for 3+ weeks, my car has been in the garage since the 13th, when it broke down on the 30th, I had to wait 13 days before they said I could bring it in, it’s then been 10 days since the vehicle has been in their custody and they haven’t even been able to give me any car to keep me going until mine has the master cylinder in stock to fit. 
 

I am literally at my wits end, not only do I have to pay extra for travel and still pay for my car, nobody is taking responsibility with my car and doing anything to help me. I am aware the pandemic is crippling everything but surely there’s someone somewhere who could arrange something for me, nothing has gone my way at all. It’s been a proper horrible experience. I wouldn’t mind but they are billing me for £800 worth of work, I’d like to think they’d push the boat out a little to try and satisfy me as a customer to them. I’m starting to think I should’ve taken it to a smaller independent garage that would’ve cost less and been fixed already. 
 

Hi Kail, sorry to hear how bad things have gone for you. The trouble is with all these massive main dealers they are all as bad as each other. It sounds like you have a fairly good idea of dates and times and who did (or did not do) what. I would write it all down and e-mail Ford Customer Care and copy in Evans Halshaw head office.

A few years ago now I had a similar problem with Lookers. It was funny that as the list of people I started adding in on my e-mail 'copy' got bigger the faster and more effort the local branch of Lookers suddenly put in to sorting the problem.

Getting a bit baffled on this one. The master cylinder which has now been mentioned is the sort of thing that would have caused the clutch to "go" suddenly as initially described.

It is good practice to replace the slave while changing the clutch but I do wonder now if It was really slipping, as you don't seem to have noticed any of the other symptoms other than a smell (which could have been something else).

I definitely will be writing an email, like i said I fully understand there is a pandemic but in my mind that doesn't mean you throw away good customer service out of the window. I just can't believe how consistently bad i have been treated.

 

Thanks for your reply mate, appreciate it.

I think that may be right, Eric. If there is no apparent leakage, my thinking is the common slave cylinder failure but if the fluid level remains the same in the reservoir, it would be unusual but not unknown for the seal to have failed in the master cylinder. A soft pedal certainly indicates a hydraulic issue 

I did check several time before the car went into the workshop and there was no leakage i could see, the foot well was leak free and the reservoir was full, no signs of any leakage.

Just the floppy clutch all of a sudden, but the smell had happened several times but as i stated before, I am not aware of anything car wise so to me i just thought it was the turbo getting a bit hot from being on the motorway or revving a bit.

I wish i would've acted sooner as this could've been sorted and probably not been liable to pay.

Thanks.

My problem here is that this is inconsistent with  clutch slip. Had this been a problem caused by failing hydraulics, there would be no clutch slip, just abrupt engagement. Smell then slip and then a slack pedal but no fluid loss strongly suggests two different faults.

https://communications-public.pinnacledms.net/Workshop/Portal/VHCSummary/VHCSummary.aspx?J=c6559028-9542-42d0-9033-eb085804b2c5&D=96ab09b8-7cf2-42de-9c63-0c0e16fe10ee

This is what i received after my car was taken to the Evans Halshaw on 13/10/2021

 

If you have a look at this, the mechanic explains what he thinks has happened, but I don't know what I'm looking at so maybe you can provide some comments on it.

Unable to bleed new slave cylinder. Even tryed back bleeding through the nsf caliper. Still no luck. When slave cylinder has burst its poped the master cylinder diaphragm the opposite way. Reqs new master cylinder.

 

Above is some additional comments that i haven't seen until right now copy and pasting the link to the video for you to have a look.

Another £87 added on to the total of £690 for a new clutch and slave cylinder. You have to laugh or you will cry......