Think my clutch is slipping?

[SimonTemplar]

Ive literally had the car for 1 week and done around 600-700 miles (Bought the car 295 miles from me)

Ive noticed sometimes the revs goes it quite quick sometimes and the car doesnt seem to have as much urgency as it had (Cupra TDi).

Tonight, i noticed what I believe is clutch slip. Ive never been in a car, or experienced a slipping clutch so just want to confirm it is.

The symptoms are: 4th, 5th or 6th gear, plant my foot with revs around 1800-2000 (ie, peak torque) and the revs increase within a second by 500-700 and wander, then go back to what they where and the car then accelerates... then it slips again and revs increase.

If I plant my right foot with revs hever up, it doesnt slip, but im assuming this is due to less torque been transmitted?

Just want to check what ive experience is clutch slipping as im new the SEATs so want to check its not some kind of weird kick down or overboost or something, I doubt it though.

Since im new to VAG cars, I have no idea where to purchase parts from. I usually like to supply my local garage with the parts for them to fit.

My is also booked into Badger 5 in two weeks, so obviously the car isnt not going to do well with a remap with the current clutch.

The car is a 07 plate with 57k. Its standard power wise (got nothing to compare against) but im getting it mapped so would like some pointers on what clutch kit to get to handle the uprated power and where to buy from.

Thanks

 

[mick-fr]

Does sound like clutch slip tbh. Your choices are either go for another standard setup (which will probably fail again over time, especialy after your map) or go for an uprated kit. Sach's do a kit for the Ibiza.

 

[SimonTemplar]

Does sound like clutch slip tbh. Your choices are either go for another standard setup (which will probably fail again over time, especialy after your map) or go for an uprated kit. Sach's do a kit for the Ibiza.

I'm wanting to get an upgrated clutch kit.

Best places to buy from and what bits should I also consider replacing?

 

[thePHILosipher]

I'm wanting to get an upgrated clutch kit.

Best places to buy from and what bits should I also consider replacing?

you may as well ask badger 5 to do it. they have a very good reputation. wherever you go an uprated kit will cost you around £1k so if your not going to be modding anymore is it really worth the outlay?

alot of cars with just a map, dont change from standard setups unless more future mods are planned. The fact that yours is going on a standard setup with only 55k on the clock and a car less than 4 years old would point to the previous owner(s) overloading/riding it alot.

The clutches are rated to 310ft/lb torque and with a remap your car can be around that figure but most maps will be around the 290ft/lb mark which is why you should be absolutely fine

and with the cupra you really dont need to change anything from the standard car.

 

[SimonTemplar]

Hi thanks for that reply.

I bought a 1 year warranty with the car but that does not cover "worn or distorted" clutches. However the garage also provide a 30 day warranty. Could the clutch be replaced via them? I'm guessing it's still wear and tear. It's a bit of a blow to have a slipping clutch within 7 days of ownership.

I probably wouldn't do much more to the car than a remap and possibly turbo back exhaust. Would a new standard clutch kit still be ok with that? My fear is paying out £600-700 or more for oem replacement for it then to slip on stock power (assuming my car is not mapped already!) or to slip with remapped power...

 

[thePHILosipher]

Hi thanks for that reply.

I bought a 1 year warranty with the car but that does not cover "worn or distorted" clutches. However the garage also provide a 30 day warranty. Could the clutch be replaced via them? I'm guessing it's still wear and tear. It's a bit of a blow to have a slipping clutch within 7 days of ownership.

I probably wouldn't do much more to the car than a remap and possibly turbo back exhaust. Would a new standard clutch kit still be ok with that? My fear is paying out £600-700 or more for oem replacement for it then to slip on stock power (assuming my car is not mapped already!) or to slip with remapped power...

well if the car was on finance you can go down the road of rejecting the car as with all finance policies you have a satutory cooling off period. If it was paid out right then its down to the supplier.

If your car is 100% standard and you replace it with an OEM setup then providing you bed it in properly you should get another 60k+ out of it depending on how you drive.

To put things into perspective ive been running a remap with around 300ft/lb on my fr TDi for nearly 45k and its absolutely fine due to the way I drive it, ie not booting it below 2k rpm or trying to accelerate hard in 6th gear and wont be thinking about changing until i go stage 2.

btw, a standard clutch kit will be around £400 + fitting

 

[SimonTemplar]

Ive emailed Bill @ Badger5 regarding clutch options.

Id like a SMF but the noise worries me as per the Jabba sachs performance cover and platr with smf lightened flywheel

or jkm do a sachs performance kit, bit with a new dmf

 

[thePHILosipher]

Ive emailed Bill @ Badger5 regarding clutch options.

Id like a SMF but the noise worries me as per the Jabba sachs performance cover and platr with smf lightened flywheel

or jkm do a sachs performance kit, bit with a new dmf

from those options, i'd go sachs with dmf, but again it depends on your requirements, i wont be going hybrid, or at least not mega power so for me, SMF is not required.

 

[martotdi]

Very interesting reading this, iv also got a problem with my clucth (PD100 85k) and am looking to increase power soon so looking at uprated clutches, are the standard clutches not all that strong?

 

[thePHILosipher]

Very interesting reading this, iv also got a problem with my clucth (PD100 85k) and am looking to increase power soon so looking at uprated clutches, are the standard clutches not all that strong?

no the standard clutches are fine actually and overall pretty damn good but as with anything, if you miss treat it or enhance something, they'll wear out quicker. the problem with the FR's and cupra's is that the amount of torque the cars generate as standard is pretty high so when you remap them, you push the clutches right to the threshold. This is not so much a failing of the parts, more the fact thats its diesel as they produce ALOT more torque which is what puts the strain on the clutches.

on a PD100, even with a custom remap, turbo back exhaust and uprated intercooler, you will still be absolutley fine as the turbo on the car will limit what you can actually get out of it so you really dont need an uprated setup as the clutch kits are rated to the same figure if im not very much mistaken. I remember a guy on here that had that setup and had around 265ft/lb of torque and about 155bhp

 

[SimonTemplar]

In the end I went with Sachs performance clutch cover, organic clutch and sachs DMF

 

[rf860]

In the end I went with Sachs performance clutch cover, organic clutch and sachs DMF

how much for all that?

 

[SimonTemplar]

Are you sitting down? £996 and yet to have the bill for fitting...

 

[rf860]

Are you sitting down? £996 and yet to have the bill for fitting...

ouch, mines is in the garage just now for a rattle coming from the clutch area. All they've told me is that it's either the dmf or release bearing. Under warranty though, thank god! Rolling in style with a punto lol

 

[JPS3290]

Sounds like the previous owner either could not drive properly or seriously ragged the car from traffic lights constantly!! ouch!

My Cupra TDI was remapped with just 6k on the clock. Now on 86500 miles and still on standard clutch running perfectly. It gets plenty of blasts along the country roads as I live out in the middle of no where, you just need a little mechanical sympathy sometimes.

 

[SimonTemplar]

Could be, there is a lot of vibration so could be down to the DMF.

It doesn't do it all the time, and I can just hold off accelerating below 2k when it's occurring.

However, what's the point in not been able to use the peak torque and when it's mapped I'd rather be safe knowing the drivetrain is Upto the job!

 

[JPS3290]

Could be, there is a lot of vibration so could be down to the DMF.

It doesn't do it all the time, and I can just hold off accelerating below 2k when it's occurring.

However, what's the point in not been able to use the peak torque and when it's mapped I'd rather be safe knowing the drivetrain is Upto the job!

Its more than up to the job. Just needs to be driven properly. If the previous owner kept slipping the clutch or dropping it, ragged it around track's, 1/4 mile sessions or was generally just a crap driver its going to wear it out quicker.

I use peak torque every day, and considering I do a 50 mile round trip out on A and mostly B roads it gets used more than most who live in towns I would imagine.

86.5k miles and 80.5k of them running 195bhp and 300lbs'ft torque. No clutch issues

 

[tdicuprasimon]

The previous owner did know how to drive it properly and didnt "rag it off the lights constantly" The garage who he sold it however did. Im the previous owner as Simon has found out. The car was mapped by big fish tuning with the torque kept to 300 and I didnt boot it at low revs. I never had any issues with the clutch but the car was sold to a garage who had it for around 3 months. I told them it had been mapped and to be gentle at lows revs but they obviously didnt take my advice.
Enjoy the car its a goodun!

 

[Scott-o]

where abouts are you from? BFT is near me, hes done my 20vt cupra too. Also which garage did you sell it too out of interest?

 

[tdicuprasimon]

Hello
We have met a while ago scott at teeside park when I first bought the ibiza. It was sold to riverside car sales in middlesbrough (I think thats the name) I had the chance of a very nice Leon Cupra R so needed to sell it quickly.
John at big fish was spot on, he said that it would be around 205bhp and 300ft/lbs of torque and Simon told me it acheived 206bhp and 306ft/lbs before he had it remapped. I never had it on the rollers after the big fish map but it felt really good.
Hopefully I will get some time and come along to some meets in the new year!