Altea 1.9tdi Flywheel / Clutch dead

[pantsdavies]

Hi

I have a 2005 Altea 1.9tdi Stylance with 27000 miles, as of this morning there was a strange knocking noise from under the bonnet, which would come and go, took the car to the seat dealer and as I was pulling in the noise really got bad.
The fitter diagnosed the problem that the flywheel has gone and needs replacing.

After checking the seat data base it appears my warrenty ran out 2 weeks ago.
apprently there was a recall on the Alteas to do with the flywheel and for whatever reason my car did not qualify into this recall bracket

They kind of said tough and i should book it in for repair asap and expect a large bill for the job.

Surley this is a commen fault problem and no way should a clutch/flywheel go after 27000 miles.

Does anyone know if im able to contact seatuk and see my car was not covered under the recall.

Has anyone else had thier flywheel go at this low milage????????

Please help im in the s**t

 

[pdh 14a]

Get straight onto Seat uk,and give them your story,if they don't at least pay half go to the ombudsman or the papers (Motoring colums) and badmouth them as much as possible!

 

[pantsdavies]

Thanks I will certanley call them tomorrow

I have searced the forum for info on the recall but it always seems to be the 2.0tdi thats talked about

Was the 1.9 tdi of the same recall????????

Regards

 

[Viking]

Nope, just the 2.0ltr flywheel was recalled.

 

[pantsdavies]

Looking at this thread this chap changed his 1.9tdi flywheel was just wondering if it was done under warrenty

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=131438

So is it woth calling seatuk and crying down the phone if the 1.9tdi was never recalled or should the flywheel still be covered under warrenty???????

would the clutch also need changing(im assimming not covered by warrenty) at the same time as the FLywheel???????

Cheerss fellas

 

[Wilkip]

Hello

When you say knocking noise, is it constant noise of just when you brake or change gear!.
Needless to say i have a knocking noise at 32000miles. 2.0TDI sport.
Will be going to the stealers next week!

 

[UncleFester]

I wouldn't be paying main dealer rates either, i'd consider getting a 'proper' clutch fitted that will outlast the life of the vehicle even with a remap.

It's a 4 hour job, you might as well change the clutch whilst you're in there, dealer labour rates will be at least £75 an hour + the dual mass flywheel + the clutch + vat.

You can pick up a clutch for around £150, a DMF for around £225 and labour ... a 'specialist' will charge around £200 for the job. I'd get a quote from your dealer for the above then decide whether you want to have it taken somewhere else for the work

 

[seremotors]

call seat customer services on 0500 222222. there was never a recall on your model but we have done a few.

 

[TDI_luver]

The flywheel failed in exactly the same way on my '06 1.9 Tdi Toledo 105hp reference at 32K Km.
The car was just one year old at the time, so it was replaced under warranty without quibble by the dealer. They replace the OEM flywheel with a different make (OEM was LUK, replacement which is allegedly more reliable is Sachs) which means they have to change the clutch kit also (clutch plate, pressure plate + release bearing).
Lots of 1.9 tdis have has this failure - including Audi A4s, VW Golfs and Skoda Octavias. Not just SEAT models fitted with that drivetrain. Demand that it be fixed free of charge by SEAT - its a known fault.

 

[pantsdavies]

The flywheel failed in exactly the same way on my '06 1.9 Tdi Toledo 105hp reference at 32K Km.
The car was just one year old at the time, so it was replaced under warranty without quibble by the dealer. They replace the OEM flywheel with a different make (OEM was LUK, replacement which is allegedly more reliable is Sachs) which means they have to change the clutch kit also (clutch plate, pressure plate + release bearing).
Lots of 1.9 tdis have has this failure - including Audi A4s, VW Golfs and Skoda Octavias. Not just SEAT models fitted with that drivetrain. Demand that it be fixed free of charge by SEAT - its a known fault.

Can I demand even though my warrenty is up??? I have not phoned them yet

How do you think I should word it???
Any help would be great

 

[pdh 14a]

Can I demand even though my warrenty is up??? I have not phoned them yet

How do you think I should word it???
Any help would be great

You cant demand it no! Best bet is to ring SEAT uk,and explain how close to warranty it was and how little mileage is on there,play it nice at first,and then if they won't offer anything start threatening with going to the ombudsman and newspaper colomns etc,and say that if no help is on offer then you'll sell up and never recomend a SEAT to a living soul again!

But i think the most you can expect out of warranty is a 50/50 cost between you and SEAT

 

[TDI_luver]

Can I demand even though my warrenty is up??? I have not phoned them yet

How do you think I should word it???
Any help would be great

Start out nice and sweet, and see where it takes you. Exhaust all possibilities with the dealer(s) first before you bother getting involved with SEAT customer care - after all, if tthe dealer can make a case to SEAT for changing the flywheel and clutch assembly as a 'goodwill' gesture (out of warranty but known manufacuring defect), then it wont cost him a dime - SEAT will pick up the tab for all the parts & work. So no out of pocket situation for the dealer.

If the dealer says no, then go to SEAT directly, start out sweet with them, how the car has low mileage, been well treated, just out of warranty, if it was a Kia it would still be in warranty , and it is a widespread known issue with the LUK DMF flywheel all accross the VAG range fitted with both 2.0 and 1.9 tdi engines, etc. (and you were going to trade in later this year for a new SEAT, now youre not so sure you should )

They may cave in and pick up the entire tab, or they may offer a goodwill gesture (common gesture by VAG in these circumstances) and offer to provide the parts for free, and you pay 50% of the labour +VAT or something like that - its horsetrading, and its up to you how much you are willing to pay, if anything.

Good luck !

 

[pantsdavies]

Cheers Fellas

The Dealer was a bit of an ass to be honest, She(the girl behind the desk) said unlucky its two weeks out of date and when do I want to book the car in to be done?????? She said I could try and contact seatuk to try and help with the costs but they probably wont help as I have full seat service history up untill the 20000 oil change where I took it to my local garage

She then said that a clutch would be £700 and the flywheel about £400 and im not even sure if Vat and Labour was included in these costs( these were prices off the top of her head mind) infact thinking back the girl was not very helpful at all).

So my wonderfull local dealer could charge me £1500 - £2000, and if seatuk are no help then it would be alot cheaper for to take it to my local garage who have given me an estimated 3 figure price for the job.

So b******s to that dealer and to be honest im going to use another from now on.

So i think I will phone seatuk today for chat

 

[oldtimer]

This business with faulty flywheel/clutch assemblies, has been going on for years and years as far as I can see. In the early ish 1990's a friend of mine bought a brand new Audi A4 diesel, and guess what, yes, clutch trouble almost from day one. At the time none of us had heard of dual mass flywheels, but it turns out it was the same problem that people are still having today!! That's getting on for nearly 20 years, something is not right if it's still happening.

 

[seremotors]

yep and its not just vag!!! ask any mondeo owner lol

 

[pantsdavies]

AH cheers seatuk

Phoned them today and they said if its out of warrenty then unlucky theres nothing they can do.

Only option was to let a seat approved dealer fix the car then they
could send a form onto seatuk requesting for a goodwill jesture.

So nothing in stone so its looks like im going to have to pay to have it fixed elsewhere, this sucks on a new car with 27000 miles, im gutted.

I have a freind who works in an Audi dealership and he said they would defo do something that close to a warrenty expiring,,,,cheers SEAT fr nothing

 

[pdh 14a]

Get all nasty with them,say theres no way on earth you are paying for SEAT to touch it unless they stump the offer up first,robbing B'stards

 

[cadman2k]

Flywheel / clutch

WTF.!! I cannot understand how they can be so unhelpful.?

With so little mileage did you not ask them why the flywheel and clutch should cause problems, - This has to be down to inferior / faulty components used at the engine build stage. I'm no expert but one would assume the manufacturer of the components needs to meet certain specifications - surely they have not in this instance and it would be Seat UK's responsibilty to ensure this.

I would definately get back in touch with Seat UK again and if no joy the 2nd time again for the 3rd time - you will get through to a different person who may be more sympathetic to the case.
(I have heard of people getting different responses at different times)

You need to push them on the component failure and not accept a general wear and tear type of fault.

Good Luck

 

[pantsdavies]

Phoned seatuk again today and spoke to a nice enough chap he said

" that the only thing that could be done is let the dealer do the work on the car
then the dealer can submit a good will gesture form to seatuk and hopefully I will get some money back"

The Seat dealer quoted me £850 + Vat for the Job today

a local garage quoted me £600ish if my car has a Lux Flywheel
and £800 if it has a Sachs Flywheel.(is there anyway I could find out)

Im not sure what to do, any advice fellas

Ps , thatnks for all your help so Far

 

[pantsdavies]

happy days(ish)

booked my car in with the dealer after seatuk said thats all I could do and try to claim some money back by good will guesture form.

But hats off to my local seat dealer, I know i slagged them earlier but they repired the car by replacing flywheel/clutch etc and put a good will guesture form in and seatuk agreed to pick up the bill for all parts, so I only had to pay labour(5 hours), maybe has i did have a full seat service history)

so a £400 bill was better than £1000, my faith has ben restored in seat

thanks all for your advice and help

Regards