New Clutch needed! prices?
Discussion
Hi Everyone
Need your help
Have discovered what the burning smell from my car is!!
As a couple of you told me it would be which is the clutch!!
This of course is not covered on the extended warranty!! Surprise!!
I brought the car a 11 months ago from a Lotus garage (CD Bramall in Leicester) with 4500 miles on it. I have put another 4000 miles on it. Which leaves me with a worn out clutch after 8500 miles!!
I have never taken it out on the track and was assured at purchasing time that it had never been on the track!!
Do you think I could get anything off of Lotus?
The Lotus garage that found the fault wants to charge me £783 for the clutch and fitting it.
This seems a little expensive as per normal with Lotus garages.
Where can I get a clutch suitable for my car (a standard mark II) and how difficult is it to fit??
Anybody know of somewhere who could fit it cheaper than Lotus??
Any help would be appreciated!!
And thanks for all your help sorting out this problem
Need your help
Have discovered what the burning smell from my car is!!
As a couple of you told me it would be which is the clutch!!
This of course is not covered on the extended warranty!! Surprise!!
I brought the car a 11 months ago from a Lotus garage (CD Bramall in Leicester) with 4500 miles on it. I have put another 4000 miles on it. Which leaves me with a worn out clutch after 8500 miles!!
I have never taken it out on the track and was assured at purchasing time that it had never been on the track!!
Do you think I could get anything off of Lotus?
The Lotus garage that found the fault wants to charge me £783 for the clutch and fitting it.
This seems a little expensive as per normal with Lotus garages.
Where can I get a clutch suitable for my car (a standard mark II) and how difficult is it to fit??
Anybody know of somewhere who could fit it cheaper than Lotus??
Any help would be appreciated!!
And thanks for all your help sorting out this problem
I had my clutch replaced by Sinclaires of London (Specialist not dealer), it was about £550 all-in.
And no, I'm afraid you won't have any luck getting Lotus to pay towards your costs.
Make sure that whoever does the work finds the cause of it going in the first place. 8000 miles is very early, so it sounds like it wasn't closing fully.
And no, I'm afraid you won't have any luck getting Lotus to pay towards your costs.
Make sure that whoever does the work finds the cause of it going in the first place. 8000 miles is very early, so it sounds like it wasn't closing fully.
Yeah that sounds very early. You don't ride the clutch all the time when you start, or try to do standing starts and cock it up?
Only time I've ever caused that burning smell in my car was when I was trying to do a formula 1 style 180 on an airfield, and the clutch didn't engage properly when I lifted it, just span. Thanksfully its fine though
aled said:
Im worried that the burning smell is not linked to the clutch!!
If I replace the clutch and still have the burning smell then I would have spent money on something I dont need.
How many quotes/estimates have you had? Who established that the problem was the clutch?
Why not get a Second Opinion from another Lotus Dealer/Specialist if you've only had one person look at it. Just a suggestion (apologies if you've already done this) but worth a go for peace of mind. Best of luck whatever happens.
It was CD Bramall who diagnosed the problem (which is where the car is now)
Have had Northampton Orchard Dealership look at it and they were very unhelpful and didnt diagnose it as anything.
I also had a friend look at it who is a mechanic and he said it was a clutch smell!! but he is not a lotus man!!
Have had Northampton Orchard Dealership look at it and they were very unhelpful and didnt diagnose it as anything.
I also had a friend look at it who is a mechanic and he said it was a clutch smell!! but he is not a lotus man!!
lotus clutches don't smell different! If its clutch it lingers a long time though. When I did my attempt at a 180 on the spot it lasted several days. It could just be your clutch cable needs adjusting or something if its not being properly engaged (or the clutch may indeed be borked).
I think an AP clutch kit is £170i ish then a few hours fitting and maybe treat it to some new gearbox oil - got to come in under £500 notes at a specialist
ps - thought mine was bad when it went at 32K miles...and thats with 210bhp...must be something wrong with it to go in 8500 miles IMO
>> Edited by bogie on Wednesday 10th March 20:51
ps - thought mine was bad when it went at 32K miles...and thats with 210bhp...must be something wrong with it to go in 8500 miles IMO
>> Edited by bogie on Wednesday 10th March 20:51
Had same problem with mine (smell) and it was after "attempting" to chase a Griff through a tunnel from standstill.
Went to Sinclares in Romford stating the facts, as the car is still under waranty they assured me that if they did replace the clutch and there was a problem it would be covered, if not I would be liable for the costs. I decided to run it for a couple of weeks and see what happened. Suffice to say, smell gone, no slip and new underwear bought.
Run it for a while, 8500 does sound VERY early to me.
Went to Sinclares in Romford stating the facts, as the car is still under waranty they assured me that if they did replace the clutch and there was a problem it would be covered, if not I would be liable for the costs. I decided to run it for a couple of weeks and see what happened. Suffice to say, smell gone, no slip and new underwear bought.
Run it for a while, 8500 does sound VERY early to me.
The smell has been around for about a month now!!
Hasnt got any worse but no better either!
Im still talking to lotus about getting them to fit a new one for me but they are saying that it is a worn out clutch. All they keep telling me is it is not covered on the warranty.
Ill ring Sinclaires and talk to them!!
Have a quote from Brooke Kensington for £500 + VAT for clutch and fitting.
Cd bramall who diagnosed the problem told me the following....
Clutch slipping under heavy load Checked Hydrolics which are ok needs new Clutch kit and pressure plate.
Hasnt got any worse but no better either!
Im still talking to lotus about getting them to fit a new one for me but they are saying that it is a worn out clutch. All they keep telling me is it is not covered on the warranty.
Ill ring Sinclaires and talk to them!!
Have a quote from Brooke Kensington for £500 + VAT for clutch and fitting.
Cd bramall who diagnosed the problem told me the following....
Clutch slipping under heavy load Checked Hydrolics which are ok needs new Clutch kit and pressure plate.
An update on my progress!!
I am now awaiting a read out from my car to show me and the engineers how the car has been driven.
Lotus have told me that if the clutch is faulty then they will fix this under warrant!!
However if the clutch is warn I will have to pay for this!!
What I need from you guys!! If you can help!! Is some advice on the read out I will get from lotus!!!
I have never really seen one of these before so need advice on what to look out for.
If the car has not been abused in the previous 4500 miles to when I owned the car then I am going to get lotus to fix it as it must be faulty!!!
If not Im going to get sinclaires or Brooke Kensington to fix it as they are £200 cheaper!!
Any advice would be appreciated
I am now awaiting a read out from my car to show me and the engineers how the car has been driven.
Lotus have told me that if the clutch is faulty then they will fix this under warrant!!
However if the clutch is warn I will have to pay for this!!
What I need from you guys!! If you can help!! Is some advice on the read out I will get from lotus!!!
I have never really seen one of these before so need advice on what to look out for.
If the car has not been abused in the previous 4500 miles to when I owned the car then I am going to get lotus to fix it as it must be faulty!!!
If not Im going to get sinclaires or Brooke Kensington to fix it as they are £200 cheaper!!
Any advice would be appreciated
Aled
is the car an S1 ?
if so the ECU is a Rover MEMS system and there is nothing in there logged that can give Lotus the number of standing starts or any other abuse type info.
Also the elise is just an MGF power train so the clutches are the same. A Rover Clutch will be the same only cheaper, Also Rover workshop labour is cheaper although there are a number of outfits who know the K well enough to do a clutch change.
You could upgrade to the AP race clutch as used on Lotus sport 190 ( also Ariel Atom 190 ) and if you so desired a lightweight flywheel at the same time.
If you do use a Rover ( Or land Rover its the same engine in freelander) dealer they will need info on removal of the clam shell.
is the car an S1 ?
if so the ECU is a Rover MEMS system and there is nothing in there logged that can give Lotus the number of standing starts or any other abuse type info.
Also the elise is just an MGF power train so the clutches are the same. A Rover Clutch will be the same only cheaper, Also Rover workshop labour is cheaper although there are a number of outfits who know the K well enough to do a clutch change.
You could upgrade to the AP race clutch as used on Lotus sport 190 ( also Ariel Atom 190 ) and if you so desired a lightweight flywheel at the same time.
If you do use a Rover ( Or land Rover its the same engine in freelander) dealer they will need info on removal of the clam shell.
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