V8 Vantage clutch

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Discussion

kerbys

Original Poster:

39 posts

162 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
I have done abit of searching but never really found an answer.

I have only had the car a month but just seems like the clutch seem different. Im not sure if it in my head or the clutch is going? I dont have any problem changing gear while moving, or pulling away from lights. Just when i manoeuvre it just seems different? is there a fool proof way to check?

V8 Vantage 55 plate.

Luckyluciano

2,398 posts

223 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
Get on the motorway put it in a high gear 5th/6th doing 50ish mph the accelerate hard. If the revs rise but you don't get any more speed then the clutch is on it's way.

kerbys

Original Poster:

39 posts

162 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
GREAT! thanks will try later! hopefully i wont be back with my tail between my legs. Otherwise ill be saving abit harder to get that clutch fund going!

yeti

10,523 posts

281 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
Was it a dealer car and how many miles have you done?? If the clutch is gone after a month/only a few miles, arguably it wasn't fit for purpose - you could expect/hope for a contribution!

mikey k

13,014 posts

222 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
You don't say but on a 55 plate I presume it is a manual.
Do these have a hydraulic clutch actuation?
Might be worth changing the fluid?

Murph7355

38,755 posts

262 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
Luckyluciano said:
Get on the motorway put it in a high gear 5th/6th doing 50ish mph the accelerate hard. If the revs rise but you don't get any more speed then the clutch is on it's way.
This is a decent test, but not a 100% certain one. Clutches can go even if they pass this test (experience from other cars - asking for trouble, but the V8 is still on its first clutch).

matrignano

4,585 posts

216 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
How much is a new clutch by the way?

Shmee

7,565 posts

219 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
matrignano said:
How much is a new clutch by the way?
I believe circa £2k indy and £3k main dealer

sadlerj

855 posts

290 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
kerbys said:
Just when i manoeuvre it just seems different?
In reverse especially? The Vantage has a different and slightly weird throttle modulation in reverse thus can feel weird. In my experience the clutch just goes, one minute OK next minute no gears and flat bed to the dealer. £2k I paid for mine (30,000 hard miles on 06 manual),

matrignano

4,585 posts

216 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks. Thought it would be more expensive than that.

jonamv8

3,176 posts

172 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
sadlerj said:
In reverse especially? The Vantage has a different and slightly weird throttle modulation in reverse thus can feel weird. In my experience the clutch just goes, one minute OK next minute no gears and flat bed to the dealer. £2k I paid for mine (30,000 hard miles on 06 manual),
True - Exactly what happened to mine. Burnouts thru Arnage on Le Mans weeks may have contributed tho

blackice1

329 posts

176 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Can i just say some dealers are no where near 3k for a clucth , more like 2.2 including New flywheel just need to know who to ask ;-)

Shmee

7,565 posts

219 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
blackice1 said:
Can i just say some dealers are no where near 3k for a clucth , more like 2.2 including New flywheel just need to know who to ask ;-)
I'm going to hold you to that one!

On a related note, when the tester at Nicholas Mee was driving my car after the pad change he said that the clutch was being a bit funny, behaviour that is resolved by having the clutch reset which is covered by a bulletin/warranty at a main dealer. Are you able to confirm that and if so I'll get on the phone to you and get it booked in?

kerbys

Original Poster:

39 posts

162 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Well it pulled fine in 6th @ 50mph

It just feels like the bite has changed.. Ive done about 500 odd miles the car is coming up to 30k miles. Dont fancy paying out 2-2.5k after a couple of months but at the same time hate to go back to the dealer to complain as they have been amazing so far!

Luckyluciano

2,398 posts

223 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
blackice1 said:
Can i just say some dealers are no where near 3k for a clucth , more like 2.2 including New flywheel just need to know who to ask ;-)
YHM.

blackice1

329 posts

176 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Shmee said:
I'm going to hold you to that one!

On a related note, when the tester at Nicholas Mee was driving my car after the pad change he said that the clutch was being a bit funny, behaviour that is resolved by having the clutch reset which is covered by a bulletin/warranty at a main dealer. Are you able to confirm that and if so I'll get on the phone to you and get it booked in?
Not that I know of , your Clutch is manual I assume, Why do you pop up and see us one day , and let a Aston Martin Trained Technician give you there thoughts on it.

Shmee

7,565 posts

219 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
blackice1 said:
Not that I know of , your Clutch is manual I assume, Why do you pop up and see us one day , and let a Aston Martin Trained Technician give you there thoughts on it.
No it's a Sportshift hence the recalibration, it's not the first time I've been told about it.

Sadly for me any dealership other than Stratstone Western Avenue seems to be a good hour from central London (and possibly much more if the traffic isn't great) so just popping out means a day off to arrange, and probably another one to do any work that's needed.

blackice1

329 posts

176 months

Thursday 12th January 2012
quotequote all
Shmee said:
No it's a Sportshift hence the recalibration, it's not the first time I've been told about it.

Sadly for me any dealership other than Stratstone Western Avenue seems to be a good hour from central London (and possibly much more if the traffic isn't great) so just popping out means a day off to arrange, and probably another one to do any work that's needed.
Ok , So yes the is a update we can do , but first , how often are you carry out the clutch learn procedure .

Ps It took my driver 30 mins to come out of central london yesterday to Amersham.