Clutch advice!

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missmm
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Clutch advice!

Post by missmm »

Hi, really need some advice!
Our car went in for a new clutch and flywheel, 2 weeks later, the garage asked if we had a new engine...it hasnt. They then informed us they had tried several clutches and not been successful, they were going to call in a citroen expert. The morning of the expert coming the garage called to say they would need to write the car off as the gear box has fallen out!
As the car is on finance the garage insurance will deal with our insurance but it leaves us with no car, (and no finance option anywhere due to recent circumstance change)
I just want to know is it normal for a garage not to have the right clutch ? Is it normal for a gearbox to fall out.
The car is brilliant for a family of 5 and its our first car that we have actually spent money on thinking it would be with us for a while!
Thanks for any advice!
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Re: Clutch advice!

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Of course it's not normal for a gearbox to fall out under normal circumstances - but if it has previously been worked on or any associated components like the clutch and flywheel and not been put back correctly or the wrong parts fitted, then it is possible.

I don't know where you stand on this - but the garage insurance should cover any damage caused whilst in their care - but it will be a matter of trying to prove the garage was at fault and that the problem did not pre-exist.

I'm not sure what you mean by the garage dealing with your insurance, but it may be worth exploring with the garage, getting a second hand gearbox?
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Re: Clutch advice!

Post by Gibbo2286 »

"The gearbox has fallen out." = "We dropped it and it broke."

If that's the case then they are liable to fix it not write it off.

A solicitor or trading standards might be needed if they try to dodge their responsibilities.

As it's on finance I think you should notify the finance company to see what they can do.
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Re: Clutch advice!

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Agreed ^
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Re: Clutch advice!

Post by discv »

I would have thought that the option to 'write off' was not a call the repairer is entitled to make. I suggest that the OP agrees to nothing at this time- the write off value will be a lot less than the cost of a new box and clutch.
Are we talking about a bona fide repairer- or kerb side fixers?
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Re: Clutch advice!

Post by discv »

I wonder if the elephant in the room is that the vehicle had an engine/gearbox transplant in a previous life.
And that the gearbox got damaged by the fitting of the wrong clutch/flywheel parts.
A cross check on engine nos. actually fitted and recorded in log book might prove useful.
Finance company may well sit up if they find out they funded a 'ringer'!
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Re: Clutch advice!

Post by RichardW »

Sounds very odd! Presumably this is a 5 or 6 k car? So even if it needed a 'new' box it shouldn't write it off. Is it an EGS auto by any chance? I would go down and see it, get some pics. Even if it needed a replacement box I'm sure you would accept a used one of similar mileage. Perhaps it has fallen off the ramp, or the tech has crashed it on test drive....
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