VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI GT Clutch Slip

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 11:25
VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI GT Clutch Slip - Chumley Warner

Hi guys

This is my first post on the forum so hello! I've been reading for years but never posted.

Our car is as above, a VW Golf 2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet (wifes choice). Its a 15 plate with 25000 miles. It was bout as an ex demo at 6 months old with 7000 miles on from VW.

This morning the clutch slipped when overtaking in 3rd. Revs took about 2 seconds to match the speed and the clutch smelled. Not bad, but noticeable. I then pulled out of a junction a few miles down the road and I swear the car pulled away about 30% slower than normal. Its booked in with VW in 4 days for them to look at it.

I've just checked the warranty and if any damage is found to be our fault, it's not covered under the warranty. I know I might be jumping the gun a bit but don't want to go to the dealer unarmed if they say it's my fault.

We're both good drivers, I drive for a living and have done several advanced courses and my wife drives nice and steady. We did 180k in our last MK4 TDI with no issues and have covered 100s of thousands of miles in our cars without clutch issues.

My question is, do we have any come back if it's found to be our fault? With it being an ex demo, I imagine it didn't have the best start. On the test drive, the young lad from VW encouraged me to 'give it a good run'. Suppose that should have been that got me thinking.

I've seen the cost of new clutches on these and really don't want to be paying it. Especially when I know it's nothing to do with us.

Many thanks in advance

CW

Edited by Chumley Warner on 28/06/2017 at 11:27

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 11:29
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - skidpan

You may be good drivers but you cannot know how it was treated before you bought it. As a 6 month old demo it had probably been ragged to death by numerous drivers.

Basically unless its identified as a manufacturing defect its down to you to pay to fix.

Only alternative is to trade it in before it gets too bad.

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 11:42
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - Railroad.

If the clutch is slipping it'll be because the clutch centre plate friction linings are worn to the point where the pressure plate can no longer clamp it against the engine flywheel. This is very unlikely to be covered by any warranty as it will be regarded as wear and tear. However, if you have owned the car for less than six months you could argue with the dealer (assuming you purchased it from them) that the fault should not have occurred within that time. It is assumed in law that the fault was present when you bought the car. I'm not saying the dealer will pay for the repair, but they may meet you part way.

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 12:00
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - skidpan

If the clutch is slipping it'll be because the clutch centre plate friction linings are worn to the point where the pressure plate can no longer clamp it against the engine flywheel.

It can also be caused by an oil leak contaminating the clutch but most warranties exclude consequential damge so no hope there.

However, if you have owned the car for less than six months

The OP bought the car as a 6 month old ex demo in 2015 thus that does not apply

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 15:54
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - Railroad.

If the clutch is slipping it'll be because the clutch centre plate friction linings are worn to the point where the pressure plate can no longer clamp it against the engine flywheel.

It can also be caused by an oil leak contaminating the clutch but most warranties exclude consequential damge so no hope there.

Any oil leak would have to be pretty severe for the clutch to slip if the clutch was otherwise in good condition. This means the OP would most likely have noticed a loss of oil. A small oil leak onto the clutch plates would be more likely to cause a clutch judder rather than it to slip. A horrific smell of burnt oil would also be noticeable.

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 12:02
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - Chumley Warner

Cheers for the quick replies guys.

That's what I was worried about. Its 18 months since we got the car and we've done about 18k in it. Its been fine other than this. I've just driven it to the dealer 8 miles away and it seems fine. Can't get it to slip if I try. Could this be anything else?

It's on 3 year PCP so no chance of chopping it in early. She really likes the car too.

Is there any chance since it could be relied on that as it was a demo it had a hard life, etc?

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 12:28
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - Chumley Warner

So, the VW technicians just had a drive in it and says it's fine. He couldn't get it to slip and said it felt like there were no problems although he said he got a whiff of clutch when he got in the car.

He said that building the revs in 3rd when at a slower speed and dropping the clutch might cause it to slip like that if the speed was too slow. I thought it would just bog down rather than slipping.

He did the start with the handbrake on and it didn't slip at all and tried it in all gears on the road and it wouldn't slip.

Having never had a clutch go, when the do go, is the slipping intermittent or is it a gradual build up of slipping? If you know what I mean.

Again, thanks for the fast replies guys.

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 12:43
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - skidpan

Clutch slip will get worse quite quickly once it starts.

The bill will be a big one since your car has a Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) which really needs replacing along with the clutch. God knows how much a genuine VAG kit is but quality replacements are available from such companies as LUK, Valeo and Sachs.

2 things that you should NOT do.

Do NOT replace the DMF with a solid flywheel (SMF). Even if it works (there have been issues with VAG 2 litres with the 6 speed box and SMF's) you will get a noisy harsh drive which will spoil the car.

Do NOT buy the parts and get a garage to fit them. If the parts are faulty you will be responsible for removing/replacing.

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 12:47
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - RobJP

The 'handbrake on' test is my standard check for the condition of a clutch - if the engine stalls when very gradually letting out the clutch in first with the handbrake fully on, then the clutch is working properly, as far as I'm concerned.

In your case, it might be slightly worn, or something becoming more apparent after a while of driving. But if the VW tech says it is fine, then it is probably fine - and bear in mind that if it was knackered, they'd be billing you full whack for it and would be very unlikely to entertain a warranty claim, so he's no good reason for not creating work.

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Wed 28 Jun 2017 13:43
2.0 TDI GT Cabriolet - VW Golf MK6 2.0 TDI Clutch Slip - Chumley Warner

Cheers for the help guys.

I'll see how it goes. I imagine any problems will become apparant quickly. I'll be amazed if it's knackered already. Ill wait and see how things are with this before parting with my cash for an Up from them.

Thanks again, CW

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