No clutch!

Post by **GlynRS2** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:15 pm

I went to the RS4 this morning, it started fine but I could not select any gears!
The clutch pressure felt normal, but I was baulked out of every gear. Turn the engine off and with the clutch depressed it will go into all gears just fine. However, nothing with the engine running.
It was raining very hard on the way home last night, but I didn't go through any standing water or puddles. Not a hint of any problem yesterday and then it has been sitting in a dehumidified garage overnight.
Car has now been recovered to Audi and I am in an A6 - awaiting news.
The general provisional diagnosis is that the clutch plate has seized to the flywheel possibly due to the ingress of moisture.
The car has only done just over 6,000 miles too. I know others have had clutch issues, but I have never had any trouble at all until now other than some slight juddering after engaging first when cold. Like I say the clutch pedal behaves as normal so it is unlikely to be the servo pipe others have had issues with in the past.
The plan is for a new clutch & flywheel at this stage, but I will let you know what happens.
Any others had similar issues?

Post by **RS4_B7** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:11 pm

my car now has done over 60,000 km , my clutch has no problems , but i had chenged it 3 times because with only two or three trackdays it will be burned

i don't know if there is a GOOD aftermarket clutch for the RS4 or not , if there is , i will have it as soon as i can because the std. clutch is ((((RUBBISH)))) specialy in hot weather

Post by **Jezzer** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:28 pm

Hi Glyn
I experienced at weekend for the first time real hard selection of the gears until the car had started to warm up. The car had been in the garage for over a week and a half without being turned over. I went for a 35 mile drive and on the return journey seemed to be okay but not smooth as it has been in the past. My car is at 7k miles.

Post by **W8PMC** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:43 pm

I must be very lucky then, as i've tracked & vmax'd mine several times & to date only one slight clutch problem which appeared to be more a limiter/esp/wouldn't blow the clutch problem. Mines still perfect after 17K miles.

Post by **alex_123_fra** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:15 pm

I'd be very surprised if moisture caused your issue. Either way, they ought to replace it under warranty.

Mine has 23k miles and never had any isses. Gear selection/feel on the RS4 clutch/gearbox is one of the best I've ever experienced. The best being an NSX-R and my '03 civic type-R.

Good luck with it.

Post by **tartan_rob** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:41 am

Yes, please keep us posted on how it goes.

Post by **GlynRS2** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:54 pm

Well I have an update, but don't have my car back.

Apparently water had got into the bell housing and caused the clutch to bind to the flywheel due to corrosion. Not sure how that could have happened. Other than driving in some very wet weather recently the car is always parked in a dehumidified garage regulated to a max 50% humidity!
Anyway clutch has all been replaced under warranty.
Whilst the car was up with the subframe off the tech noticed that the front offside shock absorber was leaking oil. This would explain the occasional knock that I had noticed from the suspension on the front near side in the past week or so - I had thought it was possibly a weak top mount. However, as I had only experienced it a couple of times I had not mentioned it. So new damper unit has been ordered that hopefully will be in on Tuesday. The service manager was not happy with the courtesy car I had been given, so took a brand new Q7 out of the showroom with 10 miles on the clock, which is what I now have on the drive.
So far I have had very impressive service from Audi Worthing; hopefully this bodes well to getting the car back well sorted next week.

Post by **Pig** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:08 pm

Nice to see a good outcome

Post by **RS4Molar** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:23 am

GlynG60 wrote:Well I have an update, but don't have my car back.

Apparently water had got into the bell housing and caused the clutch to bind to the flywheel due to corrosion. Not sure how that could have happened. Other than driving in some very wet weather recently the car is always parked in a dehumidified garage regulated to a max 50% humidity!
Anyway clutch has all been replaced under warranty.
Whilst the car was up with the subframe off the tech noticed that the front offside shock absorber was leaking oil. This would explain the occasional knock that I had noticed from the suspension on the front near side in the past week or so - I had thought it was possibly a weak top mount. However, as I had only experienced it a couple of times I had not mentioned it. So new damper unit has been ordered that hopefully will be in on Tuesday. The service manager was not happy with the courtesy car I had been given, so took a brand new Q7 out of the showroom with 10 miles on the clock, which is what I now have on the drive.
So far I have had very impressive service from Audi Worthing; hopefully this bodes well to getting the car back well sorted next week.

Remember to bed the clutch in, short shift and don't ride the clutch on take off. very easy to do.
No launches. ha ha ha!!!

Post by **GlynRS2** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:37 pm

Aye, I will have to be gentle with it for a while.

Post by **GlynRS2** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:56 pm

Update report:
Got the car back today all sorted.
Overall an excellent customer service experience from Audi Worthing too.

Post by **quattrokid1** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:32 pm

and you still have the Q7

Post by **GlynRS2** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:46 pm

No they wanted the Q7 back - I was surprised by how much I like the big old bus.
Nice to be back in the RS4 - boy it feels good

Post by **jonp** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:49 pm

76,000 miles, still on the same clutch - no probs - touch wood

JonP

RS246.com Forum :: The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS Enthusiast Community

No clutch!

No clutch!

RE: No clutch!

Who is online