HI All, wonder if you can maybe help me with my Stilo clutch.

I've not had the car long & bought it from a dealer. It therefore comes with a 2 month warranty against issues.

O briefly test drove it. Seemed fine and then I went back to collect it a week after. I drove it 40 miles home and no issue.

The next drive out was about 60 miles. Initially it was okay but then towards the end of the drive the clutch started sticking to the floor. Clearly not how it should be & potentially dangerous.

I rang the dealer and took it back the week after. They adjusted it and said they were now happy. But it still didn't feel quite right to me. I and the car checked over a couple of days after, which brings us to last week.

The mechanic has told me that the clutch is worn and also slips under load. I've told the dealer and he's now trying to dig his heels in. I'm going back on Saturday but I'm just wondering if anyone can show me:

A) What a worn clutch looks like

B) What the clutch should look like instead.

No doubt he is just gonna try fob me off again. But I'll be having none of it. I'll take him through Trading Standards & a small claims court if need be. He isn't getting away with it.

If the pedal stays down, adjusting it will not address the fault.

If they've now adjusted it too tight, it will slip.

The clutch is hidden, you cannot see it unless it is taken out. A worn centreplate will be obvious. So no point in 'showing' you one.

When you say you've had it checked, and 'the mechanic says it is slipping' is this a second opinion, or the seller's mechanic?

Back at the seller, just be firm about it not being right. Don't threaten trading standards, or he'll probably throw you out.

If a clutch is sticking down, it's probably more hydraulically related, usually a sticking slave cylinder is the culprit.

portland_bill said:

If they've now adjusted it too tight, it will slip.

When you say you've had it checked, and 'the mechanic says it is slipping' is this a second opinion, or the seller's mechanic?

Back at the seller, just be firm about it not being right. Don't threaten trading standards, or he'll probably throw you out.

Click to expand...

I reported it sticking, they adjusted it . Then the mechanic reported it slipping . It is a second opinion .

Seller got quite shirty and defensive straight away when I called him. Insisted it was fine and he wouldn't replace it unless he had to.

Obviously trading standards and court are the last resort. But yeah I know not to mention. It'll just make the conversation a bit more frosty. I'd rather go away and then report him afterwards .

mrcinquecento said:

If a clutch is sticking down, it's probably more hydraulically related, usually a sticking slave cylinder is the culprit.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Hopefully he'll do something properly about it this time.

If it is hydraulic, it is not adjustable. You can only adjust cable clutches. So what exactly does he think he adjusted?

If hydraulic, it is likely that it has a plastic master cylinder, like the Panda. When these wear, they will often cause the pedal to stick down. Replacement of the master cylinder is the only fix for that. If the clutch is slipping, that will also need to be replaced, unless the mechanic has somehow managed to "adjust" something that keeps it from fully engaging. (Like holding your foot on the pedal)

This was it .Clean stuck down. He said that a pivot was sticking and that they'd adjusted and lubricated it.

It felt better for a short while .But on the next outing it felt a bit off .As a comparison my van has done roughly the same miles (36) and the clutch is soon and moves fluidly. Mine doesn't. It's kinda stiff.

Thanks for the reply bill . Any more info is appreciated.

A sticking clutch can be anything

It could be mechanical pedal wise - a broken plastic collar or spring means it doesn't come up smoothly

It could be a sticky cable - or a damaged seal in the slave/master cylinder

It could be a damaged release bearing thats getting stuck IN the pressure plate

It could be a broken lug off the release bearing causing it to fail to retract

- It could be alot of things, there just a few
The only way to find out - is to pull it out and inspect it
But tbh, at that point, i'd stick a new clutch in

Ziggy

ePER, the parts lookup system suggests it is a hydraulic system.

Pedal sticking down is not usually due to the pivot, so lubricating it did nothing. I don't believe there is anything to 'adjust' at the pedal. It either needs a new master cylinder, or if there is a mechanical fault with the clutch itself, a new clutch. Anything less is just hoping!

Bill I think it is hydraulic rather then a cable. I'm sure reading elsewhere on here that the Stilo clutch operates this way.

I'm due to see the dealer again tomorrow. He was on the defensive straight away. It just doesn't feel nice. I took it out for a decent run tonight from Birmingham to Wolverhampton on the m6, then back along the A or B roads...It didn't stick but the force at which it comes back up seems a lot. I also could feel it 'notching' ever so slightly as well.

I'm not sure what a slipping clutch feels like, but my Mechanic says when he drove it he found it. Unfortunately he is on holiday until next week..

Bill how much would a cylinder or new clutch be?

As an update.

I took it to the dealer this morning. He took it out for a spin and said he couldn't find the clutch slipping or sticking. Told me that clutches are not under warranty etc. Made out he's a soft/nice guy and has done 2 of them this month for other people... Does he not think that his mechanic may be missing issues then!

I said id ask my mechanic for a more detailed explanation of what he'd found. Drove off.. Within a few miles.... Whilst entering a multi story car park...clutch was sticking again.

Rang him up. Told him the issue and that I have photographic proof of it sticking. Put my foot down (pun not intended). He's having it back to look over properly and hopefully he'll give me something from his lot to go home and back in. I'm not getting the train...

Edwardo85 said:

I've not had the car long & bought it from a dealer. It therefore comes with a 2 month warranty against issues.

I drove it 40 miles home and no issue.

The next drive out was about 60 miles. Initially it was okay but then towards the end of the drive the clutch started sticking to the floor.

Click to expand...

Edwardo85 said:

I took it to the dealer this morning. He took it out for a spin and said he couldn't find the clutch slipping or sticking. Told me that clutches are not under warranty etc.

Click to expand...

You've had it for a very short time, everything is his responsibility. He fixes it, or he gives you your money back.