Before I call the dealership....

[HBG35Coupe]

Ok, so I had a clutch put in about 3-4 weeks ago, or something like that. I drove it for a week and parked now, and now when I drive it i'm getting a messed up clatter from the car until I push the clutch it. He said he replaced the throwout bearring, so i'm guessing thats not it. Sometimes it grinds going into second at higher RPMs too. Do you think it could be transmission problems, or be the install of the clutch?

I'm not real mechanically inclined so i have no f'n idea.

Thanks up front!

[rn79870]

Call the dealer. It sounds (like) it needs their attention.
Modified by rn79870 at 2:10 PM 2/6/2008

[champagneG35]

In my opinion I would take it right back to the guy who put the clutch in since it was only 3-4 weeks and have him look at it/test drive it first. If he's any good and cares about your repeated business he should do this for free since it started after his work was done, now if there's something else wrong unrelated to his work then he may tell you it's going to cost x amount to repair and ask your permission to go ahead or not.

If he is going to charge you anyway reguarless of wether he cause it or not then go to the dealer since they know the car better, only reason I say go to the shop that put the clutch in first is because the dealer is going to charge you no questions asked to repair someone elses screw up but the shop should do it for free if they screwed up.

My 2 cents, in any event good luck with it

[telcoman]

Ok, so I had a clutch put in about 3-4 weeks ago, or something like that. I drove it for a week and parked now, and now when I drive it i'm getting a messed up clatter from the car until I push the clutch it. He said he replaced the throwout bearring, so i'm guessing thats not it. Sometimes it grinds going into second at higher RPMs too. Do you think it could be transmission problems, or be the install of the clutch?

I'm not real mechanically inclined so i have no f'n idea.

Thanks up front!

HBG35Coupe

Welcome to NICO

I had a similar experience a few years ago with a timing belt replacement on my 1988 Mazda 929 5 speed. I ended up having to go to the dealer but i was able to get my money refunded on my credit card from the $sshole independent shop that screwed up my car.Unfortunately your experience happens far too often using independent shops that either hire inexperienced poorly trained people and use perhaps inferior parts so they chage less than a dealer. Trying to save money by avoiding the dealer sometimes becomes a huge hassle. I usually check labor rates & in many cases the dealer is not that much more money. You sometimes can purchase the parts from the dealer yourself & give them to the service advisor for installation and save a little money that way.

Getting back to your problem, I hope you paid by credit card preferabily one that doubles warranties? Go back to the shop that did the work and give them an opportunity to fix the problem. If they fail to repair it properly go to the dealer and have the dealer put in writing what was done incorrectly. Failure to perform proper workmanship is grounds for a refund on your charge card as well as a claim in small claims court.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

Telcoman

[ArizonaG35]

HBG35Coupe

Welcome to NICO

I had a similar experience a few years ago with a timing belt replacement on my 1988 Mazda 929 5 speed. I ended up having to go to the dealer but i was able to get my money refunded on my credit card from the $sshole independent shop that screwed up my car.Unfortunately your experience happens far too often using independent shops that either hire inexperienced poorly trained people and use perhaps inferior parts so they chage less than a dealer. Trying to save money by avoiding the dealer sometimes becomes a huge hassle. I usually check labor rates & in many cases the dealer is not that much more money. You sometimes can purchase the parts from the dealer yourself & give them to the service advisor for installation and save a little money that way.

Getting back to your problem, I hope you paid by credit card preferabily one that doubles warranties? Go back to the shop that did the work and give them an opportunity to fix the problem. If they fail to repair it properly go to the dealer and have the dealer put in writing what was done incorrectly. Failure to perform proper workmanship is grounds for a refund on your charge card as well as a claim in small claims court.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

Telcoman

Listen to the infinately wise Telcoman! I assure you he speaks from experience... you need to at least give the original guy a chance to correct the issue, but you also need to C.Y.A in the meantime and DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT everything! Take a small tape recorder with you... I do this to people all the time in meetings... I'll set down a tape recorder on the conference table and say "you don't mind if I record this do you?" They're much more likely to be straight forward and honest with you if they know that their statements may come up in court later... Don't let this mechanics faulty work become your problem. Make clear and concise notes about every conversation with the mechanic because you may not know if he is a sheister or not! Just my $.02

Keep us posted...Dave

[telcoman]

Listen to the infinately wise Telcoman! I assure you he speaks from experience... you need to at least give the original guy a chance to correct the issue, but you also need to C.Y.A in the meantime and DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT everything! Take a small tape recorder with you... I do this to people all the time in meetings... I'll set down a tape recorder on the conference table and say "you don't mind if I record this do you?" They're much more likely to be straight forward and honest with you if they know that their statements may come up in court later... Don't let this mechanics faulty work become your problem. Make clear and concise notes about every conversation with the mechanic because you may not know if he is a sheister or not! Just my $.02

Keep us posted...Dave

Excellent advice arizonaferrell

And for the new younger members here, never pay cash or check for any work on your vehicle in trying to save a few bucks.Get yourself a credit card preferably one that doubles a warranty. Never use a debit card.Pay your credit card bill in full every month. At the end of each year, your year end statement will show all your repairs, gas, etc.If anyone does shoddy work on your car, a written dispute of the charge to your credit card issuer can get you a refund without resorting to small claims court. The credit card company issues a charge back to the merchant and you get your money back.As automobiles become more and more complex and more expensive every year it takes well trained technicians having proper tools and diagnostic equipment to do repairs. Training is very expensive. One week of training can easily cost three to five thousand dollars. Add a flight, hotel, meals, rental car, and a weeks salary to attend and it is easy to understand why dealers have to charge the customer over $100 per hour.

Independent shops are unlikely to send their employees for factory training and are less likely to do background or drug testing on their employees. After spending $30k to $40k on a vehicle would anyone want someone poorly trained,possibly high on drugs using perhaps inferior parts working on their G?I wouldn't!

Telcoman