Bought a used car >30 days ago, manual clutch already gone - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

BloodFetish · 03-05-2013, 02:06 PM

Car in question is a 2009 Mazda 3 hatchback with 37,000km, purchased from an Audi dealer in greater Vancouver.

The car drove fine in our road test, but now just over four weeks later the clutch has worn out on it. One of those weeks we were in Disney World, so really only three weeks driving time.

A Mazda dealer test drove the car, confirmed the problem and gave me a quote for $1500.

I wouldn't claim to be hard on the clutch (our trade-in was pushing 220K on it's original clutch), but I can certainly see the dealers viewpoint - the car has been out of their control for 3+ weeks driven god-knows-how.

My question: should the dealer who sold me the car bear any responsibility seeing as this could be a preexisting condition before the sale? I waiting on their return call, but in the meantime thought I'd ask the CP braintrust.

REDVAN · 03-05-2013, 02:08 PM

Depends if they offered you any warranty. Sometimes you get one when you buy used, sometimes you don't.

I'd try to get money from them, but don't be surprised if they try to make it difficult...

Ozy_Flame · 03-05-2013, 02:10 PM

I think if you drove it long-distance and it's been three weeks already, you might be hooped. However, if they had inspection reports that said the clutch was not in need of repair (due to wear and tear) when you bought it , you might have a fighting chance. That is assuming you really didn't do anything to the clutch out of the ordinary.

CaptainCrunch · 03-05-2013, 02:10 PM

Pylon would probably be the best guy to answer this, but I would assume that there was an inspection report on the vehicle either before you bought it or a pre-isnpection when you bought it.

37,000 seems awefully low for a clutch to be worn out unless the previous driver drove with the clutch pushed down all the time.

Unfortunately the clutch is a wearable part so its not covered under the warranty for the vehicle.

I don't see where the dealer would have to do anything.

DownhillGoat · 03-05-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

37,000 seems awefully low for a clutch to be worn out unless the previous driver drove with the clutch pushed down all the time.

Seems awefully low even if they did. I don't think I've wore one out under 100k, and I'm certainly not gentle on them.

To the OP, unfortunate that it wore out that early, but being a wear and tear item, I have my doubts that there's any recourse.

CaptainCrunch · 03-05-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Seems awefully low even if they did. I don't think I've wore one out under 100k, and I'm certainly not gentle on them.

To the OP, unfortunate that it wore out that early, but being a wear and tear item, I have my doubts that there's any recourse.

I've had clutches last for the whole life of a car, the only clutch I ever had go bad was an old Hyundai with a cable clutch.

Don't most lots give a 30 day warranty on used car purchases? Again though wear and tear issues probably wouldn't apply.

Bill Bumface · 03-05-2013, 02:28 PM

Clutches are a funny one. It could have been in horrible shape when you bought it, but there is no way to tell really until they start slipping. For it to go at 37,000km I think someone would have been beating on that car really bad during break-in period. It's really, really tough to kill a clutch that fast, but if you are launching hard on a brand new clutch before it mates to the flywheel, you can murder one really quick.

BloodFetish · 03-05-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Depends if they offered you any warranty. Sometimes you get one when you buy used, sometimes you don't.

I'd try to get money from them, but don't be surprised if they try to make it difficult...

We don't have one a warranty in our case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I think if you drove it long-distance and it's been three weeks already, you might be hooped. However, if they had inspection reports that said the clutch was not in need of repair (due to wear and tear) when you bought it , you might have a fighting chance. That is assuming you really didn't do anything to the clutch out of the ordinary.

Just back and forth to work. There was an inspection report done but I didn't get a copy unfortunately. I can't recall if the clutch was inspected. Hopefully the dealer will still admit to having the report.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Pylon would probably be the best guy to answer this, but I would assume that there was an inspection report on the vehicle either before you bought it or a pre-isnpection when you bought it.

37,000 seems awefully low for a clutch to be worn out unless the previous driver drove with the clutch pushed down all the time.

Unfortunately the clutch is a wearable part so its not covered under the warranty for the vehicle.

I don't see where the dealer would have to do anything.

Well, the previous driver was a woman... (just kidding, ladies!) Yeah, I expect I could be S.O.O.L. At the very least I hope to convince the dealer to throw in the labour if I buy the parts.

Can anyone comment on the $1500 quote (which is about 50-50 parts and labour) for repair? Seems pretty high to me.

CaptainCrunch · 03-05-2013, 02:31 PM

for a clutch repair? It sounds about right for the type of car.

Ozy_Flame · 03-05-2013, 02:37 PM

Wait a minute . . . Did you as for a Car Fax?

Jbo · 03-05-2013, 02:39 PM

I had something similar happen on my Jetta when I first bought it. Had it about a month and a half.

The dealer will argue a) wearable part and b) It was in fine condition when you drove out.

I repaired mine at my cost and haven't had an issue in the 150K since. Good luck.

BloodFetish · 03-05-2013, 02:42 PM

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

It's kind of what I figured but I don't buy cars all the time so I don't know all the ins and outs.

Frank the Tank · 03-05-2013, 02:51 PM

Check the Beeter Business Bureau and see if there are similar complaints against the dealer.

CaptainCrunch · 03-05-2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Wait a minute . . . Did you as for a Car Fax?

I'm going to come across as stupid here. But here I go

How would a Car Fax show that?

Northendzone · 03-05-2013, 02:54 PM

i'd approach the dealer you bought it from - start with your sales consutlant, of the used car manager.

i'd expect that if you use some honey, you should be able to work out a 50/50 cost share deal

Ozy_Flame · 03-05-2013, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm going to come across as stupid here. But here I go

How would a Car Fax show that?

I have no idea. All I know is that I'm supposed to ask for one according to the commercial

BloodFetish · 03-05-2013, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm going to come across as stupid here. But here I go

How would a Car Fax show that?

I saw his smiley face and didn't take the bait!

Dealer provided a CarProof report, though. No mention of the clutch on there

Bring_Back_Shantz · 03-05-2013, 03:13 PM

Not sure any sort of inspection report will do you any good.
The only way they would be able to say the clutch is in great shape would be to pull it apart which they obviously wouldn't do.
Even if they did that, it can really only go two ways:

1) The report says the clutch is about to go. You're SOL because it was right there in the report
2) The report says the clutch is in good shape. You're SOL becasue you've had the car for a month and they have every right to say it was your driving that wrecked the clutch.

It's a used car, buyer beware.

DownhillGoat · 03-05-2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

Can anyone comment on the $1500 quote (which is about 50-50 parts and labour) for repair? Seems pretty high to me.

That's actually reasonable to pretty cheap, especially if this is at a dealership. I did mine (almost 2 years ago now) for $1400, through a fantastic indy. A buddy of mine had his done (I realize none of these are the same car, but it gives you an idea) for just north of $1800, also through an indy.

BloodFetish · 03-05-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

That's actually reasonable to pretty cheap, especially if this is at a dealership. I did mine (almost 2 years ago now) for $1400, through a fantastic indy. A buddy of mine had his done (I realize none of these are the same car, but it gives you an idea) for just north of $1800, also through an indy.

Thanks and this leads me to another question.

Can anyone recommend a good independant shop that could do this work in the greater Vancouver area?