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“My first thoughts after buying the car were all...”

written by ianmurwald on 03/04/2010

My first thoughts after buying the car were all possitive, but after the first M.O.T. into the fourth year and a mileage of only 48000 miles I've had to have the clutch and flywheel renewed. Not cheep!! The garage owner said that this is a common problem with not only Vauxhall but all new cars which have the "floating flywheel" fitted, he quoted Ford aswell. Not being a mechanic myself - he explained that the floating flyweel has two plates the smaller of which moves as the clutch plate makes contact resulting in a smoother clutch pickup. (in my day we use to call this clutch control!!!) Anyway what happens is after about four years the mechanism between the two flyweel plates breaks up allowing the plates to rattle together, messing up the clutch in the process and if left breaks up the flywheel. I think this is a design fault and should be recognised my all car manufacturers who fit this type of flywheel. Has anyone els had this problem? the more people who report it then something might get done!