Am I being ripped off over a bad clutch replacement?

lizeredbird · #1 01-31-2005, 10:13 PM

I just am at the end of my rope. I dont know jack about cars except where the gas and oil goes.2 days ago I had my clutch replaced in my 95 escort 5 speed 1.9. today while i was accelerating from 1st gear at a light I heard CLUNK RATTLE RATTLE. I swear to god I thought something was comming from under the hood to kill me. I drove to the transmission clutch place and left the car to be looked at.Now they called and asked do I want my transmission pulled because that where the horrible noise is coming from..The transmission has never even clunked before. Hell the thing has never even whined.When i picked it up they told me i had a very miner master cylinder leak and to pick one up from my dad(parts manager) and they would put it in. they said everything else brakes etc.. looked good. Could they have caused a problem by putting the new clutch in wrong? I swear Ive never heard a peek out of the tranny before. I have so much other crap going on right now I just cant handle being screwed with. Liz

GTP Dad · #2 02-01-2005, 05:55 AM

Since you have a manual, did anything change in the way the car shifted other than the noise? Usually when a manual transmission goes out it will either refuse to go into gear or the transmission will make a grinding sound and one gear or all gears will not function properly. Have the clutch place drop the inspection cover and check the clutch. It is easy to do and far less expensive than dropping a transmission. If they have it up on a lift then have them run the car in gear to see if they can find where the noise is coming from. This sounds more to me like and axle shaft problem than a transmission problem. As for your question, they could have messed something up replacing the clutch but it is doubtful if the transmission is involved. Take it to another shop that you trust and get a second opinion before you do anything else.

lizeredbird · #3 02-03-2005, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

Since you have a manual, did anything change in the way the car shifted other than the noise? Usually when a manual transmission goes out it will either refuse to go into gear or the transmission will make a grinding sound and one gear or all gears will not function properly. Have the clutch place drop the inspection cover and check the clutch. It is easy to do and far less expensive than dropping a transmission. If they have it up on a lift then have them run the car in gear to see if they can find where the noise is coming from. This sounds more to me like and axle shaft problem than a transmission problem. As for your question, they could have messed something up replacing the clutch but it is doubtful if the transmission is involved. Take it to another shop that you trust and get a second opinion before you do anything else.

I called them today to see if they looked at it yet and they said the rebuild was almost done. they said something about a throw out bearing and some other stuff I dont understand. I asked how much it was going to cost( I didnt tell them to do anything but look at it) they said not as much as I'd think because they were going to forget the labor costs. Apparently it will be finished tomorrow and i still havent the slightest idea what was wrong or how much it will cost. Liz

lizeredbird · #4 02-09-2005, 01:19 AM

I got the car back from the shop and they put a new transmission in and only charged me 350$ i think that was what the thing cost then. there were no labor charges so im guessing it was probably their fault but the transmission did have 170,000 on it so it isnt like they were going to give me the new one . clutch seems fine, so im happy. this car has been such a joy and never given me any problems.it doesnt burn oil and you still cant even hear the thing when its running. Hell the engine still looks pretty clean. I'm just so relieved to have my baby back.Maybe i should make an effort to find out something about automobiles and how they work.then i wouldnt have to have a cow everytime something goes wrong. Liz

GTP Dad · #5 02-09-2005, 05:30 AM

I think you were very lucky to find a shop who was willing to rebuild your transmission for such a reasonable price. Most shops have a hard time admitting they made a mistake and are even less likely to repair something at cost. I would suggest that you recommend this place to all your friends if they need transmission service because they are one of a kind.

UnexplodedCow · #6 03-08-2005, 04:50 PM

Usually the trannies don't go like that. They said they replaced a throwout bearing....that's clutch related, so they probably pulled another clutch job on it. 350 still isn't that bad. It's around 400 for me to have one done, so I do my own work.

javatrooper · #7 03-10-2005, 10:29 AM

if they did a clutch job, the throwout bearing should have been replaced as part of the job. Sounds like they blew it and they knew it. are you sure they put in a new tranny? or just replaced the throwout bearing?
Pick up a escort repair mfanual. Even if you don't do your own work, you will have a much better understanding about whats going on. They even include a trouble shooting section to help you diagnose the problem. They only run about $20 and will pay for itself immediately.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD