DarkHorizons Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Hi, I hope there's some petrol heads on here who may be able to shed some light on a problem I'm having. I have a 2008 Audi A3 S Line TDI, it's recently started developing like a resistance. Basically, it seems to move normally in 1st gear but once you go into the higher gears the revs build but the MPH is extremely slow to follow. There was a smell of burn coming from under the bonnet earlier after driving a little. I recently painted the calipers and was worried the paint may have seized the brakes, jacked it up on each corner and manually spun the wheels and they spin freely. I put it into 4th with the handbrake on and was able to fully release the clutch and build 3k revs without stalling. Can someone confirm is this is 99% a clutch problem? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Overlord Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Yup, sounds like the clutch to me, when was it last replaced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHorizons Posted June 29, 2013 Author Share Posted June 29, 2013 Yup, sounds like the clutch to me, when was it last replaced? It's never been replaced since I bought it 5 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami- Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 It's never been replaced since I bought it 5 years ago. Time to get it done then ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian M. Veteran Posted July 2, 2013 Veteran Share Posted July 2, 2013 How many miles have you done? It's quite rare for a clutch to go in 5 years unless it's been hammered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetonesun Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 The best test for a slipping clutch is to go out on the highway (or a main road), put it in top gear at lowish RPMs, then floor it. If the tach clearly jumps, the clutch is slipping. If the car pulls without jumping RPMs, it's not the clutch. Also, clutch burning has a very distinct smell compared to other types of burning, if you have a nose for it. If it doesn't slip on the highway, it's possible one of your filters (air, more likely) has something blocking it, preventing the car from getting enough air at higher speeds. It's also possible, since you have a TDI, that something is wrong with the turbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo1911 Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Sounds like clutch is on it's way out. Get it checked by a professional and replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
He's Dead Jim Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 If you can release the clutch in gear with the car standing still then the clutch is gubbed. How many miles? Are you "riding" the clutch pedal when you are driving? that wouldnt help, and would cause excess wear, as would slipping the clutch while driving round town instead of changing to a lower gear, Also burnouts, or driving in too high a gear for the speed over prolonged mileage The Evil Overlord 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philcruicks Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Sounds like the clutch to me, I had a very similar issue in my last car, pulled okish in 1st, but if I put my foot down in 2nd or 3rd as you described rev's would go up (faster than normal), but speed would increase far more slowly than normal...get it into a garage.. Mine was in an old car so I just kept going and eventually the clutch exploded and I lost all my gears had to get recovered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggis Veteran Posted July 4, 2013 Veteran Share Posted July 4, 2013 Also, clutch burning has a very distinct smell compared to other types of burning, if you have a nose for it. If it doesn't slip on the highway, it's possible one of your filters (air, more likely) has something blocking it, preventing the car from getting enough air at higher speeds. It's also possible, since you have a TDI, that something is wrong with the turbo. as threetonesun said a burning /slipping clutch is a very distinct smell A3 is popular so clutch wont be that expensive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philcruicks Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 as threetonesun said a burning /slipping clutch is a very distinct smell A3 is popular so clutch wont be that expensive Except its an Audi which makes is a nice expensive German part, and the Sline model may have a nicer clutch than the standard A3... Either way its the fitting (labour costs) that will kill you, I think my last replacement was about ?80 for the clutch and then several hundred for the labour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggis Veteran Posted July 4, 2013 Veteran Share Posted July 4, 2013 Except its an Audi which makes is a nice expensive German part, and the Sline model may have a nicer clutch than the standard A3... Either way its the fitting (labour costs) that will kill you, I think my last replacement was about ?80 for the clutch and then several hundred for the labour. Clutch kit from euro car parts is ?120 roughly would get it cheaper on ebay Diesel engines are notorious for replacing clutches it can sometimes be a full day job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvid19 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Is the engine running stock or has it been remapped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetonesun Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Except its an Audi which makes is a nice expensive German part, and the Sline model may have a nicer clutch than the standard A3... Either way its the fitting (labour costs) that will kill you, I think my last replacement was about ?80 for the clutch and then several hundred for the labour. Right, clutches are cheap, it's getting it put in, and hoping it gets done correctly, that costs a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Thom Vee Subscriber² Posted July 6, 2013 Subscriber² Share Posted July 6, 2013 I have a Golf TDI (2006), and had the same problem. Had to have the clutch and the dual mass flywheel replaced with a single mass flywheel. Cost me about $1700 CDN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Except its an Audi which makes is a nice expensive German part, and the Sline model may have a nicer clutch than the standard A3... Either way its the fitting (labour costs) that will kill you, I think my last replacement was about ?80 for the clutch and then several hundred for the labour. Sline will have the same clutch... sline is just the trim! Just had the clutch and DMF replaced on my mondeo ST220 = ?600! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts