Greetings,

37,000KM on my 2007 vantage ASM.

Last week I noticed my upshifts started 'lagging' - meaning, I'd upshift and instead of a rather instant change, the engine would rev a bit...then the gear would engage. This was especially terrifying on the highway going from 3-4th etc. Downshifts seem to work fine.

After a few days of this..last night I was driving to a stop, put it in N and tried to shift into 1st, and it wouldn't engage. I stopped/started the engine a few times to learn the clutch and it finally got into 1st.

This is the first time this has happened to the car. I would hear an occasional griding under the body in 1st gear that would go away after a while but it came back last week and now I think the clutch and/or transmission is finally dead.

During my last service my dealer said the clutch was dying.. so my question is, is that a sign of a dead clutch or is it a some other transmission issue?

Dealer wants 9k for the replacement

 

Also I will add - most of the KM is nasty city driving, stop start in 1st/2nd... up / down in steep parking garages - basically everything that people say will kill a clutch is what I'm forced to drive daily

 

Quick question - have you done the clutch relearn process lately?

 

You need to find another dealership. Mine usually charges about $3500-4000 US for a clutch replacement. $9K sounds outrageous.

 

I learn it once every-time I start the car, but I have never done the 3-4 times start/stop procedure before..

 

Tell me about it... but in the GTA toronto there is only one and can't find any good independent shops

 

We've got a few Toronto-based members on here, maybe one of them can point you to a better option.

 

The local NJ shop quoted me $6.2k USD for a clutch change.

The local indie ferrari shop quoted me a range from $4.5K - $6k.

A friend who runs a race shop and does maintenance for the local exotic rental place quoted me $1.8k in labor.

 

That sounds like the clutch gone. Similar behavior to mine. 2 weeks later, it left me stranded (the car won't even start the engine). Change it soon unless you like having your car towed.
My clutch was ~4$k from an indy.

 

Does anyone know how many shop hours there are for this job? What is involved in the job that drives the labor so high?

 

Hey dmose, I am new to the form and AM as well but here is a couple of indy shops ppl have been posting about for our cars. I haven't tried any yet but have to do my annual service soon.

http://www.samsgarage.aaro.ca/

http://www.euautowerks.com/

http://speedstar.com/euro/

 

You need to first remove the transaxle, then the torque tube assembly to finally reach the clutch...
I don't know the precise hours involved, but there is a lot of "labor" involved to reach the clutch and flywheel assembly, which is why the cost is high.

The torque tube design is essentially a "fixed" drive line vs. the more common "open" (hotchkiss) drive line (for rear wheel drive vehicles).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_tube

 

So an update..

I managed to get the car to dealer its 1st to 2nd was super rough and stalled at one point while driving. I had to restart a few times just to get it into first.

Anyhow, they came back and quoted $6700 CAD for parts + 16 hour labor..not that bad

 

Not that bad? Dealer here in California was $5100 (P/L)

 

Would still like to know what book rate is for labor. Prices are all over the map for what should be a known R&R.

I come from Porsches where labor rates aren't cheap but compared to this job they are. For the rates talked about here your can drop and replace a Porsche motor. The reason I ask is I am considering getting a used Vantage and will only consider a manual. Clutch replacement is a cost of ownership. Is everything else just as bad? I just figured, how much worse could it be than a pcar?