RICHARD J

iTrader: (4)

I have not dealt with Eclipse & have had no dealings with them, but I thought I'd mention that I know there are QC issues with Exedy clutches & high pedal & judder are fairly common. Pedal adjustment helps but is not a cure. After being a victim of a poor quality Exedy myself I won't buy another one.

Scooby B

iTrader: (2)

My bad, didn't realise that.

steviechi

iTrader: (2)

OK to add some additional facts to make the story longer..

Checked out on this site 'Problems with Exedy clutch' - see discussion here [also because of Clutch trash? due to flywheel being too light + WRONG type of Exedy clutch being fitted for my road use]

Eclipse have said to me in emails
1) there is no adjustment available on a subaru impreza clutch

Strange the Subaru dealership garage I tool the car to the first time it broke down due to no drive
a) found some adjustment in the pedal, and adjusted it enough to restore some drive (maybe this can be one problem - eclipse didnt know about clutch adjustment?)
and also told me something was 'seriously' wrong with the clutch
the clutch return spring was not fitted
clutch arm was bent (maybe Eclipse did this because of point a) ie - they didn't know there was adjustment under the pedal?)

So I rebooked the car in to Eclipse (which AGAIN they told me they didn't have the parts in and available [after being supplied the wrong parts the first time - damn unlucky but considering they claim they do 'hundreds of Impreza Exedy clutches a year they have no stock when other local garages have loads in stock... figure that one...) but that they might 'rub down my flywheel with emery paper cos it looks OK) [after they said in the per-sales blurb Exedy warranty will need a new flywheel - hence them initially going for their flywheel).
[Who knows about flywheels? Can an expert tell me if its acceptable to look at a flywheel and rub it down with emery paper - or is it maybe better to get it refaced to manufacturers tolerances? PLEASE EXPERT COMMENT?
Additionally I was planning extra work to the car (TD05, Exhaust, rollbars etc)(hence the need for the clutch) and was advised by Eclipse that a full decat system would pass MOT emission with some additives [EXPERT COMMENT PLEASE]

So in the meantime needed other work doing to the car and asked ANOTHER Subaru specialist do the turbo and the (Prodrive Sportscat) and exhaust system + other stuff. Clutch failed (again) in their car park when parking in the snow so asked them to also look at clutch.

This Subaru mechanic said
Clutch plate looked excessively worn for a 1000mile 8week clutch.
Clutch cover 'looked old' and 'seems to be wrong' compared to what a new cover always looks like and different to all those he keeps in stock.
Flywheel was unusable due to high spots which were shown as heat spots.

After this revelation I asked same garage to check timing belt and they found the Timing belt had an 1" wide wear mark through the back (untoothed) side of the belt and it was about to go due to tensioner cover being fitted incorrectly.

So back on to Eclipse who (and I have the emails to support this) change takt to from full warranty repair costs to manufacturers warranty.... Now this little nugget means a lot (Because I was talking to Exedy UK for some time since my initial Exedy posts on here) and new clutch cost would not be covered by Exedy warranty if flywheel was faulty which was obviously part of the problem.... and if the car was towed back to Eclipse it would also be at my cost....)

So if im honest to use a phrase someone used about Eclipse I wouldn't trust them to fix a shopping trolley.

Eclipse turned down point blank the offer to just reimburse me for the faulty parts costs (clutch, flywheel and timing belt).

So this is most of the story I can remember for now....
Will post pictures to support my claim when I collect car on Saturday...
Will wait for experts to answer my questions....
Will see some of you at future Scooby meets where the parts will be shown (if the trading standards don't need them)

Now, I ask anyone would you have Eclipse 'work their magic' on it some more.... or would you instead take the legal route to recoup some money....

I know I wouldn't feel safe with a 370 bhp Andy Forrest tuned TD05-20G [yep my birthday present to me on Monday] with Eclipse fitted clutch and worn timing belt.....

glensti

Never used eclipse for my Subaru myself but bought my first rally car through one of the owners I believe of eclipse (ken) and had engine trouble just after purchase and did they fob me off. Not at all. A full new engine was built and fitted to the car with out hesitation to a fantastic spec. Being in the motor trade myself I know only to well that mistakes and failures can happen be it human error or parts failure but as chris has stated to not even let them investigate the cause then come on here slagging them off just seems wrong in my opinion. I for one would use eclipse if I was near by.

Glen

toneh

iTrader: (1)

I'm not siding with either party here but a few points adjusting the pedal Is not usually required when fitting a new clutch
So is not really considered a factor and because someone didn't do it or didn't know doesn't make it the crime of the century and considered its a short term fix for a more underlying problem shouldn't be used as a major fault towards a company

Maybe the clutch was the wrong one fitted , maybe it's not
How do you know it's the wrong clutch in the right part numbered box ,
There could be only a minor difference or an error on excedys part
As for the flywheel , a new flywheel is preferable , makes sense to do when you fit the clutch anyway , but it is common to give a flywheel a scrub up if it looks serviceable ,( in an ideal world garages would take it of and check for flatness ( but very rare. )
That said it would have to be very bad to make the vehicle unusable / inoperable
As for the comment it looks older than 1k , to be fair we've no idea how you drive
And did it look like more mileage or actually measure it had done more mileage ?

Mate it's the easiest thing in the world to look at a job someone else has done and criticise
I've done it a million times over , I've also sat scratching my head when a part has failed or not performed as it should only to find it wasn't my fault and it was the manufacturers/ suppliers
The motor trade is awfull at the best of times there are so many variables and pita customers , even more so when most of the cars like scoobys are more than just a mode of transport ( pride and joy)
On numerous occasions we've had cars turn up with faults from other garages and been asked to sort it , and to be totally honest it's been the other way round
It's so much hassle for little reward I packed in and left it all to my brother
And there's many out there who on a weekly basis think the same

It's so very easy for all the know it alls on here to sit and say you should do this or should have done that ,or their works ****e , but most don't know half

scrote1234

iTrader: (1)

Chris you have met and spoken to me.and yes i have pointed this thread out
on another forum which u had your traders privellage revoked for reasons of a
similar nature. If people arent happy with a service /goods provided they have the right to
air their views.

drewtts

iTrader: (24)

I'm not taking sides but after reading the above posts how can you expect a amicable result when the repairer hasnt seen or be given the chance to rectify the faults after the original repair was carried out,



and To your above post
1, Just about all hydraulic clutches aren't adjustable (inc subaru)

all you can adjust is the actual pedal hieght (unless over adjusted it doesnt do anything the the clutch itself)

2, full decat Exhaust Will not pass a Mot,
a, its a fail if cats missing
b, Co reading will be higher than the 0.2% allowed

Maz

iTrader: (34)

That's a rather inept example. There is a big difference between buying a standalone item and parts that will go in to something else. If you give your PC to PC World to have an uprated graphics card and extra memory put in and it doesn't work right, you are within your rights to to take the PC to someone else for diagnosis and evaluation. Especially if you suspect poor workmanship/substandard parts. There is no compulsion to take your PC back to PC World. In the same way there is no obligation to take your car back to a garage who you suspect are guilty of shoddy workmanship. As the saying goes 'fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me'.

AlanPPP

iTrader: (2)

I wonder if the OP did a full bore launch to try and 'Cure' the judder from the new clutch? Seen that advised on here more than a few times. That would make it look more worn in such a short time would it not?

Not having a dig here but it seems to me there's a lot more to this. Can't seem to trust anyone for anything nowadays.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Totally agree with this, if someone worked on my pride and joy and I suspected poor workmanship do you honestly think id take it back, regardless if they would work on it for free.
Who gives a **** if eclipse promised to put everything right free of charge, the ops trust in them had been dashed so of course he's going to look else where.

chris1975

Look guys, its pretty clear here what is going on. And its not the first time to be honest. I know where the car is now, and he has every intention of making us look bad, regardless of the facts.

The comments made by the op are simply not true. He feels he can just write what he likes on here to make others laugh at us. To pick on one comment... 'A full decat system can pass an MOT'???.... I'm having to bite my my tongue!

Its very hard to remain professional in these cases, as we can all see the right and obvious thing for the customer to have done is bring the car back to have the malfunctioning part replaced for free under his warranty. The fact that hasn't happened, and then for it all to appear on a forum without the owner ever speaking to me says a lot. And for the same bunch to jump on in and instantly spread it around other forums, whithout knowing any of the facts at all, says a lot!

To Quote Alan... "it seems to me there's a lot more to this. Can't seem to trust anyone for anything nowadays." Your right Alan. In this case I don't think the customer ever intended to stitch us up in this way, however I'm sure the people he has since spoken to have guided him down this route to have 'another pop at Eclipse Performance' at his expense!

adz556

iTrader: (5)

If you make the decision to take it somewhere else because 'you don't trust them' that is your call.......... But then expect to have a bill to pay because no one is going to pay for your repair elsewhere. Ive not heard of anyone that has chocolate piston failure and then asked subaru uk to pay for an engine rebuild at scoobyclinic or equivalent..... You go back to the dealership, same thing!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

OK I think we can wind this one up now.

The op has had their say the garage has had theirs.

As a closing note there is a set process when it comes to problems on vehicles and holding the repairer responsible. Trading standards do say you must give the repairer the chance to fix the problem, I maybe wrong, but it appears another garage has become involved before the original repair had a chance to re-inspect or fix the vehicle.