Saturn - clutch situation

[Guest]

Thanks for the info Lane.

This looks like the proper TSB:

http://www57.pair.com/lane/Pics/tsb1.jpg
http://www57.pair.com/lane/Pics/tsb2.jpg
http://www57.pair.com/lane/Pics/tsb3.jpg

FYI - you can pick up factory TSB books cheaply on eBay quite often.

Lane [ l a n e @ p a i r . c o m ]
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Visit my Saturn Car Audio and Performance Page at http://www57.pair.com/lane

The TSB doesn't say HOW much shorter the clutch will last. I suspect the message with the TSB is "Hey folks, do it right," rather than "This is how bad it will be if you don't do it right."

 

[Brian or Sharon Beuchaw]

The TSB doesn't say HOW much shorter the clutch will last. I suspect the message with the TSB is "Hey folks, do it right," rather than "This is how bad it will be if you don't do it right."

Yeah, I realize that, but if this information was found out after the repair had been done and might've been done incorrectly, it'd be nice to know if the 40K estimate was anywhere in the neighborhood. I'm guessing that the Saturn tech read the TSB, then based the 40K estimate on his own experience with clutch/flywheel life.

brian

 

[Kirk Kohnen]

If a shop did the work, you might get some relief by getting a print out of that TSB and taking it back to them.

I would suggest getting *DETAILED* information from them, in writing, regarding what they did to the flywheel, and what part number they used for the clutch.

Then, and ONLY then should you mention the TSB to them...

Good Luck!

Of course, if you did the work yourself, you're screwed. :-(

 

[BANDIT2941]

If a shop did the work, you might get some relief by getting a print out of

that TSB and taking it back to them.

I would suggest getting *DETAILED* information from them, in writing, regarding what they did to the flywheel, and what part number they used for the clutch.

Then, and ONLY then should you mention the TSB to them...

If a shop did the work, I would almost guarantee they used an old style clutch setup so no machining of the flywheel is necessary. If you did it yourself, I would almost guarantee the clutch setup you bought aftermarket for it was an old style that also didn't need machining.......

 

[Brian or Sharon Beuchaw]

If a shop did the work, I would almost guarantee they used an old style clutch setup so no machining of the flywheel is necessary. If you did it yourself, I would almost guarantee the clutch setup you bought aftermarket for it was an old style that also didn't need machining.......

The shop got a new Saturn clutch, used the old flywheel, sent it out for machining. When they were putting it all back together, I found out about this issue. I called them, asked if they knew about the TSB, they waffled quite a bit, said they had no problems with the other Saturn clutches they replaced (and the guy that did it had a Saturn himself, so he supposedly knew all about what was required). I asked them if they put the chamfer in the flywheel, they couldn't get ahold of the machine shop to ask. I took the TSB copy in to them when I picked it up and the tech that worked on my car had gone home, but they said that everything should be OK. I came away with the feeling they fucked it up, but since there was a guarantee on it for 12K miles/12 months, that satisfied me for a while - so far it's been OK and it hasn't hit the 12K/12 month mark. If it lasts 40K miles, I'll have 100K on the car by then and will have most likely gotten a new one by then also and won't have to worry about it. If it goes before then, I go to the shop and try to get it fixed and if necessary, go over their heads to their corporate headquarters and take all the evidence in that they didn't do it correctly and try to get it done right.

brian

 

[BANDIT2941]

The shop got a new Saturn clutch, used the old flywheel, sent it out for

machining. When they were putting it all back together, I found out about this issue. I called them, asked if they knew about the TSB, they waffled quite a bit, said they had no problems with the other Saturn clutches they replaced (and the guy that did it had a Saturn himself, so he supposedly knew all about what was required). I asked them if they put the chamfer in the flywheel, they couldn't get ahold of the machine shop to ask. I took the TSB copy in to them when I picked it up and the tech that worked on my car had gone home, but they said that everything should be OK. I came away with the feeling they fucked it up, but since there was a guarantee on it for 12K miles/12 months, that satisfied me for a while - so far it's been OK and it hasn't hit the 12K/12 month mark. If it lasts 40K miles, I'll have 100K on the car by then and will have most likely gotten a new one by then also and won't have to worry about it. If it goes before then, I go to the shop and try to get it fixed and if necessary, go over their heads to their corporate headquarters and take all the evidence in that they didn't do it correctly and try to get it done right.

Sounds like a good plan of attack. If the same events happened to me, I would also come away with a sour feeling that they may have messed it up.......

 

[Brian or Sharon Beuchaw]

Sounds like a good plan of attack. If the same events happened to me, I would also come away with a sour feeling that they may have messed it up.......

Yeah, when the tech at the shop starts reading the TSB and looking at it for a long time, rather than glancing at it and saying "Yeah, we know about this, it's the whole 2nd generation clutch issue that happened when Saturn redesigned it, etc.", I'm not getting warm fuzzies....

brian

 

[Kirk Kohnen]

Sorry 'bout opening that whole can of worms...

up.......

Yeah, when the tech at the shop starts reading the TSB and looking at it for a long time, rather than glancing at it and saying "Yeah, we know about this, it's the whole 2nd generation clutch issue that happened when Saturn redesigned it, etc.", I'm not getting warm fuzzies....

brian

 

[Brian or Sharon Beuchaw]

Sorry 'bout opening that whole can of worms...

Naw, it's OK, you didn't open anything. I just thought I'd see if anybody had any actual, real-life experience with a mismatched clutch/flywheel and could say "I saw one of those and the clutch lasted xxx miles before it died due to not having a chamfer". But nobody seems to know any actual numbers, so I figure I'll just wait 'til it dies again and if it doesn't 'til after I get rid of it, that's even better.

brian

 

[BANDIT2941]

Naw, it's OK, you didn't open anything. I just thought I'd see if anybody

had any actual, real-life experience with a mismatched clutch/flywheel and could say "I saw one of those and the clutch lasted xxx miles before it died due to not having a chamfer". But nobody seems to know any actual numbers, so I figure I'll just wait 'til it dies again and if it doesn't 'til after I get rid of it, that's even better.

Yeah I haven't heard any numbers myself, I'm only aware of the issue. If it does wear out on you, let us know how many miles for future reference........

But, here's hoping that you don't have to worry about it.

 

[Brian or Sharon Beuchaw]

Yeah I haven't heard any numbers myself, I'm only aware of the issue. If it does wear out on you, let us know how many miles for future reference........

Will do. That way there'll be something for future Googlers.

But, here's hoping that you don't have to worry about it.

Yep, me too. Thanks.

brian