I had clutch slip so it was replaced but the job was delayed slightly as dealer decided that DMF had to be changed too. I had no symptoms of that. I've just passed 2x the mileage of the failure (75k) so second one has done better.
Tested it for clutch slip recently by full load accel at 70 in 6th - no probs. I have extended LR warranty so not worried. Gone... 2013 XS TD4 Manual Firenze Red
Gone... 2008 (09MY) XS Td4 Manual Stornaway Grey
Prior... 2003 G4 Discovery 2, 1998 Disco 1 and 1997 Disco 1 Company car before that
Also gone in Nov'13, after 7.5 yrs, to new owners with time for more TLC - 1980 Series III 88
Current 2015 Discovery Sport HSE 2.0

My car which has done about 23.5 K miles went into my local dealer on Tuesday for 2nd year service and investigation into clutch slip when accelerating uphill between 2 and 2.5 thousand RPM plus occasional judder when changing between 5th and 6th under load. Straight away the dealer said DMF and did not expect any issues.

When the box was removed they found the clutch plates to be scored and some problem with the DMF however on receipt of photographs Land Rover are saying wear and tear.

I have asked for copies of the photographs and have just spoken with LR Customer Service who hope to get back to me later today after speaking to the dealer and Technical Services.

Any thoughts or suggestions as how best to approach this as after 40 years driving and never had to replace a clutch I certainly don't think wear and tear is the issue here.

Last edited by snowy22255 on 10th Aug 2012 3:22 pm. Edited 2 times in total

You could hit them with the fit for purpose and/or satisfactory quality argument as per Sale of Goods Act 1979. The warranty does cover it and wear and tear argument is daft. Best bet will be to try another dealer or ring the warranty ombudsman. Solicitor involvement is a last resort if they won't budge. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

autodents wrote:

Great... clutch is slipping,....this car has done 58k but i would have expected alot more miles out of a clutch.

Youve done really well, thats excellent going.

Latest Update.

LR Technical Services have now told Customer Services that based on the photos they feel the problem is driver related which caused scoring of the friction plate which then caused overheating on the flywheel. The Dealer Service Manager who took the photos and has examined the car and the removed parts has told LR Customer Services that in his opinion the cause is not driver related but possibly an intermittent partial jamming of the thrust bearing. Don't know however if he will stick with that if I decide to fight Land Rover, are they liable to put pressure on the Dealership ?

LR Customer Services are supposed to be phoning tomorrow with a goodwill offer probably for part of the cost.

Thanks to the Doctor for his advice, I have now spoken to a legal advice service and depending on tomorrow's call will speak to a Lawyer. I have also arranged with an independent Land Rover specialist that he will examine and report on the removed parts if required.

Does anyone know if I accept a goodwill offer can I still pursue LR for the rest of the full cost or indeed is it worth pursuing them.

40 years driving and I have never had to replace a clutch so I really object to LR telling me that I have now managed to knacker one in just 23000 miles.

Any thoughts or comments welcome.

Phone call today from Customer Services, offering 50% of repair cost but apparently they are only doing that because the dealer is insistent that this should be a warranty issue.

Have invoked escalation process and also sent emails direct to CEO at Land Rover and CEO at Jaguar Land Rover, will wait to see if anything comes from them.

The photos the dealer sent to Technical Services are now in my gallery, I can't see anything obviously wrong in any of them let alone something that indicates driver issues, but feel free to look and comment.

Look at the photo you seem to have plenty of frinction material left on the clutch plate so that's obviously not worn out, which should lead any inspector to flywheel and other components. you'd think? Freelander 2 XS 2.2 TD4 Met Black, with Winter pack, 18" alloys with General Grabber AT2 wellies, MANTEC Sump and Tank Guards

I ain't no engineer but the photographs don't depict a knackered clutch. Could the problem be some contaminate on the plate. Someone posted about this with the cause being a dodgy seal on the crank shaft (?) MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

Thanks for the input guys, it is obviously difficult to make a decision based entirely on photographs, but I didn't see anything either that indicates driver error, which begs the question what special skills do LR Technical Services have in photo examination.

Emailed Land Rover CEO on Monday night and the matter has now been escalated with a senior engineer being asked to review all the available information and if required examine the vehicle and removed parts.

I am told the process should be completed today or tomorrow so hopefully everything resolved by Friday.

Finally got my car back this morning, as a result of my email to Land Rover CEO, a senior engineer spoke to the dealer and determined that they did know what they were talking about and that Technical Services were wrong in refusing the warranty claim.
Car has now had replacement Flywheel, Release Bearing, Pressure and Friction plates fitted.

I have to praise the Dealership, Parks of Ayr for their support throughout this, I have no idea if I could have succeeded without them.

A big for that dealer then!

Good result, but a shame you had to fight for it.
Overheating flywheel? Thrust bearing?
Complete b ks.
A way of fobing you off hoping you'd be daft enough to pay.
And if you were daft, they'd have taken your money.

Not a nice experaince for you, let alone a 4x4.

L/R, please note. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Pegleg

Garage not sure of exact cause, but there was evidence of some overheating, some of the pressure plate springs seemed a little light and the measurements for the flywheel suggest it was slightly outwith normal specification. Not sure if LR will want to examine the parts or not.

Best lesson from this is that LR Customer Relationship Centre are not always on the side of the customer and obviously not prepared to make Technical Services and Warranty justify questionable decisions.

CRC seem inclined to take the easy option of supporting Technical Services and offering a Goodwill Payment which they hope will fob off the customer.

I know some people don't have the technical knowledge or perhaps the nature to argue but until more people reject these Goodwill Payments and escalate their complaint within LR and if necessary beyond then customer service is unlikely to improve.

There is actually a lot of help available for people who want to pursue claims like this ;
A lot of insurance policies both car and household provide a free legal helpline
Some motoring/breakdown organisations also provide free legal advice
The Consumer Organisation, Which, offer a low cost annual legal serviceive
Organisations like Citizens Advice and Trading Standards can also help
And finally if your car is subject to Hire Purchase you probably also have recourse through the lender

All in all lots of help available people just need the inclination to want to fight and ideally a supportive dealer.

Hopefully my success will encourage someone else to not give in when they believe they are in the right.

when a clutch wears if ts had a good driver the driven plate will be thinner on the flywheel side. If its had poor driving with heavey use then it will have more wear on the cover side.
Heat spots on the flywheel will be caused iether by the clutch slipping or excessive use.
The rivets in the clutch plate often hold a clue and the amount of dust in the rivets .
wear rate on the diaphram fingers often hold a good clue as well as to how much the clutch has been used.
Torsional straps on the diaphram can hold clues as well, if they are buckled often indicates excessive abuse and bump starting and coasting down hills out of gear.

How can coasting out of gear affect the clutch?