Clutch wear claims from Selling (independent) dealership

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nuvolablue

Junior Member
Messages
92
Hi All,

As some of you know, I'm still new here and finding my way around. I've contacted a dealer about a 4200 Cambiocorsa they have listed on their Ebay page. One of the first questions I've asked about is clutch wear reading. The (truncated) conversation is shown below.

Given what is said here by the dealership, should be taken at face value, or the fact that a reading isn't being offered, should make me look elsewhere ?

I'm sure this won't be the last time I will be told the car is a great example and needs nothing doing !! So just trying to gain the information.

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Hi, when was clutch last changed (date and mileage), and have you had a recent clutch wear reading take to see what the % wear is ?

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Good afternoon

The clutch was last changed in late 2014 at 53,000 miles, I have not had the clutch wear checked.

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Hi Tom,

Based on this, It may need a new clutch within £10k miles (New clutches known to last 30k to 40k miles, based on what I've been advised) which makes it uneconomical for me at this price. Unless you can get a clutch reading that proves is less than (say) 60% worn ?

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Hi,

I can see where you’re coming from but the simple fact it is the clutch is fine and doesn’t need doing. They last from 1000miles to 60,000 miles all depends on how they’re being driven. No advisories on any of the recent service receipts stating it needs doing etc so it’s fine, no slipping or shifting delays etc.


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Hi Tom,

Yes - sorry - rather presumptuous of me to assume the clutch on this will need doing soon. But it does leave a question mark given how long ago it was done. Given that a clutch reading is easily done via a diagnostic tool, I would have thought this would be a helpful selling point to disclose the clutch wear reading on your listing.


Thanks All.
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nuvolablue

Junior Member
Messages
92
Good advice here guys. Thanks for your input. I would have thought the dealer could easily run a clutch wear indicator check, or does it require specialist (Maserati specific) diagnostic tools ?
 
Steve4200

Steve4200

Member
Messages
196
nuvolablue said:
That's interesting. I wasn't aware the readings could be wrong.
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The Clutch Wear reading is derived from the Clutch Position Sensor which is extremely accurate.

Inaccurate Clutch Wear values are down to incorrect use of the New Clutch Configuration function or certain diagnostic tools not calculating it correctly.

The only other reason would be a new clutch having an out of spec OEM thickness of the friction discs.

Regards
 
happydaze

happydaze

Member
Messages
579
I asked my (independent) mechanic about doing a clutch wear check on my MCV. He thinks it's just another thing to 'worry' about. "When the clutch starts to give trouble is the time to replace it" was his advice.
 
Zep

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,302
nuvolablue said:
Good advice here guys. Thanks for your input. I would have thought the dealer could easily run a clutch wear indicator check, or does it require specialist (Maserati specific) diagnostic tools ?
Click to expand...

You need a tool which can talk to the TCU, there are lots, like EasyMas, but they are not generally kept by non- specialists.

There are lots of posts about clutches. Failures, some that have lasted 10000 miles and a few that have gone on for ever. Worth having a good read of all of it.
 
N

nuvolablue

Junior Member
Messages
92
happydaze said:
I asked my (independent) mechanic about doing a clutch wear check on my MCV. He thinks it's just another thing to 'worry' about. "When the clutch starts to give trouble is the time to replace it" was his advice.
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That's fine if you have £4k sitting idle to spend at the drop of a hat. Not fine if you don't.

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philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,548
nuvolablue said:
That's fine if you have £4k sitting idle to spend at the drop of a hat. Not fine if you don't.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
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That's the thing with highly strung cars you need to have a War Chest for those rainy days and clutch and suspension are the common ones hence why you often come across very cheap Maserati for sale with a buyer trying to get out of a situation.
 
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nuvolablue

Junior Member
Messages
92
philw696 said:
That's the thing with highly strung cars you need to have a War Chest for those rainy days and clutch and suspension are the common ones hence why you often come across very cheap Maserati for sale with a buyer trying to get out of a situation.
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Totally get that. But just to keep things in context as per my original thread question..... I wouldn't knowingly buy a car that probably needs a new clutch.

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Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,220
nuvolablue said:
Totally get that. But just to keep things in context as per my original thread question..... I wouldn't knowingly buy a car that probably needs a new clutch.
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... is the right approach. Know what you're getting into. Get it read. It may not be accurate to the nearest %, but it'll give a pretty good guide as to whether you need to set some money aside this year, next or the one after. But 27k miles into a new clutch suggests you should be ready.
 
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