Valeo Clutch faliure

[GodSpeed]

Mounted a new Valeo clutch to my car 3250km (2000miles) ago. Apparently there was something wrong with it as you can see in the pictures. A rivet had a crack in it, snapped and wasted the whole gearbox.

After waiting for more than 2½ months (!!) Valeo came with a first statement. Off cause Valeo don’t want to take any kind of responsibility, who would have guessed...

So I’ve just had it with their sh*t so I might as well show it all. So now you all know the value of Valeos product warranty and the way they treat their customers.

To be continued!

 

[Gray]

Ouch.... Sorry to see that!!

I only fitted a new valeo Clutch 4 weeks ago, it's covered 900 miles so far

 

[GodSpeed]

Ouch.... Sorry to see that!!

I only fitted a new valeo Clutch 4 weeks ago, it's covered 900 miles so far

These kind of failiures must be very uncommon so I dont think you need to worry. Just shi*y of them not to honour their own 1year warranty when something actually happens.

This time it will be a Helix paddle unit in my car.

 

[Laine_16v]

Ive had that happen to one of my valeo clutches too.

ALthough i was fullthrottle 1st to 2nd gear

 

[GodSpeed]

Ive had that happen to one of my valeo clutches too.

ALthough i was fullthrottle 1st to 2nd gear

I was doing logs for Henk (making a custom map for my new cams) It snapped just below 7000rpm @ 3rd gear...

Typically it was on the first run of the year, first ever with the cams. Drove the car 10km tops an then this happened... Could it not have happend on the last run of the year in october?! Now I have missed out on half the season because of their shitty products.

Kind of sucks!!

 

[maynard]

I wouldn't go as far as saying s**tty products lol!

I sell their parts aswell as other manufacturers every day of the week, and throughout the numerous clutch warranties i've had to sort out, Valeo are by far the least clutch manufacturer I come across for warranty claims.

Good product/brand compared to some others imo, but I can see why you think they're s**t when something like this happens!

 

[GodSpeed]

I wouldn't go as far as saying s**tty products lol!

I sell their parts aswell as other manufacturers every day of the week, and throughout the numerous clutch warranties i've had to sort out, Valeo are by far the least clutch manufacturer I come across for warranty claims.

Good product/brand compared to some others imo, but I can see why you think they're s**t when something like this happens!

I agree I understand these things happen for every clutch manafacturer on the market occationally. But they should take responsibility for it. Thats the key thing.

Just look at it, the text is even left on it. Like brand new and still it broke. What are the odds that it started craking when in my car? Kind of slim imo.

 

[maynard]

I presume you've contacted the distributor you bought it from ?

What the normal proceedure for a warranty claim is, say for example:

Clutch is bought and fitted in January.

Clutch fails in June.

Customer then has to pay for a replacement clutch.

Failed clutch and completed warranty form is sent back to manufacturer via distributor, and also at this point a claim for labour costs can be put in too.

Monies are then reimbursed ie. replacement clutch cost and also labour claim if necessary.

Clutch companies don't tend to reject warranty clutches unless there is a good reason for it.

Did they give you an explanation as to why?

 

[GodSpeed]

I presume you've contacted the distributor you bought it from ?

What the normal proceedure for a warranty claim is, say for example:

Clutch is bought and fitted in January.

Clutch fails in June.

Customer then has to pay for a replacement clutch.

Failed clutch and completed warranty form is sent back to manufacturer via distributor, and also at this point a claim for labour costs can be put in too.

Monies are then reimbursed ie. replacement clutch cost and also labour claim if necessary.

Clutch companies don't tend to reject warranty clutches unless there is a good reason for it.

Did they give you an explanation as to why?

The clutch has been bought through one of the biggest Renault specialists in UK. They have been very supportive and are on my side in this, "obvious component failure", to make a quote. Valeo and the distributor give 1year warranty, so I cant see the problem here.

Their explanation was that the car was believed to be modified. Speculation is not what i would call a good reason? Imo this is typical behavior from manufacturers when something fail. Try to stall the process as much as you can and use every loophole to avoid paying. I’m sure Valeo have their own insurances to cover these kind of things so I don’t see why they mess with this.

 

[Fred@BTM]

shame you didn't buy it in Sweden as from memory you have a law protecting you? if my memory serves me right everything has a 2year warranty in sweden?

 

[ForceIndia]

Tbf, I would of thought the warranty would be voided on a car running more power. Same as if (for example) someone sc's or cam's up a new Clio 200. If the box fails Renault wouldn't repair under warranty?

 

[maynard]

Not sure how it works with 'modified' cars for power etc when it comes to warranty.

Companies we deal with don't tend to drag there heels and majority of warranties are sorted out fairly quickly on a no quibble basis - ie. it's obvious it's faulty, get it credited and move on.

Did they give an explanation on how they believed it to be modified?

Only grey area I know when it comes to warranties not being the same amount of time/mileage is when a clutch component is fitted to a taxi. For obvious reasons the average motorist will only do so many miles a year, a taxi driver will do many many more - therefore some companies not being able to the full warranty.

 

[franx]

That really sucks Marten ...

I would def not give up and trie it through other channels, Someone at Valeo will not want their good name dragged through s**t on a big forum

When the Renault gearbox warrants a torque of 200NM , the clutch (Valeo is OEM i believe) must also be ? And you are not making that torque i believe ?

 

[GodSpeed]

...

 

[GodSpeed]

shame you didn't buy it in Sweden as from memory you have a law protecting you? if my memory serves me right everything has a 2year warranty in sweden?

Yes, that is true. In some cases it’s even extended to 3 years. So your UK 6 months feels a bit stingy. However both Valeo and the specialist have committed to a 1 year warranty which should change things.

Not sure how it works with 'modified' cars for power etc when it comes to warranty.

Companies we deal with don't tend to drag their heels and majority of warranties are sorted out fairly quickly on a no quibble basis - ie. it's obvious it's faulty, get it credited and move on.

Did they give an explanation on how they believed it to be modified?

Only grey area I know when it comes to warranties not being the same amount of time/mileage is when a clutch component is fitted to a taxi. For obvious reasons the average motorist will only do so many miles a year, a taxi driver will do many more - therefore some companies not being able to the full warranty.

No explanation at all. But it’s not too farfetched to draw the conclusion that it has something to do where I bought it. They had to say something to avoid paying so I guess they thought it was a fair chance that it actually was modified.

That really sucks Marten ...

I would def not give up and trie it through other channels, Someone at Valeo will not want their good name dragged through s**t on a big forum

When the Renault gearbox warrants a torque of 200NM , the clutch (Valeo is OEM i believe) must also be ? And you are not making that torque i believe ?

I will not give up, trust me.

I gave them a fair chance to solve this quiet and easy. Not saying or writing a thing about it anywhere. But now after waiting since the beginning of April (that’s when Valeo had it in their hands) and they now start f**king around I've had it.

Valeo is OEM yes.