Ok everyone should have heard about my recent car problems, in case you haven't here is the short and sweet version. I was driving on a beach, just driving, not doing anyting crazy, and my car got stuck. In the process of getting pulled out I guess the clutch got burn out. My car was towed to Kaneohe Subaru, not my choice, but the Subaru Roadside assistance folks said that it had to go to the closest one to MCBH. I've been told that is not the best place to take it from Mario, but I personally don't know. I haven't had any problems so far with them. Now I found out today that my clutch, flywheel, and presure plate are all shot. I guess that the clutch damaged all of them. I will post the rest of the damaged parts when I get the list for Keith at Kaneohe Subaru. Now I was given an estimate today of $1400 about $400 labor, and the rest parts. The car is an '03 WRX, bought in the Continetal US. I don't know if I should push for the warrenty to cover the repair and I need everyone here's advice. I don't think the clutch should have gone out, actually I don't think that the car should have been stuck in the first place because it is AWD, and made for some off roading. I was also told it could be between 2 weeks and a month before I can get the parts in because no one has them on Island. I'm attempting to get some slightly used stock parts from someone who upgraded their stuff. Kaneohe Subaru has said that warenty will not cover the repair and basically that I'm SOL. I didn't buy the extended warenty to get screwed. I need advice. I told Kaneohe Subaru to order the parts.

 

You can get an aftermarket clutch, pressure plate, and flywheel for alot less than that. Between $700 to $800.

If you have the time, the install is pretty straight forward. You can either pull the tranny from the bottom, or pull the engine out. It can take four hours to an entire day.

I'd like to help, but I only have one full day off, which is time I need for family and errands. I'm sure that there are other members that can help.

 

AWD is totally not god given powers, you have to realize that. In the hands of a wrong person, its not gonna save your life or your car. And honestly even with the LIMITED knowledge about technical details on cars, I don't think its the clutch. I don't know much about the Subaru awd characteristics but maybe its a drivetrain problem(differentials)

If you want to drive around the sand, get a 4WD car like a Jeep.
AWD does not provide the low end power you need to get out of the sands/muds if you're stuck and if you try hard enough, you're gonna break something. What happens when you are stuck or going very slow is that our viscous coupling(connector of both driveshafts) system in our cars will lock up and gets overused and does not put the needed power in the low end you need to get out.


I would actually send your car to Waipahu Subaru, IMO, they have more experienced Subaru techs.

 

Tell me this, when did i say that???!!!! I said they suck for not wanting to honor your warrenty because you bought your car on the mainland.

 

I agree with Chibby, get your car home buy aftermarket parts and nicely ask a couple I-Club guys to give you a hand like he said could be done in day. From what I heard that wearable items (clutch) are not covered under warrenty. I don't think too many dealerships will cover such a item I could be wrong though if anybody knows any different then please share. I'd be willing to give a hand if you do it on the weekend..

 

well if your warranty is up anyway then i think its pretty hard to get it under warranty

 

He only has like 3,000 miles

 

I've gotten my clutch replaced under warranty and I know of at least 2 others who've gotten theirs replaced more than once or twice.

It's worth a try to take it into the dealer.

 

group. If so I don't think you have a problem. Take it to Waipahu. they'll do the fair thing. Not saying you won't have to pay a dime, but Ed is the mechanic everyone here trusts, and at least it'll be done right.

San

 

3k only!!??
Push for the Warranty if I were you.
Call the SOA number in the owners book.
They will give you a protocall to follow.

 

Right on man. Thats exactlly what i've been telling him!!! Hopefully he gets his car out of there to a fair dealership.

 

Well the car has 6,400 miles. That still isn't enough for the clutch to go out. By the way the clutch is not a wearable item, for example tires are. The clutch is under warranty, but the problem is that there is sand on the wheels, and Keith their, who has been helpful, said that when he called the warranty people, I guess shuman cairrige they denied the claim. He also said that all of the damage was done at one time. Should I just try to call Subaru of America's warranty line? The sand was shallow, that is why I didn't expect to get stuck. I wasn't trying to go off-roading or anything I was just driving.

 

the clutch IS a wearable item.
It will Not be covered under warranty unless: a) it has a manufacturer defect, or b) the car has under 12,000 miles. (which yours does)
If someone has Already stated to SOA that your car "appears to have been abused", or anything like that, you're probably not going to get it replaced, period. It's your fault that the clutch burnt up, so own up to it. But you can call SOA to try and get it under waranty, explaining how many miles are on the car, etc, etc.

Like a few people are saying, you can get an upgraded Clutch/Flywheel combo for about $800-1000. That would Definitelty be the route to go if you have to pay for anything.
This is a bit of speculation, But I Highly doubt your flywheel is ruined, you can probably get it resurfaced (for about $50), then you'd just need to buy a new clutch. I assume the clutch/flywheel are already out of the car?? If so, you're going to have to pay labor regardless, if warranty isn't covering it.

 

Agreed. The clutch IS a wearable item - and is only warranted for defects in workmanship or component/materials - not for it's ability to withstand abuse.

I still don't see how the clutch could have been TOTALLY glazed/destroyed while trying to get the car "unstuck" though.

What EXACTLY happened?
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.... ditto ?