D40 Clutch, Flywheel and pedalbox gone...

[davetheplumber]

Hi everyone!!

Have been told about this site from Curly, and have to say it's great and I feel slightly better reading some people have had some success with Nissan.
My Aug 06 Nav's clutch has started slipping, and after a 5 min test drive my dealer says it's the clutch, and it'll need a new clutch, flywheel and pedalbox. But he said the clutch won't be covered under warranty.
So I guess I'll have to write to Nissan and ask for some sort of contribution toward the cost. I've learnt it's a common fault so I'm hoping I'll get some kind of positive feedback from them. I'll keep the forum up to date with how I get on.
And I'll be paying the donation as this is a very worthy site!

Cheers,
Dave.

[curly]

Keep at it dave, dont give up.

[davetheplumber]

;DKept at it, and got a result today. New pedal box, flywheel and clutch assembly all by the courtesy of Nissan, bless em. But not booked in until 26/3 so got to run around with knackered clutch........
Thanks for the encouragement, Dave

[ash]

Mar 15, 2009 4:33:13 GMT 6 davetheplumber said:

Hi everyone!!

Have been told about this site from Curly, and have to say it's great and I feel slightly better reading some people have had some success with Nissan.
My Aug 06 Nav's clutch has started slipping, and after a 5 min test drive my dealer says it's the clutch, and it'll need a new clutch, flywheel and pedalbox. But he said the clutch won't be covered under warranty.
So I guess I'll have to write to Nissan and ask for some sort of contribution toward the cost. I've learnt it's a common fault so I'm hoping I'll get some kind of positive feedback from them. I'll keep the forum up to date with how I get on.
And I'll be paying the donation as this is a very worthy site!

Cheers,
Dave.

[ash]

do you hold it on the clutch when you stop or just dipit and press the brake or are the batch of clutches that bad mines sept 06 35000 clutch still ok handbrake n nuetral when i stop (i know how dear clutches are)

[richbenham]

see my other note on other parts of the site regarding my pathfinder 06, 27,000 miles:
Have had verbal confirmation today from the dealership, although waiting to collect vehicle when repair finished and paid for, that NGB are covering the full cost of the £1500 approx. This covers a new clutch assembly and clutch pedal. The old design MDF clutch assembly has been totally replaced by a solid mass flywheel - by completely changing the design, Nissan is effectively putting their hands up and stating that under normal driving conditions, the original design of pedal/clutch/flywheel is not fit for purpose.

I gathered all the reviews from web sites such as this, nackerednavara.co.uk, honest john in the daily telegraph, etc. and was ready for a "discussion", but it seems that I won't be needing this.

Also found out, that the dealer I bought the Pathfinder from back in 2007 "gave" me a lifetime warranty (which I never received) which would have covered me for all of the above ONLY IF I had a MAJOR EXPENSIVE R2 service EACH year (which annualy is more than the yearly R1 in the 1st year, R2 in the 2nd year, R1 in the 3rd year, etc.) as well as the annual MOT (being just over 3yrs). Since I only had the R1 with the dealer and did the MOT elsewhere,I have made my "warranty" invalid.
It's not worth paying the £400+ for the R2 service in future and I won't be chasing them to issue me with a new warranty. Knowing the long list of problems I've had with this, I'll be looking to purchase an extended warranty from somewhere because expensive things WILL go wrong. If I could get rid of this car, i would, but the values have dropped significantly since I bought, and I can't afford to - what are the alternatives: a well down the JD Power Surved Land Rover, or an expensive Land Cruiser?!

Incidentally, the original dealership in Derby was abs' appalling when it comes to customer (who are they?) service. However, their dealership in another town close by has bent over backwards to assist this week and I would give them 10/10

Hope this statement of "design change" can help others in the future - keep forcing the issue on Nissan GB, keep calm, and I've found so far that some of the people in the call centre are genuine people who are willing to listen (thanks by the way, if you're reading this)

[farmerjohn]

ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD D40 CLUTCH PROBLEMS PLEASE READ THIS.
I have a early navara D40 and the clutch has started slipping this week, its 55 plate so just out of warranty. (i’m going to post this up on all related blogs because of what comes below)
After my clutch went at 57K on my D40 i did some reading up on this and it is a common problem. basically a dual mass flywheel is no good for certain types of vehicles, especially for me as i do a lot of towing(and for a lot of other people by sound of hings),
Nissan do a conversion kit that costs neck end of £1000 supply only for a solid state flywheel and clutch to match (which sould solve the slipping clutch issue) or £1400 to supply and fit.
i have a company i have used before for uprated clutches and they are saying that if i can get them a dual mass flywheel they can make a kit and sell it as a conversion for a new solid state flywheel and clutch for about £600.00 and the clutch is 30% uprated. I know it is not the point but if your like me and this works it can save a lot of money, my local Nissan mechanic strongly hinted that a solid state clutch is always better and i mentioned about a 3rd party kit and he said he could not fit it but said they are not a big job if you know your way around engines. (They already do a conversion kit for the ford transit and they have literally sold hundreds apparently.)
SO.... believe it or not i need a knackered dual mass flywheel as my problem is the clutch has only just started to slip so i can still drive my navara and i need it for work. To make the new flywheel for first time will take 3 weeks. I dont want her in bits and totally out of use for that long, so if anyone has a old dual mass flywheel please let me know.... there must be someone out there.
The company will make a kit and start stocking them off the shelf so it should benefit a lot of people in the future.
if we can get one sorted i'll post up the details of the company once i know it works.
And i am willing to pay for the old dual mass flywheel.
if you have just had one replaced ask you machanic if you can keep it!!!
regards, John ([e-mail])

[thedoctor]

1st August 2014

Ms Kim Sperring
Renault and Nissan Brand Manager
Vospers Motor House Ltd
Marsh Mills
PL6 8AY


Dear Ms Sperring

Re: Nissan Qashqai +2 Clutch failure


Thank you for your email dated 29th July following an assessment of my car which was recovered by Nissan Recovery to your garage for assessment.

I note that on your assessment clutch failure was due to clutch riding by myself leading to over-heating and this is not a warranty guaranteed repair and thus a cost for repairs to myself for £1750.00.

Since your email I have sought the opinion of car mechanics and reviewed social media forums to investigate this allegation further.

I would like to note the following:

1. This car is not two years old yet and only has completed approximately 28,000 miles.
2. The car is within warranty.
3. Both myself, as the main driver, and my wife have considerable driving experience and have previously owned a number of cars. I can clearly state to you that I have been driving for 18 years and am a safe and competent driver who does not slip the clutch. I have never experienced such a problem with any other car I have ever driven.
4. There have been a significant number of reports of clutch failure within the Qashqai, in particularly the diesel range, strongly suggesting a manufacturing defect. I would be happy to provide evidence if required.
5. I am also aware that other manufacturers of clutches have been found to have fitting issues and poor tolerances of the mechanism of the clutch plate leading to recall of the vehicles.
6. I am disappointed that your premature assessment was alleging that the cause of the failure was my driving habit. I am aware that a number of other causes could also simulate such a picture. For example corrosion and pitting in the gearbox input shaft as a manufacture defect can stop the clutch releasing properly causing breakup giving the same appearance as a ridden clutch but off course contrary.
7. I am currently suffering without access to a functioning car.
8. The clutch failure occurred when my wife was driving with our two little children. She found the experience traumatizing and naturally was very concerned for the welfare of our children in the car at the time and in the future in a Nissan branded car.
9. I and all members or my family have been committed users and supporters of the Nissan brand for many years and hope our faith can be restored.

In summary I have found offensive the premature suggestion that my driving habit is to blame for the failure of the clutch. I strongly believe and evidence would corroborate that there was a manufacturing fault with the clutch fitted in my car. Both my wife and I are very competent drivers who have never seen such a problem before. The necessary repairs should thus be completed under warranty and a replacement vehicle made available.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely