[S_Cal968]

Bob,

I'm only 20 mins from were Sean broke down and responded the next morning [on the 968.net] to his post from the night before. I even left my number and he never called[?].



re: Schneider's; what I mentioned above IS the real deal, so please don't discount my post...



re: seal; if a plunger seal is worn or the cylinder is scored the fluid can by-pass plunger and provide only partial pressure.



Sean, so you had the car towed up to S.B.?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

he told me he posted his phone number and nobody called him, and that he had sporatic access to the net - he took the first response he got



i wasn't discounting your post - listing such experiences are what i was talking about - i know absolutely nothing about the shop, other than third hand recommendations - i was only saying that before anybody jumps to any conclusions, that more information be gathered



on that, a high price and a long time are certainly things to be concerned about - are you satisified with the end result? has there been a subsequent problem? did they give any explanation as to the delay? how interactive were you during the 6 weeks? i'm not saying that they weren't wrong in their actions, but do we know what they had to say for themselves?



by the way, it was 4 weeks getting mine done, and i would still recommend the shop - the paint job took a lot longer, and i would still recommend them too - it takes up to a month to get an alignment appointment at the shop i use for that, but i wouldn't go anywhere else - the guys who are realy good are generally very busy

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ether_joe]

yeah Scal, unfortunately by the time I got to the net access at flash's place, the car was towed and $ already spent. If I'd had closer net access I'd have taken your recommendation for sure. As it was I didn't have my laptop with me so no access hence the phone request. Oh, well.



should have a repair diagnosis soon. If it's major mechanical work I may just flatbed the truck home and do it myself. Put in a performance flywheel for my trouble.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[S_Cal968]

I guess it's a moot point now - I tried his number and it didn't go through, hense the reason I left my number. Like he said oh well...



To answer your question; yes the t/axle came out fine. And yes, I was calling them almost every week to get the status. I found out they took off for 2 weeks on a biz trip and made no mention to me about the delay. I missed the German show that year because of that. If my car was sitting in their shop taking up space for 6-8 weeks they probably would've finished it quicker{?}. I don't know if I'll use them again...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[josephsc]

If you feel comfortable trailering, you could borrow my truck, rent a Uhaul trailer and haul her back. Chris and I did just that from Buttonwillow when he blew his head gasket. I probably won't be able to go down with you to help, but you're welcome to use the truck.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ether_joe]

Joe that's swell I might take you up on that.



I just called and they haven't looked at the car car yet, the mechanic was pulled onto another issue. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> They're not scoring a lot of points with me right now.



Joe I'll give you a holler this evening. Thanks man.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Amoss]

Just an observation from someone who will eventually own one of these cars --



It's pretty comforting to know that an owner who has a problem can ask for help

and receive this many replies this quickly. These replies gave Sean options that

he may not have been aware of, not to mention the good possiblity of saving some

serious money while "being hung over a barrel". I've been hanging around this

sight, trying to learn and become informed before I FINALLY TAKE THE PLUNGE,

and it's just very reassuring to see this kind of response/help.



Good luck Sean, hope you get it up and rolling soon.



Amoss

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ether_joe]

okay, got the diagnosis. Clutch is shot and flywheel is scored. They were going to check with a machine shop to see if it can be resurfaced, but I think at this point I'll drag it home, possibly put in a performance flywheel.



Joe/Flash I'll get with you guys presently.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

pete - bummer - sorry to hear they just took off like that - that is a pet peave of mine - stuff takes time- i get that - just keep me up to speed on what's going on - that situation would make me uncomfortable too



well, looks like a road trip for me - off to rent a trailer tomorrow and we're gonna go get it - coincidentally ayn is in s.f. on business, so i'll pop in and see her while i'm up there - heck, i bought the denali to tow a 968 - i just figured it would be mine - too funny

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[S_Cal968]

Amoss,

You won't be disappointed it's a great car and super fun to drive! Also what's nice about this model is that many of the owners do their own work and as a result there's lot's of help if needed. If you've been over to 968.net, it's the same, another helpful group... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[josephsc]

[quote name='flash' date='Jun 20 2006, 04:41 PM']well, looks like a road trip for me - off to rent a trailer tomorrow and we're gonna go get it - coincidentally ayn is in s.f. on business, so i'll pop in and see her while i'm up there - heck, i bought the denali to tow a 968 - i just figured it would be mine - too funny

[right][post="23081"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]Wow -- that's very generous of you!



So if you call this "No Worries Towing" or something, could you deduct the Denali?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SILVY968]

Hey flash,



You are very cool to help out a guy in need. I just wish that I wasn't 2,000 miles away.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[earossi]

Perhaps I may have been a little bit premature; but, I have owned (6) P-cars over the last 25 years, and have suffered my share of unscheduled failures. You get first hand experience on evaluating shops every time you get hammered.



My advice was basis the info given in the posting. If the post was inaccurate on the symptoms, then I may have been premature in my opinion. But, there is a fly in the ointment. The symptoms mentioned in the original post don't really fit with a bad clutch. The post indicated that the clutch had been working well and that "suddenly" the clutch pedal went to the floor. Those are not the symptoms of a bad clutch. Again, having owned a few of these cars, I have personally driven some of them to end-of-life on the clutchs! I'm used to seeing slippage most of the time. I did suffer one clutch related failure that was similar to the original poster. The clutch pedal went to the floor and the car could not be shifted after that. The failure was on a 1971 911, and was caused by mechanical failure of the pivot for the clutch throwout fork. When I split the tranny from the engine, the failed pivot dropped onto the ground! The rest of the clutch was fine.



The original post indicated that the clutch pedal would not allow disengagement of the clutch in order to shift. This would seem to indicate that the disengaging mechanism, rather than the clutch was at fault.



All of this rhetoric is academic at this point. One way or another, someone is going to probably remove the clutch from the car and make a final determination. It would be nice to have some description of what actually failed and whether it was catastropic or just "end - of - life".

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

ok - i went to the shop myself to get the car - i did not get a warm fuzzy - the people couldn't be bothered - they made me feel like i was intruding in their space - they were not happy to collect their 4 hour diagnostic fee, but not actually have to do any real work, and stop at the disassembly stage, not even buttoning things back up, and leaving the starter cables hanging



granted we were only there long enough to get the car on the trailer, but, it could have been a better experience - i still have no idea what the quality of work there is though - i get the distinct feeling they don't need business



update on the problem - clutch disk shattered - flywheel and pp toast - no info yet on hydraulics and sticky pedal

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Chris Vais]

[quote name='ether_joe' date='Jun 20 2006, 11:28 AM']car is on the lift and Henry is taking a look at it. I'll keep you updated. thanks to everybody for the technical help esp Joe and Flash - I feel much better armed with information now.



Question - what sort of hydraulic failures can happen without losing fluid? Didn't see any fluid under the car.

[right][post="23063"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I had a similar thing happen driving through Alameda on my way home from work. Coming into an intersection, I shifted down from third to second, as I stepped on the clutch there was a loud bang, clutch pedal went to the floor with much gear grinding. I centered the shift lever and pulled off to the side of the street. Looked under the car. There were no tranny parts on the street and no noticable amount of fluid.



Called for a tow, was told it would be two hours (rainy day) so I elected to drive the car home. It is possible to get the car into gear absent a clutch, not for the faint of heart, and then shift w/o the clutch. Drove home in second avoiding having to stop at intersections.



Turned out that the problem was a flexable fitting in clutch hydraulic line had failed. Inexpensive repair, acouple of hours of labor and an inexpensive fitting. It is interesting to note that the car dropped very little hydraulic fluid, not much more than an a shot glass or two.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

he still may well have hydrualic issues - the disk was a mess though



i misread the description of the grinding, and started thinkng hydraulics - there may still be a problem in there, but won't know until he gets the clutch back together



one thing for sure though, this is a perfect example of why you should change your clutch BEFORE it shows symptoms - at 80k, he was close to the average life anyway - everybody should be changing their disks at 60k, so as to avoid having to buy a flywheel, and probably a pressure plate, and thereby save a ton of money



this is a good case of where "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is NOT the way to go

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[S_Cal968]

Bob, you're right, they're not hurting for biz. I'm sure are a lot of P-Cars in the Montecito and Hope Ranch area alone.

When I went in to pick-up my trans, it took awhile to be noticed and actually talk to someone. A customer stopped in with a fairly new Carrera and they were helped in short order...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

yeah - got that feeling for sure - wasn't terribly impressed by the condition of the shop either - also looked like some long ignored project cars lying around - pretty much parallels what you were saying



at this point, for me to go there, or recommend the shop, the work would really have to be phenomenal



i understand that 968 guys are frequently like 944 guys (broke or cheap or both), but they didn't know me from adam, and that really felt like the bum's rush - who knows who i might have sent there with what kind of car? but now?



very interesting experience at least

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Chris Vais]

[quote name='flash' date='Jun 22 2006, 11:55 AM']he still may well have hydrualic issues - the disk was a mess though



i misread the description of the grinding, and started thinkng hydraulics - there may still be a problem in there, but won't know until he gets the clutch back together



one thing for sure though, this is a perfect example of why you should change your clutch BEFORE it shows symptoms - at 80k, he was close to the average life anyway - everybody should be changing their disks at 60k, so as to avoid having to buy a flywheel, and probably a pressure plate, and thereby save a ton of money



this is a good case of where "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is NOT the way to go

[right][post="23153"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]





flash



Your point is well taken. I've got over 90,000 miles on my clutch. May be a good time to change it.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

a few hundred now, or a couple grand later



as an example of the difference, i made it a policy on the mgb to change the clutch in less than 1/2 the normal cycle - this allowed me to get 150k out of my pressure plate, roughly twice the lifespan



in general, pressure plates are really pretty tough - as long a the surface is smooth, shows no signs of blueing, and the springs are in good shape, there is no need that i can find to change it every time - unfortunately, most people let the disk go, thereby tearing grooves into the plate and destroying it



also, since i make sure the assembly is balanced, so that i know i am getting all the power to the wheels, and not losing any of it in damping mechanisms, the additional upside is the elimination of the issue of re-balancing - i make sure i mark the flywheel and pressure plate, and reinstall in the same position



i now have about 20k on my clutch - since i have an aluminum flywheel, thus shortening the disk lifespan dramatically, i expect to change it this winter, where i will probably have 25k on it - disks are cheap - the rest isn't



an ounce of prevention...........

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.