The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hi all,

New here but I'd like to chat with other diesel owners about clutch issues. I see in another post about shuddering members mentioning clutch issues.

My issues are cold slipping, sometimes what I think is a throw out bearing noise and slipping badly when towing.

I've a 2010 model with only 45k on the clock. I've mentioned these issues time and time again to Subaru Docklands with no success.
My email to them...
Enquiry: I've owned a 2010 Outback Diesel Prem Sat Nav since new. Only 45k on the clock. I've reported problems with the clutch since new (Subaru Docklands) with no positive outcome. I'd like to know from Subaru Australia about clutch problems on diesel models. Looking online I don't seem to be alone, there seems to be a few people with my complaints. Problems are slipping when cold, slipping and burning when reversing with caravan (1000kgs) and slipping on take off on slight incline with van. I look after my car and have extensive driving experience with manuals (cars, trucks and machinery). How many clutches have been replaced under warranty? Can mine be repaired, replaced or improved? What options do I have? I look forward to hearing from you on this issue.

I've even written to Subaru Australia only to get a laughable reply (see below in the 2nd last paragraph about fuel concerns????)

Thank you for contacting Subaru Australia.
We regret to hear of your disappointment in regards to your recent service visit at Subaru Docklands. We do sympathise and appreciate your position in regards to your inconveniences from your clutch concern and the processes in which an attempt to overcome this concern has been unsatisfactory. Please be assured that your comments regarding your dealings with the service department have been recorded. We will also assure you that we have forwarded copies of your correspondence to the appropriate people within Subaru Docklands to ensure that further steps might be taken to improve this aspect of the business, in the form of constructive criticism.

As we are the wholesaler and distributor of new Subaru vehicles into Australia, and our retailers being independently owned, we rely solely on the information being provided to us from the service centres to assist in diagnosis. This is done via an internal communication system from the service centre to our technical department. As we do not have first hand knowledge of your vehicle, we would be unable to comment on your individual situation, however please be assured that your actions to date are in line with our correct procedures and your Service Centre will be in the best position to advise if any concern requiring rectification is warranted.

If you do still feel that there is a concern with your vehicle then we recommend returning the vehicle to the service centre and they will need to liaise directly with our technical department to come to a satisfactory solution. We would be happy to arrange for one of the Service Staff to give you a call if you would be so kind as to advise a convenient time for them to do so.

We do hope that the Subaru Docklands will actively continue to work with you to achieve a satisfactory outcome and resolve your fuel indicator concern. If you are still unsatisfied with the responses you are getting from the Service Staff, you can contact the Service Manager, Jeremy Elliott directly if you feel necessary to do so as I have forwarded your correspondence directly to him.

We thank you for taking the time to advise us of your situation, we appreciate the opportunity to respond and hope that in time your confidence will be restored in the Subaru Brand.


So ausubaru can you help??

Port

Hook up your van , take it down to the dealer to park the combo overnight so the service manager and technicians can see the problem for themselves the next morning trying to reverse it out when cold. They both may be a little more concerned at having a caravan taking up valuable space

steptoe wrote:Hook up your van , take it down to the dealer to park the combo overnight so the service manager and technicians can see the problem for themselves the next morning trying to reverse it out when cold. They both may be a little more concerned at having a caravan taking up valuable space

Lol Jonno very eloquent ... it does sound like the dual mass flywheel is faulty, or the master or slave cylinder.

Don't give up ... keep badgering them and truthfully I don't think this is the first time Dockland Subaru has been referenced on the board.

TOONGA

Absolute gold. I never thought of that. I drove it this morning when cold and got a noise like a throw out bearing.
Have any members had their clutches replaced and do they replace them with the same type of fly wheel, clutch or master cylinder?

It is up to the dealerships I believe as to whether they use genuine or non genuine, but that may not include warranty items
There is almost no point taking your vehicle to any repairer if the problem only seems to happen first thing in the morning - if you are not prepared to leave it with them - and givve strict instruction to examine first thing in the morning. If it happens while reversing a load - give them the same load ! And again, detailed instructions stapled to the steering wheel addressed to the examiner

Being an apprentice auto sparky for a small workshop in the centre of Perth, we have people come in with problems. They usually can't explain the problem very specifically and for us it is hard to diagnose the problem if we don't see it and don't know what it is. Quite often we will have cars left with us for a week or 2 so we can test it, work on it and see the problem first hand.
Steptoe makes a good point there...
I have also read about bad experiences at Docklands..

Sounds like you have burnt the clutch out.

Manner of operation, ie: slipping the clutch excessively while towing will bring on earlier failure in any clutch system.

I can't see Subaru giving warranty for a clutch.

Wear and tear item, just like brakes.

littlewhiteute wrote:Sounds like you have burnt the clutch out.

Manner of operation, ie: slipping the clutch excessively while towing will bring on earlier failure in any clutch system.

I can't see Subaru giving warranty for a clutch.

Wear and tear item, just like brakes.

I had they DM clutch replaced in my 03 XS Forester under Warranty by City Subaru in Brisbane and I had never had the car serviced there in it's lifetime.

Subyroo wrote:I had they DM clutch replaced in my 03 XS Forester under Warranty by City Subaru in Brisbane and I had never had the car serviced there in it's lifetime.

Every clutch would judged on it's own merit as to part failure etc, or owner driving habits/abuse etc.

Gary,

I've towed only once and had complained to Subaru at every service (I even made them note it on every receipt) long before I had my towbar installed at 40k (it now has only done 45k, 2010 model). It towed fine right up until I needed to reverse it. But towing aside that doesn't explain the clutch slipping when cold, nor what I think is a throwout bearing noise when engaging the clutch. I feel if I can drive a road ranger box prime mover out of a mining pit I could tow a caravan down the beach. So I would feel my driving ability actually outshines Subaru's diesel clutch reputation. If Subaru don't want their customers towing or feel we are unskilled either don't sell tow bars or teach us how they would like their car to be driven.

littlewhiteute wrote:Every clutch would judged on it's own merit as to part failure etc, or owner driving habits/abuse etc.

The DM problem was diagnosed by Boxer Service but they can't do Warranty work, hence the work being done by City Subaru.