Just Bought A 03 V35 Coupe 6Mt

[03v35]

Hi everyone, This is my first post on this site . I know the issue has been beaten to death, and I've just about exhausted the search tool without finding a definitive answer. I just bought a used 03 v35 . The car has about 50k kms on it and everything is great except for the Transmission.

I first noticed the problem when going through a drive through and feathering the clutch in 1st gear. It sounded like there was a rotating steel can with nails bouncing around where the transmission was supposed to be. I tried giving it more revs and the grinding/rattling noise just got louder. The same thing also happens in reverse and in 2nd gear at low rpms.

After searching through threads here and on 6mt.com, There were mixed conclusions. Some have said it is normal, and some have said it was the clutch, Flywheel, Throw out bearing and every combination of the three. I figured if i'd post with my unique symptoms it would generate a more accurate answer.

I took the car back to the Dealership and they said they would "look at it" Well, after 5 days The dealer called today saying the problem was fixed. I Went to pick up the car and low and behold..the chatter and shudder are still extremely there. I blew up at the dealer, they had my car for 5 days and did nothing. I asked what exactly they'd been doing with it. He told me he ran a complete diagnostic, and he checked the whole tranny. When I asked if the tranny was even removed, to check the clutch, flywheel and bearings he said " why would I do that?". He even tried to cover up the noise by revving the engine hard at every take off from a stop, then criticized me for slipping the clutch out of turns.. I couldn't believe he would even try that..

Was I wrong to expect that the tranny would be taken off the car to do a full diagnostic? He told me the chatter was due to a "heavy duty clutch and dual mass flywheel". I wasn't buying the fact that the car had the stock flywheel and was still making this much noise at low rpms. He took me to the performance shop that did the trans. check and the owner pretty much told me the same thing, the only thing they did was put my car on the dyno and max it out to check for slippage, which apparently it didn't.

He also completely ruled paying for a new clutch, flywheel or trans because he thinks there's absolutely nothing wrong with the car. Sucks to spend 23k on a car only to have it sound like cement mixer ever time it takes off from a stop.

I don't know what to do, even their mechanic who I first took it to said the car should not be acting like that at all. The manager and salesman both refuse to do anything, regardless of the 1 year warranty that they included in the sale price. I don't know if this violates forum rules, but the dealership is Edward Lee's in Homebush, N.S.W.

What should I do?

Thanks in advance guys, I apologize for the long read. Any help would be priceless to me at this point.

-Luke

Edited March 31, 2011 by 03v35

[n15m0]

Take it to an independent mechanic to be inspected, get a full report on whats wrong, take it back to the dealership, then assuming they wont budge escalate it to office of fair trading if this is not covered under warranty. How long have you had it? Good luck and keep us posted.

[03v35]

Thanks for the advice, I'll schedule an inspection tomorrow morning. I bought the car 9 days ago.. Would It help if I uploaded some videos of the noises for you guys?

[interfooler]

Definitely something not right there with the tranny. My car is exactly the same as yours, 03 coupe 6 speed manual and it never made such noises. Has the transmission oil been replaced since you bought it? Might just be the case of simply replacing the oil..

When I first got mine, 2nd gear was a little hard to engage. After replacing the oil, it felt better but still wasn't smooth. After 4-5 weeks of driving it felt much better. One thing to note is that import cars like the V35 sit in yards for up to several months and never get driven until a buyer rocks up. So it usually takes a few weeks to have everything oiled up and smoothen. Not to say your tranny isn't faulty but just something to consider.

Like n15mo said, take it to a trusted workshop and have them look at the problem. Good luck!

[zei20l]

yup had the same problem with that dealer. funnily enough it was also a transmission problem.

find out the problem, make them fix it. they try to get out of fixing problems a lot. took me more than 2 years and by then i was sick of the phone calls and talking to the moron all the time and getting nowhere. im paying out of my own pocket to fix the car. so please dont let it go!

anyway, might be the input shaft bearing. the box SHOULD have been removed to be checked.

if in doubt, consumer affairs/today tonight/other current affairs program.

[g35me]

Just google search Edward Lees and that should answer all your questions. Get ready for a fight.

[Ezy03]

Sucks, yeah probably post some vids of the noise if possible, they took it to there known transmission shop or just a random 3rd.party one that said there was no problem? Also +1 for the inspection get some back up so you can tell them its stuffed and they have to fix it. If they don't just go with some legal action and other stuff mentioned and they probably will get it sorted then cuz I'm sure they wouldn't want it to escalate to that.

[03v35]

Here's a quick video. It was pretty noisy outside so It didn't properly capture the sound clearly. If you turn up your speakers, you'll hear it. The sound is very loud in person.

[RR33YY]

^{i just had a look at the vid.phack me...if u live close to matraville, take your car to the workshop called proworks.it's the only workshop to take care my v.}

[zei20l]

i think to be llegally covered you need to have the dealer attempt to fix it several times. Phil responds well to legal threats, he backs down easily. when you go there and ask them to look at it again, and repair it. just be calm, dont make a scene. write down every time the car has to go in, what they do. ask for a service sheet of what they have done.

also dont pay a cent, its clearly a warranty issue.

if they cant fix it after a few times, ask him you want a gearbox specialist to look at it, he will probably arrange to have a workshop he deals with to look at the car. try that. if you get it repaired yourself, youll never see the money unfortunately.

[V35_Paul]

Yeah do a search on Edward Lee's. Edited April 1, 2011 by V35_Paul

[fcruz3r]

sounds like it may be the throw out bearing, which if it is then it's not covered by the warranty as it's apparently normal wear and tear item.

best take it to an independent mech and if it's the clutch/throw out bearing ...then replace it out of pocket.

if it's the tranny, then get a detailed report and insist on this being covered under warranty

[R6n350GT]

sounds like it may be the throw out bearing, which if it is then it's not covered by the warranty as it's apparently normal wear and tear item.

best take it to an independent mech and if it's the clutch/throw out bearing ...then replace it out of pocket.

if it's the tranny, then get a detailed report and insist on this being covered under warranty

It should def NOT sound like that. Did you not hear it when buying the car? Post ur problems up on G35driver and you may get some more specific answers as to what could be wrong. Good luck with everything. Def check when oil was last checked, not sure how much it will fix that noise thou but you would be surprised.. Even just the oil (take out top plug of trans and suck a bit of oil out..