It looks like ground clearance in important in that wet heavy snow. Sounds like that diesel has some pretty good torque. I hope you get your ride back soon.

 

Hmmmm, what about warranty?? are you covered???


Were you riding the clutch alot in the video?

 

Well, there is some smoke visible near the end of the video. It was clutch. On the other hand, to be frank, I do not think I used clutch SO MUCH! Regarding warranty, I do not know. I am, sort of, responsible, which I am not going to tell them... so we will see how it will develop....

Anyway, the video was one very scary experience, having car skidding like that. With 2WDs I have driven before, you just get stuck in snow, and that is it. Take chains out if you want to move a bit. But this, sliding.... I just wish I had winter tires. Anyway... it has been snowing last night a lot on nearby mountains. If they fix my car tomorrow (and I pray to God they will), I will take it to the mountains again on Sunday, this time equipped with snow chains, to see same route again... (but, I heard there where A LOT of snow, so it might be unpassable )

 

Well i´m pretty sure that a mechanic will notice the difference between material failure or driving fault.
Seems you were realy optimistic to drive with summer tires in those weather conditions.

 

Ummm about the video...
Getting passed by a pickup? Isn't that warrant a site ban?
I joke I joke I kid I kid
Seriously though
A. You need to outfit some winter tires for that kind of driving.
B. You also need to revisit your technique:the ESP off concept, isn't a rule, it's an option, there is a place for it, but that wasn't it.
Once your moving you may find you want it on, your wheels as straight as you can and dip the clutch not ride it, lighter on the gas, persistence!

 

Well, I HAVE to agree that I am quite unexperienced in driving in snow. But, the biggest problem was (do not know how obvious it is on the video) that I was afraid... (actually, scared) that car will skid too much to the right and it will fall off the road down the slope on some woods.

 

Winter tires or chains would have made all the difference here.

 

hey Hogar,
i had the same problem with the clutch/smoke today while i was off-roading.
can you please let me know what they have told you?

 

Hogar, I hope your Riots clutch will be changed under warranty! I am waiting for my Riots clutch "death"as well, sience last offroad in sands...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGtz9HLOiCw

 

Wow, where was the smoke coming from??????

Man, it really puts you off a tiny bit (I mean a TINY bit) to go off roading in those conditions.

Cool video though:smiley_thumbs_up:

 

Kozoun, I hope so too. I was at the dealer today... they noted that the clutch is gone. Also, they advised me to wait until Monday, when "warranty" guy will come to work, to check whether it will be covered under warranty. If not, my estimate that it will cost me around 500EUR. Problem with warranty and clutch is that the clutch is "consumable" part, which have to be replaced from time to time, but not after only 5,900 kilometers. So, until Monday, I will be driving my good ole Megane cabriolet. )) But, God knows, I got used to my Patriot too much... I lack driving position (much, much, much higher than in a cabriolet), increased power and torque (my cabriolet is only 1.4ccm) and space (well... do i have to compare head&leg room?)

 

I hate the smell of burnt clutch. Once it gets hot enough to start smoking, it'll wear out very quickly as the glues and such start melting and it tears apart in large chunks. Makes me think the clutch on the manuals is a tad undersized with very little overhead designed in for some abuse.

 

Designers probably figured anyone who was interested in "abuse" would have purchased a CVT2L. The 5 speed was most likely designed in to sell to the fuel economy minded and to help rationalize the inflated sale price of the vehicles with the automatic. (which clearly do not cost more to make)

 

Sounds as though the clutches cant handle a bit of abuse, i was mucking around in the paddocks and came up a small ridge and without a low range gearbox, was revving the #@$% out of it, noticed a bit of a smell from the box, (wonder when anyone would release a heavy duty clutch for the patriot)

 

That's what I noticed also. Clutch do not smell bad only when riding on it, but also when driving on high rev's in low gears, without using clutch at all.....

 

Latest news: Dealer will replace the clutch under the warranty since my Patriot have only 5,800KM so far, with no question asked. Hopefully, I will get my Patriot back by the end of the day tomorrow, which is lucky turn, since on Wednesday, 7th of January is the Orthodox Christmas and most shops will be closed (including my dealer). Will post when I get my Patriot back, with more feedback.

 

Good to hear that you'll save some money, Hogar.
I didn't know that you have Christmas at 7th of January. Is that the "old calendar"?

 

Lucky you!

But down´t drive the same road without winter tires next time!

 

You're a lucky guy to be covered by warranty in this case. Here in Quebec, Canada, winter tires are mandatory (200 $ can. fine if not) and your situation is the reason why. Cars not equipped with snow tires can jam the traffic or cause accidents. Put on winter tires and you won't believe the difference and you will feel a lot more secure.

 

I'd give my left nut for the low range box...

 

Well, since I also have 2.0crd, 6-speed manual, I'm aware now of waht the limits of my vehicle are on snow. Sorry about your clutch, but think that you've just added something to this forum's knowledge base.
Regarding winter-tires, same here, in Greece. Useless because we drive to the mountains to get to some snow. It rarely snows in my island, except high peeks.
Merry Christmas Hogar. I know about 13 days latency of yours because I have a friend who studies in Beograd. He is here now on his Christmas vacation.

 

Well, since I also have 2.0crd, 6-speed manual, I'm aware now of waht the limits of my vehicle are on snow. Sorry about your clutch, but think that you've just added something to this forum's knowledge base.

I believe that any car that has manual transmission and is used in difficult conditions has this kind of possibility to wear clutch off...so this is not a limit, but just natural case!

 

If your not gonna venture off road, i'd slap on some 20inch wheels.
If ya wanna take the beast into the woods/mountains, raise it and get some monster truck tyres:rockon:

 

To what it matters, I am quite sure the problem (one and only) was in tires. Continental ContiPremium Contact 2 tires (Europe & Australia stock tires), while exquisite on road (dry&wet), are horrible (bad, sucks, no good at all) on snow (gravel as well, as I learned in November). Burned clutch is just consequence of trying to drive in snow with the "stock" tires and some of my inexperience.

Alexp81, thanks. Send regards to your Belgrade friend from Montenegro.

 

Send regards to your Belgrade friend from Montenegro.

You split in peace with Serbia as I can remember, didn't you? Don't want to start a Balcan war or somethin'

My regards to MNE as well...

 

Oh, no problem with that. We are too small to have war with anyone. And, well, we are still in good relations. Anyway, I think that there are more Montenegrin in Belgrade than in capital of Montenegro.

 

I got family in montenegro, Aunty and cousins

By the way, Even if you had snow tyres, you would still ride the clutch a bit wouldn't you??
Fair enough you get more grip, but you'd still have to start/stop yeah?

 

At the time, everybody was screaming.... "do not stop, do not stop"... and I was stopping because Patriot was skidding to the right and I was afraid that it will go off the road into the woods. Even in regular driving conditions, we are using clutch... so better tires would decrease need for it.

 

Your right, it would decrease it, but when you need to go really slow (and without low range transfer case) you need to ride the clutch still. It sucks

 

Agree, but then we have chosen wrong model...

 

I swear, if the diesel ever comes out with a transfer case, i'm selling mine right away!!

I really didn't want the petrol, the crd is tougher!!

Then again, if i wanted a serious off roader, i wouldn't have bought the riot.

 

Thing I noticed... Since I have been driving "small" cars all my life, I have noticed that 1st gear on Patriot is quite slower than on regular 2WD. Anybody noticed that?

 

Yeah, gear ratios are small.
(Not unless you rev the @#$% out of it and quickly put it in 2nd or 3rd:Racing