Updated clutch actuator??..............

7728 Views 22 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Zama_747, Jul 30, 2020

smartiealbert

Discussion Starter · Jul 15, 2020

The repair shop says the clutch actuator on my 2013 passion must be replaced. They will only warrenty
their work using dealer supplied parts. The stealership wants $900. for a new clutch actuator. I found a new
clutch actuator on Amazon for $286. When I told the repair shop, they said the $900. actuator is improved
model that replaces the old model actuator that my car has. Is anyone AWARE of a 451 remodeled/new
clutch actuator?? Or anyone have the part number# for the new style actuator???.............................

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Huronlad

· #2 · Jul 15, 2020

Request the old and new part numbers, a google search of the part numbers should provide an answer.

Reactions: 1

smartiealbert

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 15, 2020

Huronlad said:
Request the old and new part numbers, a google search of the part numbers should provide an answer.

I called a smartcenter parts dept. they said no new/improved clutch actuator is available...............

jwight

· #4 · Jul 15, 2020

4512500062 seems to be the only part number showing up online, so it's just a matter of finding the best price.

Tux

· #5 · Jul 15, 2020

The willingness of some people to straight up lie is astounding. But remember, there are labor costs and usually a parts markup. I'd expect around $500-$600 installed to be fair.

Reactions: 1

wahi

· #6 · Jul 15, 2020

What I paid in 2010 at my MBusa center, yup!

Reactions: 1

Igor Barbaros

· #7 · Jul 16, 2020 (Edited)

Tux said:
The willingness of some people to straight up lie is astounding. But remember, there are labor costs and usually a parts markup. I'd expect around $500-$600 installed to be fair.

Isn't replacing the clutch actuator literally a 2 bolt job? So about 50 $ in labor at most

wahi

· #8 · Jul 16, 2020 (Edited)

It was in May of 2010 when my smartie broke the actuator. Not many people knew about clutch actuators in the first few years after the first 600 smarts rolled into our ports in Jan of 2008. I had it towed home 160 miles from Gettysburg where I was visiting. It was quite upsetting, to have a brand new 2008 die (no clicks, 3 bars, what's that?). Even though I had been a SCOA member since its inception, there was not much talk on (broken) clutches here then, and I was hoping the warranty would have covered the bill even though it was 5K miles over the 60K miles. Plus it was a week before Memorial weekend (2010) so the MB center 60 miles away wasn't really helpful except to ask for the car to be towed over. There were some back and forth between me and the manager (who'd use ALL CAPS in one of his emails omg) which meant he clearly didn't want me to know exactly what was wrong with the car except that they needed to order the clutch actuator (a new term for me) and labor would have been "more" but he 'cut me a break' and charged me less $200 of labor charges to have the bill come to $650. That episode, effectively, made me not return ever, especially, after I am on my 3rd smart now, and DIY what I can with the invaluable inputs from fellow SCOA members, Home, and later on, Kane (Evilution). As they say, Knowledge is Power. And liberating.

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Reactions: 1

smartiealbert

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 16, 2020

UPDATE: The actuator listed on Amazon was a china rebuild, oddly listed 2 part numbers. I called my nearest stealership, and the parts man said $760. for new part #4512500062. Which was one of the 2 part
numbers for the china rebuild. Then found autohausAZ. I ordered from them for$720. tax paid and free
shipping to my door. I paid the garage $120.for an hour labor to locate the problem. Picked up my car
with warnings still flashing. I found a tech that will install it at my house for $120. So for $840. I get the
same repair, that the garage wanted $1,250. for. Only problem is tech doesn't have a M-B star system,
and isn't sure his equipment will clear the warnings..........................

SLIVERS

· #10 · Jul 16, 2020

www.ebay.com

Genuine Sachs Clutch Slave Cylinder Actuator Smart Fortwo (all) 451, 2007-2014MY | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Genuine Sachs Clutch Slave Cylinder Actuator Smart Fortwo (all) 451, 2007-2014MY at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Reactions: 1

BiffNotZeem

· #11 · Jul 16, 2020

Maybe 4 years ago, the clutch actuator on our 2008 died about 4 miles away from the house. The car couldn't sit where it broke and we didn't know what the problem was at that time, so we had the car towed to the shop that does the work on my cars that I don't want to deal with it. I was about to leave town on a business trip and couldn't work on the car. I researched the symptoms, figured out that it was the clutch actuator, and worked out what it should cost. The shop confirmed my thoughts and quoted something much higher, I think $1100. But I wasn't going to have time to do the work and my wife needed the car, so I had them do the work.

toadcar

· #12 · Jul 16, 2020

When my sar wouldn't shift into gear, a youtube video mentioned that it was the clutch actuator. It worked sometimes, so when it did, I drove it to a Firestone shop , where they put it on a lift and sprayed white lithium grease into the boot where the actuator is located. I asked what I owed him and the owner said just give the mechanic a tip. I gave him $10 and went on my way. It has been fine ever since.

Reactions: 2

smartiealbert

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 17, 2020

A couple of years ago I was having the same flashing warnings. Took it to the garage. They cleaned all the
electric connections and a dab of dielectric grease to keep out dirt/water. Cleaned/lubed clutch actuator. It
worked great, until a few days ago............
I did look at all the actuators on Ebay. They all seem to be the OLD part# 3981000066, that has been
replaced by NEW part# 4512500062. The one on Ebay that lists the new part#, and claims to be Direct From
The Factory?? Is from a factory in CHINA! Probably a china rebuild! No china junk for me...................

SLIVERS

· #14 · Jul 17, 2020

Just curious folks keep talking about "China rebuild"?
Where in the heck are they getting the cores to rebuild them?
My first 08 actuator lasted 11 years so not sure how much better or even if the "new" number is better or will last longer?

AlMar

· #15 · Jul 17, 2020

I owned 2 SMART cars 2008 and 2013 and have replaced the clutch adjuster once and have removed both clutch adjuster many times for greasing and position adjustment. It is a very easy DIY to do only 3 bolts and there are plenty of YouTube videos. The used clutch adjuster replacement came from eBay car parting supplier from a SMART with very low mileage $125. I opened it to grease it and inside was like new. It is still running good. My clutch adjusters never failed. The reason why I replaced one was because with time the electrical solenoid wears and causes transmission gear Hard-Shifting, which can be initially compensated by positioning the clutch adjuster closer to the clutch. Also, all MB including SMART have a computer algorithm call Adaptive Learning, which learns your driving style (rough like a Teenager or gentle like an Old Fart like me) and automatically adjust the transmission shifting to your driving style. After changing or adjusting clutch adjuster, make sure to reset Adaptive Learning, using ignition key and gas pedal DIY, see YouTube.

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Igor Barbaros

· #16 · Jul 17, 2020

AlMar said:
Also, all MB including SMART have a computer algorithm call Adaptive Learning, which learns your driving style (rough like a Teenager or gentle like an Old Fart like me) and automatically adjust the transmission shifting to your driving style. After changing or adjusting clutch adjuster, make sure to reset Adaptive Learning, using ignition key and gas pedal DIY, see YouTube.

You got a link for this claim?

jwight

· #17 · Jul 17, 2020 (Edited)

We beat that horse to death and then some back in the early days. The smart (Getrag) automated manual transmission used in the 451 does not learn anything.

Reactions: 3

Zama_747

· #18 · Jul 25, 2020

"WOW"- Did not realize there could be a problem with the first 600 Smarts bought with their clutch actuator's. I own a 2008 Smart with 28,357 miles on it that I purchased in the $99 first buy program. Thinking shortly of pulling the clutch actuator and greasing with silicone. I noticed that there are some clutch actuators on ebay from Hong Kong (China), has anyone purchased one for use or are they problematic?? Thanks.

Sanangelo

· #19 · Jul 25, 2020

SLIVERS said:
Just curious folks keep talking about "China rebuild"?
Where in the heck are they getting the cores to rebuild them?
My first 08 actuator lasted 11 years so not sure how much better or even if the "new" number is better or will last longer?

A large amount of worn out items are sent to China as scrap. They will sort them and rebuild anything they can that has more value then melting it down.

You have to remember labor is really cheap there and there is a almost unlimited supply of humans they can pick from for the work. They also don’t have to worry about environmental laws like North America or Europe has.

SLIVERS

· #20 · Jul 26, 2020

Sanangelo said:
A large amount of worn out items are sent to China as scrap. They will sort them and rebuild anything they can that has more value then melting it down.

You have to remember labor is really cheap there and there is a almost unlimited supply of humans they can pick from for the work. They also don’t have to worry about environmental laws like North America or Europe has.

I would respectfully have to disagree.
The odds that the clutch actuator that I took off my smart and threw in the recycle pile then traveled to China and someone there was smart enough to know what vehicle (make, model and year) it was from and then rebuilt it and resold it is all but ZERO!
Now if there was a core charge on the part, ya maybe but there are no actuators for smarts that require a core that I'm aware of?

Reactions: 1

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