Autoclutch Review

FERRO · 5th February 2009, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanwaramit

It could be auto-clutch or a device made by Mr Ferdinand Rodricks in Mumbai. Though auto-clutch is very smooth and noiseless and is the best choice (however very high failure rates)...

Have you got any details of Mr.Ferdinand if yes I would like know what product he got. Thanks in advance

tanwaramit · 5th February 2009, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by FERRO

Have you got any details of Mr.Ferdinand if yes I would like know what product he got. Thanks in advance

Checkout his site, here, he fits a hand controlled clutch on petrol vehicles.. Though it is not as smooth as Autoclutch, but is better choice than Autoclutch thingy.

If you want his cell number, let me know I can give it to you (in case its not on the site)

pedrolourenco · 29th May 2009, 22:25

I saw this Autoclutch on an A-Star. The guy who installed the Gaskit in my car is the Autoclutch dealer in Goa. The A-Star had the gear knob with a touch sensor. As soon as you grip the gear knob (touch the sensor), the clutch gets activated. There's a switch to switch the system off and revert to manual. The owner of the car had used the unit in a Wagon R for 3 years and then had it shifted to the A-Star. It cost's almost 10K to shift as a lot of wiring needs to be replaced. The owner was quite happy with the unit and also with the service.

trrk · 30th May 2009, 16:25

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

It cost's almost 10K to shift as a lot of wiring needs to be replaced. The owner was quite happy with the unit and also with the service.

I am surprised at the cost of shifting. Why should it need a lot of wiring change? All the input it takes is for RPM and a connection to the brake other than a power connection to its control module.

Of course the gear lever is changed to this unit. When I had it, it was not the sensor model, but one with a push button on the side which had to be pressed for the clutch activation (apart from the on off switch).

The demo Zen was nice to drive with it. But I was not happy with it my diesel Indica. That same system is doing duty on an Alto in Bangalore when last heard.

So I think it is happy in Maruti vehicles (especially petrol).

pedrolourenco · 30th May 2009, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by trrk

I am surprised at the cost of shifting. Why should it need a lot of wiring change? All the input it takes is for RPM and a connection to the brake other than a power connection to its control module.

Even I was surprised. Possible the wires were damaged in use or while removing the unit.

trrk · 30th May 2009, 17:28

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

Even I was surprised. Possible the wires were damaged in use or while removing the unit.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the unit. There are hardly any wires to get damaged also.

tanwaramit · 1st June 2009, 11:54

10k is too costly to replace in other car. I dont think it should cost anything more than 1k. (that too labour charge)

Hope the servicing is not an issue in Goa, cos in Delhi, its big pain, two dealers doing it and both not capable of handling it + the support from the product importer (from Pune) adds nail to the coffin

pedrolourenco · 1st June 2009, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanwaramit

10k is too costly to replace in other car. I dont think it should cost anything more than 1k. (that too labour charge)
Hope the servicing is not an issue in Goa, cos in Delhi, its big pain, two dealers doing it and both not capable of handling it + the support from the product importer (from Pune) adds nail to the coffin

I'll check with the dealer, the next time I visit. This was what the mechanic said about the A-Star he was working on. I'll check with the garage owner.

tanwaramit · 2nd June 2009, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

I'll check with the dealer, the next time I visit. This was what the mechanic said about the A-Star he was working on. I'll check with the garage owner.

Yeah, please be careful and make an informed choice if you plan to purchase this.

I have burnt by hands with this.

As said by many other BHPians here, any aftermarket modification to core components of the car will not be successful.

trrk · 2nd June 2009, 18:39

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanwaramit

I have burnt by hands with this.

If you have already posted about the problems could you point to the thread / post?

If you haven't, could you give some details. For the nine months I used I never had any problems per se. Then during a radiator change, the service people disconnected the wire going into the alternator for RPM sensing. I never got it reconnected or used it until I sold the car minus the unit.

tanwaramit · 3rd June 2009, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by trrk

If you have already posted about the problems could you point to the thread / post?

Hi trrk, I think I had started this thread on my ownership and review of this product. If you can see post number 1 you will see the ordeal I faced with the reliability of this product as I was quite dependent on this.

trrk · 3rd June 2009, 12:37

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanwaramit

Hi trrk, I think I had started this thread on my ownership and review of this product. If you can see post number 1 you will see the ordeal I faced with the reliability of this product as I was quite dependent on this.

Laziness and age! Sorry! Before putting that request, I wanted to check the thread. Lack of time then and laziness, I put up that request.

Sorry again.

I went through the thread. I never had any issue with it while it was working in the car.

tanwaramit · 3rd June 2009, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by trrk

Hi,

Laziness and age! Sorry! Before putting that request, I wanted to check the thread. Lack of time then and laziness, I put up that request.

Sorry again.

I went through the thread. I never had any issue with it while it was working in the car.

no probs Rajesh, could be that this product was very moody and it didnt wanted to surprise you. I had checked with two more people and find this to be not a reliable solution, but as a temporary arrangement only.

I have read your thread on Honda CVT and read it on updates regularly, an amazing FE you are getting with 100% AC, this would be making our brothers with i10 AT furious for sure

ikoneer · 11th April 2010, 18:41

My friend has installed the auto clutch in his wagon-r. It was actually super cool and very user friendly. just went for a spin with him and did not find any real difference. He has just installed it and was very happy with it. He was actually thinking of moving to an AT car but this auto clutch has solved his purpose and saved big time on mileage.

Press the red button to change gears. On pressing the red button, the clutch is engaged by the system. Moment you move release the red button, the clutch is also released. You also have a switch to choose between the normal and auto clutch.

Red Button, setup on the gear knob

The clutch is engaged.

The clutch is released. You can tell the difference by the pulley chain between the two pics.

The processor that does the job.

trrk · 11th April 2010, 19:23

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikoneer

Press the red button to change gears. On pressing the red button, the clutch is engaged by the system. Moment you move release the red button, the clutch is also released. You also have a switch to choose between the normal and auto clutch.

Just to keep track of information, what is the price for this setup? This is not the 'Automate' which I had tested and used.

29th May 2009, 22:25	#33
pedrolourenco Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Margao, Goa Posts: 1,486 Thanked: 2,103 Times View My Garage	I saw this Autoclutch on an A-Star. The guy who installed the Gaskit in my car is the Autoclutch dealer in Goa. The A-Star had the gear knob with a touch sensor. As soon as you grip the gear knob (touch the sensor), the clutch gets activated. There's a switch to switch the system off and revert to manual. The owner of the car had used the unit in a Wagon R for 3 years and then had it shifted to the A-Star. It cost's almost 10K to shift as a lot of wiring needs to be replaced. The owner was quite happy with the unit and also with the service.
	(1) Thanks

1st June 2009, 11:54	#37
tanwaramit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dilwalon ki Dilli Posts: 1,946 Thanked: 514 Times	10k is too costly to replace in other car. I dont think it should cost anything more than 1k. (that too labour charge) Hope the servicing is not an issue in Goa, cos in Delhi, its big pain, two dealers doing it and both not capable of handling it + the support from the product importer (from Pune) adds nail to the coffin
	() Thanks

11th April 2010, 18:41	#44
ikoneer BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: chennai Posts: 486 Thanked: 14 Times	My friend has installed the auto clutch in his wagon-r. It was actually super cool and very user friendly. just went for a spin with him and did not find any real difference. He has just installed it and was very happy with it. He was actually thinking of moving to an AT car but this auto clutch has solved his purpose and saved big time on mileage. Press the red button to change gears. On pressing the red button, the clutch is engaged by the system. Moment you move release the red button, the clutch is also released. You also have a switch to choose between the normal and auto clutch. Red Button, setup on the gear knob The clutch is engaged. The clutch is released. You can tell the difference by the pulley chain between the two pics. The processor that does the job.
	(2) Thanks