Are these somehow related?

Eoin087

During the weekend my brakes started acting up, the pedal was intermittently getting stiff as hell. Brought the car to my mechanic yesterday and was told a pipe on the servo? had split so I got it replaced. This fixed the issue with the pedal or so I thought.

So anyway this morning started the car & drove off everything was grand, then I stopped for diesel. When I started the car up again everything on my dash stopped working (speedo, temp, fuel, revs) and I mean everything even the odometer (still showing a reading though) and then the brake pedal started acting up again. I know (well have an idea) what the problem with the brakes are but I'm wondering could the 2 be related? If not, any ideas why all the dash gauges decided to go at the same time It's a 01 tdi passat btw

Eoin087

Any ideas lads? My mechanic is away for a holiday and its driving me mad not having a clue whats wrong or if its going to be a big job to fix

stevenmu

Wild guess, the pipe might have come off and sprayed blake fluid on some electrics. If you look under the bonnet does it look like there's fluid anywhere? Can you check the brake fluid level?

Vicxas

Sounds like your electrics are knackered, id agree with steven

Eoin087

Thanks for the reply lads. Just checked the brake fluid level and its full, there doesn't seem to be any sign of leaks around the reservoir or by the servo where the problem first started.
I don't know if this means anything but the little display that gives average mpg etc. is still working although the readings its giving are wrong ie saying I've only 10 miles of fuel left when theres 20e of diesel in the tank. It is however still giving me current fuel consumption.
I take it if my electronics are infact toast the car will be an economical write off?

Vicxas

Is it by chance a passat?

limericklad87

my own car and my brothers car had a similar dash problem. the needles would freeze, fuel tank could read full off the scale and then suddenly they would all jump back into place randomly. they were both almeras if its any good to you.

Eoin087

Yeah its a 01 tdi passat, is this a common fault with them?

Vicxas

There is a problem sometimes where the passenger footwell gets wet and it shorts out the electrics. Could be the cause of your issue.

MugMugs

Vicxas wrote: »

There is a problem sometimes where the passenger footwell gets wet and it shorts out the electrics. Could be the cause of your issue.

Didnt think that would impact the brakes

OP

Check the rear passenger side footwell carpet

If it's wet you might have an issue.

Water cant get through the drainage hole in the front of the car and backs up through the pollen filter and into the back footwell

Issue being that the Comfort Control module sits underneath where the water is and it can cause some serious issues.

Eoin087

Vicxas wrote: »

There is a problem sometimes where the passenger footwell gets wet and it shorts out the electrics. Could be the cause of your issue.

I think your on to something Vicxas! That side has been damp/wetish at times over the last few weeks. If you're right and that's the cause would I be talking a lot to fix it?

@MugMugs - That drainage hole caused me problems about 6 months ago where water would come pouring out when turning corners, my mechanic unblocked the hole and haven't had that problem since. Could it take 6 months (give or take) for problems to materialize from this?

MugMugs

Eoin087 wrote: »

I think your on to something Vicxas! That side has been damp/wetish at times over the last few weeks. If you're right and that's the cause would I be talking a lot to fix it?

Hi OP

Depends how much damage has been caused.

It could mean replacement of the Comfort Control mod in the vehicle.

Get a VAX to that location asap and put some dry towels down too.

Ingress of water can come from a few different places

A quick google will list them for you.

Eoin087

MugMugs wrote: »

Hi OP

Depends how much damage has been caused.

It could mean replacement of the Comfort Control mod in the vehicle.

Get a VAX to that location asap and put some dry towels down too.

Ingress of water can come from a few different places

A quick google will list them for you.

Thanks for the reply MugMugs, I edited my previous post with a reply to your previous post. I'm going to assume that this Comfort Control Module is the source of my current problems. At the moment the footwells are dry . Would it be wise to still put down some towels and give it a quick vacuum or am I to late?

Vicxas

Its possible the wires could be corroded and would need to be replaced.

MugMugs

Vicxas wrote: »

Its possible the wires could be corroded and would need to be replaced.

+1

I had the drainage hold unblocked on mine some time back but the water kept coming. It ended up the tray beside the hole wasnt straight and water was getting in that way.

This is done to death here here here and generally all over here

One of my pet hates for this generally very good car.

Best thing you can get done is have this checked out asap. In the interim period remove as much moisture from that area as you can if there is still some there.