Sudden loss of brake power and rough idling?

Red Harvest

VW Polo 02 1.4 petrol engine (the one with all the plastic over the top of it).

Started fine last night drove out of drive stopped then suddenly the idling went all over and the engine stalled, restarted fine but brakes were the same as if the engine was off and engine idle was still all over the place.

Drove back used wifes car not looked at the car since, now wondering whats the first thing I should be looking at. Obviously sounds like a lose of vacuum but where to look on that engine?

jimmyw

Vacuum hose from the servo, or servo itself?

Avns1s

Split or dislodged vaccum pipe or burst servo diaphragm.

listermint

Is it starting without issues ? (battery fault) Check the battery terminals for corrosion and to make sure they are in face properly tightened to the unit. Loose terminals will cause issues.


Secondly check the airbox for leaks and intake hoses for cracks / loose.

Red Harvest

Starts fine, good battery.

I don't have too much time to check today and posted just in case its known issue with that engine with a standard fix.

Red Harvest

Looks easier provided I can get the bits than I thought it might be.

Just found the vacuum hose and followed back to the engine and as I did so I came to some sort of small inline filter or valve and as I ran my hand over it it fell off (haven't found it yet so can't describe it fully) the plastic vacuum pipe is split where whatever it was connected to it.

So is it a main dealer for those bits or a Motor factor?

Avns1s

Can you cut off the split piece and reconnect it?

Red Harvest

Avns1s wrote: »

Can you cut off the split piece and reconnect it?

Not really, as it turns out the long shaped plastic pipe (about 60cms) from the top of the engine to the brake servo is split at both ends. Then also the shorter plastic pipe that goes from the other side of what I now know is a valve is also split. Both pipes seem to be preformed (or have shrunk with age, heat and the vacuum) as the barbed ends of the connections on the valve and the servo are a larger diameter than the pipe.

If I want to bodge it I can put a length of heat shrink tube over the spits and make some tidy joints but as the pipe seems a bit brittle I think I'll get a genuine replacement if there is such a thing.

btw thanks for all the replies folks.

Red Harvest

Found this thread on seatcupra.net and the problem I have is the one described there (different models of car but same type of pipe each time).


http://www.seatcupra.net/andyb/vacpump3.JPG posted at seatcupra.net is a pic of the same type of pipe and what to look for, I have simlar splits in 3 places at 3 joints.

Nissan doctor

The hard plastic vacuum/servo pipes on VAG's are very prone to this problem alright.

The part would only be available from VW I'd imagine but you could try VAG specialists like GSF or Otto.

Red Harvest

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The hard plastic vacuum/servo pipes on VAG's are very prone to this problem alright.

The part would only be available from VW I'd imagine but you could try VAG specialists like GSF or Otto.

I was shocked at how bad it was, just the clip on the firewall holding the whole lot in place.

I'll try the main dealer on Monday as the part number didn't give me any luck on google (unless I learn Russian ). I've had to buy parts from the main dealer before and they weren't as expensive as I expected and quicker than getting from the UK which is where I get all the parts for our old Ford. If the price is mad I'll make up a pipe with some vacuum hose from the local Co-op.

Might also give Otto a call on Monday - thanks.

Red Harvest

Just in case anyone is interested I ordered the parts from the nearest VW dealer and the 2 pipes I needed (long one and a little short one) came to 52euro including VAT. Seems expensive but I sort of said to myself I wouldn't bodge if the cost was up to 50euro and 52 euro wasn't that far out.

Slidey

Had a Caddy van in with the exact same problem today. Pipe was completely split at the servo