Brake vacuum pump failure?

[stringman]

I have had a situation where the brakes went very stiff ( the pedal) when i first used the car (always the same place- car cold only running about 1/2 mile and engine very low revs) then it would be fine
the garage ( VW indie) said it was either a leak on the line or a faulty brake vacuum pump ( is that the tandem pump?)

then the problem became permanant so i suspect the pipe may have come off ( its done that once before) or the pumps completely gone.

I was wondering how easy it is to replace the pump and do you need any of the computer diagnostics to fix this ( hoping the bloke down the road can do it rather than the garage as money is very tight)

thanks

[martin1810]

Check the vacuum pipes. Replacing tandem pump doesn't need any computer work, just spanners etc.

[stringman]

Check the vacuum pipes. Replacing tandem pump doesn't need any computer work, just spanners etc.

Thanks martin I knew it would be you answering.
When you say check the pipes do you mean connections rather than splits.
I know in the past the pipe came off. Do you think its more likely to have come off the brake end or the pump end.
Last question is where abouts is the pump located. Sorry can't really rummage around the car as housebound at the moment

Thanks again

[martin1810]

Tandem pump is the lump on the end of the cylinder head with two fuel pipes and one vacuum pipe connected to it. Vac pipe could come off any end or split anywhere or the one way valve could have failed.

[stringman]

Tandem pump is the lump on the end of the cylinder head with two fuel pipes and one vacuum pipe connected to it. Vac pipe could come off any end or split anywhere or the one way valve could have failed.

Thats great.
one final question, is it a matter ofjust unclipping the pipes, unbolting the unit and then fitting the new one in its place. No draining off or anything like that?
thanks

[stringman]

Bit of an update
When i looked at the location i noticed that the pipe out of the pump had been disconnected from the the pipe that then passes through the bulkhead.
See the attched photo.

I have put the pipe back together and all is well. but i am worried as to what could have caused this.
As the pipes just push together ( i presume the vacuum holds the pipes together) i wonder if the connection could have worn.

finally there seems to be 2 prongs on the bulkhead pipe that look like part of a locking device so i wonder if there is something missing.

any help would be appreciatIMAG0295.jpge

[robphelan]

Hi Stringman,

I have experienced the exact same problem VW B6 2.0 TDI (140 BHP Sport). When I followed the vacuum hose back from the pump I saw the same connection on the vacuum hose line. Mine wasn't fully separated but on the antenna end there was slight separation. The connections weren't clipped together. I pushed the hoses together and forced it but I could not click the connection together. I would like to know if the a) do they have to be clicked together and b) how do you do it. Do you need a special VAG tool. Picture attached. Can anyone help. For now the joint is pushed together the best I can by hand. Would like to know if it needs clipping together. Thanks

WP_20150711_11_35_49_Pro.jpg

[DMitch16]

They are pretty much all like that and although it looks like they should clip together or have some sort of additional piece I have never seen it on a B6. Mine is exactly the same as yours. Perhaps the application on other cars using these parts is different or they put the tangs in to allow some purchase when fitting them together or for alignment.

If anyone knows for certain, be my guest.