Passat Brakes - Beware

[JASTONV]

I think you should get the car to another garage, an Independent, for a second opinion. I have seen servos full to the top with water and never seen this.

Cheers mate, I was thinking the same myself.
I did ask them to drain the plenum chamber, and suck the water out of the servo, as I am planning to get the car back.
The only thing is, I do believe diesels are different to petrol passats, as they do not show water ingress from a faulty servo until it is too late?

[Crasher]

I don't know about not showing it, I have only seen two do it. I think this is due to a lower vacuum developed by the petrol engine inlet manifold depression as opposed to the vacuum developed by the diesels vacuum pump.

[JASTONV]

I don't know about not showing it, I have only seen two do it. I think this is due to a lower vacuum developed by the petrol engine inlet manifold depression as opposed to the vacuum developed by the diesels vacuum pump.

Am I right to assume that the pump will only be able to draw water from the servo once it is above the vacuum pipe connection on the servo? It was 20 years ago since I went to college
If that is the case then I guess this has been happening for quite a while for the water level to get to this height in the servo and, thus, to have this affect on the engine?

[Sam]

It is a recall at Audi; the recall involves pushing a bit of wire through the drain tube.

Is that really the full extent of the recall procedure?!

[Crasher]

Am I right to assume that the pump will only be able to draw water from the servo once

Thats what I think.

Is that really the full extent of the recall procedure?!

The (recently ex) service manager of Nottingham (as was Jon Fox) Audi told me this yesterday. I was shocked as well; basically the blocked drain tunes are a service issue. It is a job we now offer on all affected cars as part of the annual service. I have just spent five hours repairing the damage caused by this on a 2000 model Passat.

[JASTONV]

Planning to go and see car on friday pm to confirm bad news and witness 'damage' for myself.
Was in further discussions with garage today, and if it is all true, then defo going to try and get rid, at best price I can get.
But, if not all true, then have decided to get rid anyway.
Offered me trade in, but not taking that option.

[john250]

Is there no way of draining the water?

Even if it means removing the vacuum pipe and syphoning the water out with a small bore plastic hose?

Am I just wishful thinking??

[Crasher]

You would have to remove the servo to fully drain it and by now it will have corroded internally.

[PURVEY]

HELP!!!! I HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES ON MY PASSAT. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES SOLID AND THE BREAKS FAIL. ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN THE MORNING OF A COLD DAY (0 deg.) I TOOK THE CAR TO VW MAIN DEALERS WHO REPLACED THE SERVO PIPE. CAR IS STILL THE SAME AND RETURNED TO MAIN DEALER, WHO INSISTED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.
I HAD ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SEVO FOR WATER, WHEN THEY DID THEY FOUND I WAS CORRECT. THEY HAVE NOW QUOTED ME £600 FOR A NEW SERVO. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO RECON THE SERVO, OR ANY OTHER WAY OF SOLVING THIS PROBLEM CHEAPER.

[daveo138]

Is this 'servo full of water/engine full of water' problem just caused by the blocked drain holes in the plenum?

I had heard of problems with damp carpets/stuffed ECUs, but nothing like this.

Tell me it ain't so?!