Brakes went this morning - what could it be?

[pds999]

Icy down here today and this morning when driving into town the brakes went. The pedal fixed rigid and wouldn't press at all and wouldn't brake. It had been happening intermittently the last week or so (only had the car 2 weeks) but I put it down to ice and the ABS system as it only did it for a second or so. But this morning it wouldn't right itself and it is fixed rigid.

Anyone have any ideas? It's with the garage now (the one luckily I was crawling by at the time) who thinks it might be water in the servo which has frozen as it is 0 deg here this morning. Whenever it has done it, it does seem to have been icy.

Anyone have any ideas?

[bora(ing) nick]

There is a well know problem of servo's failing due to water ingress. the water comes from the plenum chamber, which fills up with rain water due to the drainage holes being blocked by leaves...

Could possibly be that??

Nick

[pds999]

There is a well know problem of servo's failing due to water ingress. the water comes from the plenum chamber, which fills up with rain water due to the drainage holes being blocked by leaves...

Could possibly be that??

Nick

Absolutely, could well be that. I've done a bit of research and it seems to be quite common on A4's and Passats, especially in freezing temps when the water in the servo freezes. Any idea what the fix would be, new servo or simply draining the water and unblocking the drainage holes?

[bora(ing) nick]

Absolutely, could well be that. I've done a bit of research and it seems to be quite common on A4's and Passats, especially in freezing temps when the water in the servo freezes. Any idea what the fix would be, new servo or simply draining the water and unblocking the drainage holes?

New servo... there was a recall for the blocked drainage holes, so Audi MAY offer a discount as a gesture of good will?

Good Luck

Nick

[pds999]

New servo... there was a recall for the blocked drainage holes, so Audi MAY offer a discount as a gesture of good will?

Good Luck

Nick

If it was simply the plenum chamber drain blocked, couldn't unblocking that (with a wire down the hose I seem to recall one poster saying) fix the problem without the need to replace the whole servo?

[jonbaker]

New servo... there was a recall for the blocked drainage holes, so Audi MAY offer a discount as a gesture of good will?

Good Luck

Nick

So glad crasher told me about this as i noticed water dripping from the plenum chamber. Mine qualified for the recall

[Marco34]

Mine has this lovely problem a few years ago. I noticed it on my due to the nasty smell coming into the car. The water was becoming rank. Anyway, I drained 9litres if water out before I finally unblocked it.

3 months later my brake eventually wouldn't release. The server has rusted. New servo, but Audi did knock off £100.

Marco