what have you done to your car today ?

[Battoussai]

Today, I have nothing more than bad news for the car.
The ABS module was tested & has come back healthy, or at least on a cold bench test. Unfortunately, as it is the only component that hasn't been replaced, it is suspected by the garage that it could be faulty under heated conditions. This is plausible, but it would be at the expense of a further £350+ to get it refurbished, totalling around £700 just to eliminate or fix the ABS module.
I've read that the tester can apply heat using a heat gun, but I'm not sure if this is widely practiced.
Either way, it seems I have no choice but to have it refurbished to complete the test & possibly get it working again, but I'll have to forget about getting back on the road this year.
These extra fees have completely eaten up my budget, but worst of all, crushed my hope of getting back out in it & enjoying it again.
If I was sane, it would be going on a trailer to the scrappy, but unfortunately I'm not that smart.
Anyway that's it folks...tune in for another episode of 'Breaking BadBoy' next week

I feel your disappointement, really sorry. These cars are reliable but with 20 years on their back some bits ring the money pitt.
And this is just an idea but wouldn't be a good try to lend a used ABS module with @mty12345 (just to guarantee it is in good condition) and try it on the car? Just to be sure it is the module fault before you go and spend that much money?

 

[BadBoy03]

I feel your disappointement, really sorry. These cars are reliable but with 20 years on their back some bits ring the money pitt.
And this is just an idea but wouldn't be a good try to lend a used ABS module with @mty12345 (just to guarantee it is in good condition) and try it on the car? Just to be sure it is the module fault before you go and spend that much money?

Thanks mate, I appreciate it.
Regarding the ABS module, it certainly is very kind of Mty to offer a donor module.
I'm trying to make sense of the coding process & possible issues & it seems it could be a bit temperamental if info is missing or incomplete.
If any of you have experience with these modules, I'd be very grateful for advice. I'm not clear-headed about it all at the moment, but one thing that really bothers me is that the braking system was impeccable before & the problem is purely hydraulic pressure not returning, the tests have proved that. I just don't understand why heat would upset a previously working module & why is it now faulty? However, what else could cause the pressure to not return?
I'm drowning in confusion, so if anyone has other ideas, I'm all ears!
Thank you.

 

[Nam-uk]

Thanks mate, I appreciate it.
Regarding the ABS module, it certainly is very kind of Mty to offer a donor module.
I'm trying to make sense of the coding process & possible issues & it seems it could be a bit temperamental if info is missing or incomplete.
If any of you have experience with these modules, I'd be very grateful for advice. I'm not clear-headed about it all at the moment, but one thing that really bothers me is that the braking system was impeccable before & the problem is purely hydraulic pressure not returning, the tests have proved that. I just don't understand why heat would upset a previously working module & why is it now faulty? However, what else could cause the pressure to not return?
I'm drowning in confusion, so if anyone has other ideas, I'm all ears!
Thank you.

i did a quick look on that as some say old rubber brake lines swell under heat , handbrake sticking not returning fully.. has all the pads/pins and pipes been looked at ?

 

[Battoussai]

Thanks mate, I appreciate it.
Regarding the ABS module, it certainly is very kind of Mty to offer a donor module.
I'm trying to make sense of the coding process & possible issues & it seems it could be a bit temperamental if info is missing or incomplete.
If any of you have experience with these modules, I'd be very grateful for advice. I'm not clear-headed about it all at the moment, but one thing that really bothers me is that the braking system was impeccable before & the problem is purely hydraulic pressure not returning, the tests have proved that. I just don't understand why heat would upset a previously working module & why is it now faulty? However, what else could cause the pressure to not return?
I'm drowning in confusion, so if anyone has other ideas, I'm all ears!
Thank you.

I don't know if I have asked this before but did they checked the vaccum valve on the servo?
Another idea: I saw a video of this mech that remove the 2 metal lines from ABS and with a help of Y-junction he connects the 2 lines straight to the 4 lines of the wheels. This way he removes the ABS of the braking and checks if the problem remains.

 

[mty12345]

I don't know if I have asked this before but did they checked the vaccum valve on the servo?

Yeah agree on that, when the brakes bind they need to check the servo isn't putting some kind of pressure on the system. Just pulling the vacuum hose from the servo and plugging it should be enough to test, that should eliminate any assistance at all.

 

[BadBoy03]

That sounds like a perfect test. I'll put it to the garage & see what they say. I know Mty mentioned this way before, but I did forget to mention it before the abs module was removed. The module is still with the testers, but am I right in thinking the system will therefore be drained of fluid at the moment?
Can I also ask, if this was the cause, what would be the solution? Does it require parts for example?
Thanks again for the help, much appreciated

 

[Battoussai]

That sounds like a perfect test. I'll put it to the garage & see what they say. I know Mty mentioned this way before, but I did forget to mention it before the abs module was removed. The module is still with the testers, but am I right in thinking the system will therefore be drained of fluid at the moment?
Can I also ask, if this was the cause, what would be the solution? Does it require parts for example?
Thanks again for the help, much appreciated

Yes, right now the fluid is all drained so to test this the brake system must be filled and flushed properly to prevent air inside the brake lines.

Check the valve on the servo, seek if it sucks air with engine on. Check the rubber seal around the valve. Check the valve hose all the way - it can't have any micro hole. And also check if the hose is clogged or not. And if it is well secure on the admission end to prevent air losses.

Usually the servo test is done by pressing the brake pedal 4 to 5 times (with engine off) until it gets very hard. Keep pressing the brake pedal and start the engine - you should feel the brake pedal go down a little bit - about 5 cm. This says the servo is working well.

 

[Battoussai]

You can see this some servo tests (just choose the English audio track on options).

 

[BadBoy03]

Thanks, that's great.
I'm going ahead with the refurb, as it's already there & then the garage said they will look at the servo afterwards if the fault still exists.

 

[Alexis27]

Went to Greggs and car didn't start back up. Battery kaput with zero warning.
Only put it in 3 years ago and was expecting a lot better from Bosch (made by Varta).
Luckily there was a Halfords on the same retail park and so stuck a Yuasa 3000 in there. Let's hope this lasts beyond 3 years.

 

[ExiledWeegie]

anyone who has or had a 10mm phenolic spacer fitted notice a slight increase in engine temps? since doing the mod the temp is running maybe 2-3 degrees warmer than usual, needle still sits in the same position on the dash but monitoring it i can see that its up slightly.

im thinking it could be that the inlet isnt acting as a big heatsink now so the heat is staying in the engine slightly more?

 

[mty12345]

anyone who has or had a 10mm phenolic spacer fitted notice a slight increase in engine temps? since doing the mod the temp is running maybe 2-3 degrees warmer than usual, needle still sits in the same position on the dash but monitoring it i can see that its up slightly.

im thinking it could be that the inlet isnt acting as a big heatsink now so the heat is staying in the engine slightly more?

Not got the spacer but yeah it's quite possible. They do get super hot when the car is idling etc, so they probably are radiating a fair bit of heat.

 

[Nam-uk]

Went to Greggs and car didn't start back up. Battery kaput with zero warning.
Only put it in 3 years ago and was expecting a lot better from Bosch (made by Varta).
Luckily there was a Halfords on the same retail park and so stuck a Yuasa 3000 in there. Let's hope this lasts beyond 3 years.

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[BadBoy03]

Hi there friends.
I have no update on my car, other than I think it it has reached the end.
I'm out of luck, money & determination & now I just need to get it home for good.
Nothing has changed, despite my best efforts, so I decided this morning to call it a day.
I'm at a loss in every way, but worst of all my spirit crushed. I've done everything I can, but I'm not made of money.
I hope (even if my car stays on the driveway as a non-runner), I will still be accepted as part of this forum, because you have all been so helpful in trying to get this car off the starting blocks again. I have a heavy heart, but I see no light at the end of the tunnel & so I have to regain some control of it again.
I don't know how I'm going to get it home, because the binding is apparently worse than before.
Cheers for all your support friends, I really do appreciate it
BadBoy

 

[Battoussai]

Hello BadBoy.
Really sorry to ear that. I understand your desire to keep the beast but I also know how much money a guy can spent trying to bring the car alive. Of course it is always about the love and not the need like on a recent bought car. I wish I could be around to try to fix some things with you - no charge of course. But I am far away on another country, otherwise I would take your car and we both would work on it until a solution was found.
But keep your hopes with us, even on the driveway, maybe someone appear with same problem and got a workaround that doesn't strip your pocket.
The garage keep pointing to the ABS Module?

 

[BadBoy03]

That's very kind of you, I really appreciate it & i know the expertise on here would sort it.
I know there is an answer, but at this stage I'm at a loss as to what that is?
The abs has been tested & refurbished as a precaution, but no change. The front wheels are now binding on individually and from yesterday to today, they've apparently swapped sides. It makes no sense to me at all.
I'll always love the car & it is particular to that car. I had another MK1 Cupra running alongside it a few years ago, but I struggled to adopt it, my memories & adventures will always be with the black. As long as it stays with me, I at least have that

 

[ExiledWeegie]

although you say theres no change, if the wheels are no binding individually and then swapped sides, that is a change so somethign they have done has changed how its reacting, it deffo makes no sense but if they say they have refurbed the abs pump and now the situation is different then to me that indicates its clearly something to do with the abs pump or the wiring to each wheel but i also wonder how much input the ecu itself has on this fault, the ecu could be heating up and that is causing the problem and why it only happens when the car is upto temp?

 

[BadBoy03]

although you say theres no change, if the wheels are no binding individually and then swapped sides, that is a change so somethign they have done has changed how its reacting, it deffo makes no sense but if they say they have refurbed the abs pump and now the situation is different then to me that indicates its clearly something to do with the abs pump or the wiring to each wheel but i also wonder how much input the ecu itself has on this fault, the ecu could be heating up and that is causing the problem and why it only happens when the car is upto temp?

Well, since posting the garage have said they are a bit suspect about the abs test/refurb, so for free, they said they are going to use their golf abs module as a donor & see what happens. If it improves then my unit's fee will be refunded & the car might start behaving. I really don't know otherwise.
Your ECU idea is interesting. Unfortunately the two front wheels apparently have bound on with car started, but cold, literally after meters of driving, so even more confusing to me.

 

[ExiledWeegie]

so there deffo is a change since the abs unit "refurb", well hopefully they get somewhere with the donor unit and if you end up with a refund thats great too and then youll know exactly what it is

 

[Dazzalcr]

@BadBoy03 chin up mate and don't give up, hopefully the fact they are effy about the abs module, fingers crossed this plan works as our cars breaking system compared to modern cars isn't too complicated in comparison. Still sucks when it's your pride an joy. If it's not just walk away and reset then come back a break can be good for your self. I bet someone like the vag yard lads or badger bill would have a good idea, but let's hope it's a poor refurb as mentioned if it's acting different then something has made it do so.