Volkswagen Polo - '57 plate VW Polo brakes issue - faulty ABS?

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Tue 12 Feb 2019 20:08
Volkswagen Polo - '57 plate VW Polo brakes issue - faulty ABS? - APP2019
Hi,

Newbie here - hoping someone can help with this ongoing saga...

The brake pedal on my 57 plate VW Polo started feeling mushy and braking was less responsive. Took it into a local garage to have the brakes checked, and they advised that there was nothing wrong - probably just needed a brake fluid change and bleeding. I had this done, and they called back to say that the brakes weren't holding pressure in the system properly - advised probably an issue with the master cylinder which needed to be done at a VW garage.

Booked into VW garage and outlined the issue, left the car there for a diagnostic. Contacted me to say that the back pipe from the master cylinder was cracked and needed replacing and the console bushels? needed replacing. I authorised those repairs which were done today. They've now come back to say that those repairs didn't fix the issue and everything is pointing to the ABS system which they want to replace for a cool £1300 on top of what I'm already paying them (~£450) and they can't guarantee that this will fix it.

I've got several issues with this turn of events, and I'm becoming more and more concerned that I'm being taken for a ride here:

1. If the ABS is faulty, why haven't any warning lights come on?
2. Why can't VW properly diagnose a problem with a VW car?
3. As far as I understand, they should be able to read error codes off of an ABS module CPU - they claim the only way to diagnose is to replace the parts?
4. Searching round online, there is a propensity for ABS units from VWs this age to have a serious fault that should have been recalled and wasn't? If my ABS unit is one of these models, is there any way for me to get some form of goodwill from VW on this? The fact that "everything points to the ABS unit" leads me to believe that they know in advance this is a dodgy unit.

Can anyone give me some advice here?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 12 Feb 2019 20:43
Volkswagen Polo - '57 plate VW Polo brakes issue - faulty ABS? - elekie&a/c doctor

Oh dear ,what's happened here? Sounds like a case of make it worse. Firstly ,,the console bushes are part of the rear suspension, nothing to do with the brakes. Cracked pipe to the master cylinder? Looks like the mechanic has done that when replacing the master cylinder. Abs system faults are unlikely to give a less responsive feel to the pedal. I think the fault is far more basic than the dealer is making out. They are being completely incompetent. They have not fixed it for the price they quoted. Speak to somebody who understands how the system works.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 12 Feb 2019 21:07
Volkswagen Polo - '57 plate VW Polo brakes issue - faulty ABS? - APP2019
Thanks - I was concerned this was the case. I expected VW to be able to fix it though, and not make a complete pig's ear of things? I guess I'm in for a big argument tomorrow...
Reply | Report as offensive | Link