2002 Volkswagen Passat service brakes, hydraulic problems

“IN AUGUST OF 2013, WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLENUM THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY AND BRAKE BOOSTER WAS NEARLY FILLED WITH RAIN WATER. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO REMOVE ONE OF THE DUCK-BILLED DRAIN PLUGS IN THE PLENUM AS ALL WERE CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS, PREVENTING WATER FROM DRAINING OUT. THE FLOODED PLENUM APPEARS TO HAVE RESULTED IN WATER BEING DRAWN THROUGH THE VACUUM LINES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER TO BE DRAWN INTO THE CRANKCASE. WATER WAS ALSO DRAWN INTO THE CYLINDERS RESULTING IN MISFIRING. AFTER REMOVING AT LEAST ONE DRAIN PLUG IN THE PLENUM FOR PROPER DRAINAGE, AND DOUBLE FLUSHING THE CONTAMINATED OIL IN THE CRANKCASE, I EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER BRAKING PROBLEMS UNTIL FREEZING WEATHER IN NOVEMBER 2013. IN NOVEMBER, WHILE BRAKING NEAR THE BOTTOM OF A HILL, I AGAIN EXPERIENCED A HARD PEDAL WITH NO DEPRESSION AND ALMOST NO BRAKING ABILITY, RESULTING IN THE CAR GOING INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE FULLY STOPPING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER, THERE WAS AGAIN THE SYMPTOM OF A HARD…”

“THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. MY CAR BEEPS AT ME ABOUT 3-4 TIMES & THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE TURNING OFF. FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ ONLINE, ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS MODULE & THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE PASSAT. *TR”

“ABS SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING. CAR SENT TO AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT ABS UNIT HAD FAILED. $3000 REPAIR BILL REQUIRED TO BRING CAR BACK TO SPECS, INCLUDING REPLACEMENTS OF UPPER LINKS (8E0407505A), AND ABS UNIT (8E0614111AQ). *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY STIFF AND WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.”

“WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING, THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 PASSAT WAGON DO NOT WORK. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD, AND WILL NOT DEPRESS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHO HAS WORKED ON MY CAR FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER IN MY BRAKE LINES. THIS WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER IN A MANNER DESCRIBED IN INCIDENT REPORT #PE07018. ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL SO FAR (WATER HAS BEEN DRAINED OUT OF SYSTEM, DRAINS HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING). DOES VW HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, I DO NOT HAVE FUNCTIONING BRAKES (A RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION, TO SAY THE LEAST). *TR”

“STARTED CAR 5 AM DURING WINTER MONTHS-CAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DEPRESSED-BRAKES WERE UN USABLE. CAR WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER BRAKES COULD NOT BE USED AT ANY POINT. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ISSUE AS ANY FREEZING TEMPERATURE WILL RENDER THE BRAKES UN USABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A CRASH. BROUGHT THE CAR TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT A P9 SERVICE WHICH SEALED POLLEN FILTERS TO PREVENT DEBRIS FROM ENTERING THE AREA SURROUNDING THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD BEEN DONE, BUT DEBRIS STILL ENTERED. *TR”