Brake Fluid Service

[aaa888]

Hi

does any one know how many litres of brake fluid is required for a brake fluid service for the 9n 1.2?

Also, would the dealer do a stand alone brake service for me (ie without the inspection and engine oil change)?


cheers

[chewy]

Yeah the dealer would do just a break service for you

[RUM4MO]

Half a litre should cover it easily - I think that the dealer's service manuals call up a minimium or target quantity of fluid that should be passed through each of the four "legs". Maybe you should ask for them to include the clutch line as well - that's just a thought! I've got a horrible feeling that the dealer price for this job is a bit OTT - but if you don't want to do it yourself then that is a cost you will need to bear.

BTW, this job will be menu priced - probably same for all or most models of VWs.

[aaa888]

cheers for the repiles guys.

Finally monday so the dealers are open. They quoted me £40 all in, including VAT, seems OK to me!

Any one know how long it takes normally for this job?

[RUM4MO]

That price seems like the dealers have at last tried to be sensible about what to charge for that job. I'd guess from getting the job card, doing this work and returning it would only take half an hour.

[ihpj]

£40 does sound reasonable form your Main Dealer. VW in Milton Keynes will happily relieve you of nearly twice that. It is unusual for just the brake fluid need to be done by itself, outside of say a normal routine service. But as we're talking fluids, what about your coolant too? Might be worth getting that sorted at the same time...

[RUM4MO]

The VAG factory filled engine coolant is "for life" - so it should only get changed when its dropped out when changing the cambelt and water pump - then replaced with the same but this time the improved "same" - ie G12++.

Some times people turn down the offer of additional work like changing brake fluid - just to save money at that time - or maybe the OP changes their own oil etc but does not like to mess with brakes.

On the price of brake fluid changing, yes I'd thought that £75 or £90 rang a bell (VAG dealers) - but I got an MOT test done on Friday and they were not charging full price - how wierd for VAG dealers - maybe sign of the times!

[aaa888]

Wow, double my quote? To be honest its only a 15min job since they have all the tools (they did it without taking off the wheels, is that normal??)

[RUM4MO]

"Doing it with out removing the wheels" - yes that is okay for them as they will have used a hoist. Its just a case of them fitting a pressurised supply of new fluid instead of the reservoir cap and drawing out a measured quantity of fluid from each wheel's brake valve.

[ihpj]

The VAG factory filled engine coolant is "for life" - so it should only get changed when its dropped out when changing the cambelt and water pump - then replaced with the same but this time the improved "same" - ie G12++.

Filled for life? I never knew that...although at about a few quid to cost of changing [the coolant] I'd get it done every 4 years 'to be safe' as it is a critical element in a modern engine. When my Mothers car recently had its second variable service (4 year mark) it had the cambelt and tensioners also changed by VW and consequently the coolant was changed then. I know our Lexus had a 10 year/100K on the factory fill coolant and this was confirmed by not only a couple of dealers but also on the sticker on the bottle [in the engine bay].

[capo]

Our Polo's coolant was low when I checked it just after winter passed. About 4cm below minimum.

I filled it back up to the minimum marker line, with a 50-50 mix of G12 (pink) coolant + distilled water.

That is right isn't it... coolant should be on minimum line when the car is cold.... the coolant expands when engine hot with road use... so you don't want to fill up much past minimum, else the coolant would try and escape out the top of the coolant tank with the pressure.

[RUM4MO]

Yes that was spot on, personally I tend just to top up with G12+ or G12++ - if only a little is required - I think that maximum "strength" is 60/40 or about there.

Edit, 4cm is quite a lot though - someone is not keeping an eye on things!?! Are you sure that you do not have a leak or the cap is "passing"?

[capo]

Thx RUM4MO for the confirmation... if in doubt.. best to check.

I'm sure plenty of people have filled their coolant to the max-level marker, thinking that was the done thing.

Especially people... well my Mum's elderly friend left her car on my drive whilst she flew off on holiday, and one morning I thoughtfully went out to check her oil level, and noticed she had filled coolant to max mark, and engine cold as no one had driven her car for days. Don't know whether she used pure coolant on not.

Yes.. maybe in retrospect the coolant level of our Polo was 3cm down, not 4cm... it was a lot because I was astonished. Checked it again yesterday and still at same level I filled it back to minimum about 12 weeks ago so don't think it is leaking. Maybe the coolant volume just went a little with cold weather over Winter.*

And yes, guilty of not checking over Polo over Winter months. I know I checked the oil a couple of times, but just overlooked the coolant level. However our older Golf was also about 2cm below minimum marker for coolant after Winter too (same again.. checked oil level but overlooked coolant level in rush to get in during colder weather - won't rush again.)

*Update... I just found this on VWvortex

Coolant low? Cold temperatures? Here is why! [Archived]

I hope this saves a few people the frustration of reading through 10 posts to find no answers about their low coolant this winter. G12 coolant, the coolant that we use in our VW's as specified, has a tendency to shrink in extremely cold temperatures! If you get a low coolant warning this winter, don't stress out!

Link to full thread here: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2329382