VW mechanic tells the truth!

[M@Turner]

Well i took my car in to VW today as my EPC light came on whilst i was driving home from work. Ironically it wasn't on though when i took it in.

Anyhow it cost £41.76 to replace a brake pedal sensor. Whilst i was there i thought i'd ask the mechanic about the clutch. I asked him if it felt stiff and if he knew of any solutions.

He replied "the clutch didn't seem particularly heavy but i've only driven it a short distance. Try lubing the clutch cable and should that not work the clutch may need to be replaced. Failing that the pedal box could break which would be quite costly" This is when he shocked me, as i know most of you have said they deny knowledge of a faulty pedal box.

Anyway, whilst i have your attention, could some let me know how i would go about lubing the clutch cable and what lubrication to use.

[morrismen]

Any silicone based lubricant, not WD40, oil or grease etc. You need it to be able to run free all the time without clogging up when you lube it. If I were you though, I'd buy a new clutch cable. Lubbing will cause it to clog and jam eventually anyway.

[jon_poloV]

. If I were you though, I'd buy a new clutch cable. Lubbing will cause it to clog and jam eventually anyway.

Nice!
jon

[PoloGTi]

Well i took my car in to VW today as my EPC light came on whilst i was driving home from work. Ironically it wasn't on though when i took it in.

Anyhow it cost £41.76 to replace a brake pedal sensor.

This has just happened on my car, the EPC light is on and apparantly my brake light seems to stay on when I take my foot off the pedal (that must be really annoying to peple Im overtaking while apparantly braking).

Is this simelar to what your problem was?

[ttaw2]

don't know about the brake lights staying on, but WORD OF WARNING i do know that vw will try and rip you off when it comes to changing your clutch cable.. The cable costs 20 quid with all the brakets and everything built in, and i did it myself in about 15-20 minutes total.. My local VW garage wanted £78 to fit it - plus the cost of the cable ..I asked them why it was £78 and not based on the hourly rate and the bloke looked blank and said "it's the price on the system mate, can't do anything about it" and grinned inanely ate me... Tw4ts

Trust me, it's possibly one of the simplest jobs i've ever done on a car..

The only thing i worry about is that mine snapped on a 3 year old car... i've checked the top of the pedal and it seems fine - the bloke at the veedub garage said that this can sometimes be a problem due to the plastic the pedal is made of being overstressed and the top bending (wow - what a great design)

PM me if you go for it and need any help, but you shouldn't have any problems...

[4paws]

if your brake lights stay on all the time its more than likely the switch is faulty and bringing on the epc light.

[M@Turner]

Soz for late reply but had some problems getting on the internet.

Anyway, not sure whether my brake lights stayed on (i don't think they did) and as for the clutch cable, i'll definately PM you ttaw2 should i get the cable myself and do it.

[snoopstah]

If the brake light was permanently on, I'd think you'd notice when driving it - whenever I try left-foot braking it cuts about 90% power, so you can't effectively left-foot brake or heel-and-toe it.

Oh, and M@Turner, with reference to your signature it's spelt Volkswagen!

[M@Turner]

My signature is now changed. Anything else you want to pick up on.

Thanks for letting me know. None of the others had noticed though

[PoloGTi]

The problem with my brake lights staying on constantly was sorted over the weekend when I took it into VW, and just like 4paws said it was the brake light switch. £5.54 for the switch £60.00 for the labour comes to a total of £77.01 inc vat. B4st4rd0!

90% of power??? I doubt it!

[4paws]

just becos the brake lights are on dosent mean the brakes are on!
it just means the switch at the pedal thinks the brake pedal is depressed
so the car isnt actually braking