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[LC0112G]

Well, I promised some pictures. Story is...

I started the car in the garage seeing if it would stall. It didn't, but it wasn't running right. I popped the bonnet, and started waggling connectors and wires down the back of the Plenium, where the crank sensor connector lives. I then became aware of a hissing sound - like a vacuum air leak. I couldn't immediately locate it, but it was coming from here somewhere...


Then after a bit more poking I saw it...



And removed from the car...



The "funny" thing is I'd been aware for a while that the brakes were a but 'wooden' for the first few seconds after a cold start, and I was intending to replace all the pads last weekend. Now the reason is obvious - poor vacuum to the servo.

I think it probably explains the stalling too. It's not too little fuel/blocked fuel filter/low fuel pressure - it's too much air. The ECU won't be able to meter the air getting in through the hole , so it'll run very lean.

The hole was made by the pipe rubbing on the Air Con quick release connector. It's obviously not happened 'suddenly' and worn away over the years until eventually it rubbed through. It actually seals quite well on the A/C connector.

Anyway - haven't got a spare pipe, so a bodge fix required...



Several layers of glue filled heat shrink. Not very neat, but getting the lengths of heat shrink over the coupling nut and around the elbow is a bit of a game.

Has it cured it? - Dunno yet I managed to break one of the vacuum pipe couplings by the one way valve getting the wretched thing off, so need to fix that first. But I'm optimistic.

[B52]

Well, wouldn't have thought of that - my money was on something electronic.

Good detective work there.

[Shackeng]

Well done Malc. Something to check for others. 

[Nick W]

That would certainly explain your problem


It's very common on VAG cars, where the fix is to cut out the holed pipe and join it with vacuum hose. And to ensure it no longer rubs on whatever caused the hole....

[polilara]

Interesting case. Checked immediately mine but perhaps due to right side traffic slightly different design and there is a plastic clip to prevent those hoses to touch, too.

[Doctor Gollum]

Uk cars left the factory with the same spacer clips

Actually quite rare to find them still present, even on the best kept cars...

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I think mine still has them. Will try and remember to check tomorrow. 

[STEMO]

They look like one of those "Where the fick did that bit come from?" items that get chucked after a repair job.

[Nick W]

They look like one of those "Where the fick did that bit come from?" items that get chucked after a repair job.

More like a "It doesn't do anything, and it takes too long to get back under there, fit it in the bin" parts, that six months later makes you do another 3 hour job figuring out why the damn car doesn't work properly.

[STEMO]

I've always had the odd screw or bolt left, I'm still alive 

[LC0112G]

I've always had the odd screw or bolt left, I'm still alive 

But you've got a screw loose.

[STEMO]

I've always had the odd screw or bolt left, I'm still alive 

But you've got a screw loose.

But I'm still upright and breathing, which is all that's required 

[DrAndyB]

Just checked mine as got me paranoid and spacer still there, fitted a little before the other picture and looks like never been touched  , but I have had car from new 

I'll go and read her a story and tuck her blanket in 

[Lizzie Zoom]

Well done Malc. Something to check for others. 

Indeed!

I have now checked mine and all is ok.  Those pictures certainly gave me a scare, like my loose plenum servo pipe!!