complete loss of hydraulic fluid

[dazman1]

First of all my engine is a 1.6td
I posted last week about a problen with my brakes(hard pedel) a member on the forum helped me out,turned out to be poor vacuum so he fixed that for me.
Took van for MOT today, failed on rear brake recording little or no effort both sides,he also asked where reverse was as he had to engage reverse with engine off.
I put van in reverse with no problem and reversed some distance to get out his yard i then noticed hand brake light was on brakes not working very well and could not select 2nd or 4th gear.managed to limp home,checked resovoir in dash and its completly empty
Checked under van and there was fluid all over spare wheel and radiator fan but could not see where exactly the leek is.
Dose anyone have any clues of where to check and why would it affect 2nd and 4th gear.
Also could have i done some serious damage and could this have been caused during MOT.
I'm seriously p***** off just spent loads on starter.fly wheel and clutch kit hope someone can give me some good news.
thanks
Darren

[Wychall]

First off, check the carpets beneath the dash binnacle to make sure fluid has not run down from the master cylinder (unlikely as you would have noticed it inside instead of underneath.

I believe what has happened is that a fluid pipe above the spare wheel has split. This will have allowed the fluid level to drop, which will explain both the gear selection difficulty due to a dragging clutch, and the wooly feel to the brakes.

Yes, it is likely to have happened during the test as they applied a heavy foot trying to get a good braking effect. No, it is not likely to be expensive, just need to remake and replace the relevant pipe. Then bleed brakes and clutch and job should be a good 'un.

We can discuss it at the Hopwood if you like, and plan the campaign. I have a brake flare tool, just need the tube nuts and fluid.

[Ian Hulley]

Fit compression joints and new kunifer pipe ... before and after the tank. It's usually as the pipe goes horizontal before the tank

Ian

[HarryMann]

Ian
Does water sit on the pipe then...?
Should we put a specific warning in the beginning section of the Wiki alongside the fire and fuel warnings?

[Ian Hulley]

Evening Clive, on those I've seen the downwards sections are like brand new but as soon as it levels off they start to rot. They also go where they can chatter between the chassis crossmembers. Our's is now in 3 (or 4 I forget ) separate pieces up to where it meets the opaque plastic pipe.

Ian

[nevill3]

You don't have to follow the route over the fuel tank that VW used for the brake pipes. I read a tip on here some time ago suggesting that you find a more suitable route for the pipes, is this feasible.

Back on topic, I had a brake pipe split last year and found that once you are under the van it is easier to just replace all the front pipes at the same time if they have not been done recently, the old steel pipes don't take too kindly to being disturbed so make sure you have plenty of Kunifer to hand and spare nuts and a three way coupling if you can get one.