My VW Passat is due it's 2 year service, the car has only done 15k. VW insist that a brake fluid change be done at 2 years/20,000 miles or the warranty will be invalidated.
I know there is a safety issue here but what puzzles me is that other manufacturers don't seem to specify a brake fluid change at this interval.
Is this another case of VW hiking up there service charges?
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I dont think so. Your Passat probably has ABS and ESP. There are quite a lot of intricate moving parts in the ABS system, and any deterioration of the fluid (particularly absorbtion of water) could cause premature wear of these components. I think most manf recommend every 3 years with non ABS systems. If you do it yourself, make sure you use the Specified Brake Fluid.
All IMHO.
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Just did my Seat Cordoba at dealer service was due at 3 years and cost, 1/2 hour labour + fluid can not remember exact price but was reasonable.
Whilst 2 years may seem soon as your milage is low it is probably more necessary as car is obviously standing for much of the time.
Having had to change rear brake cylinders on three cars this year ( kids wife etc... don/t ask) due to leaking seals which showed signs of rust at the piston seal, this is what you are trying to prevent. It is worth doing and manufactures will err on the side of fail safe, myself 4 years would probaly be the norm once I am servicing my car.
David
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Yes 2 years through it away reduce internal corrosion and reduce the probability of siezed bleed nipples. Regards Peter
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Thanks for replies. I'm sure you are both correct so I will just have to pay the £200 2 year service cost!
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Well, I find if you combine the brake fluid change with something else, it will be cheaper as there is no setup cost, I just say \"Oh and can you change the brake fluid aswell? thanks\" and they just charge a few pounds for the fluid. This is at the Vauxhall dealer.
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other manufacturers don't seem to specify a brake fluid change at this interval.....
Er, yes they do. Vauxhall also recommend a brake fluid change every 2 yrs. For the sake of ¼ hrs labour, and approx £5 to £10 worth of brake fluid, is it really worth haggling over? Peace of mind and all that?
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OK I'm convinced, but just to set the record straight:-
A brake fluid change is a mandatory requirement of VW's 2 year service. A 1 year service costs about £120 and the 2 year service about £200. The only difference is the brake fluid change - so how much does a VW brake fluid change cost? I'll leave back room members to work it out!
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Not wanting to defend main dealer pricing...... but, I think you will find the difference will also cover extra filter changes Pollen fuel etc and does include a far mor comprehensive check and inspection of the running gear than the standard service.
Small price to pay for piece of mind on the warranty I would have thought.
David
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Hello, my friend.
Have you a service book for the vehicle?
Have you ever read it?
I have written very many of these. I try and tell you precisely what work needs to be done and concomitant squares on the service stamp pages where the technician ticks the relevant boxes.
You, and subsequent owners, can then see precisely what needs to be done, and precisely what has been done.
Now, what was the question, please?
Sorry, if this is abrasive. It has been a hard week.
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I'm sure the service book does say replace every two years. The original poster's question was whether or not this is necessary.
Some makers (e.g. MB) specify every year, VW specify every two years, Citroen say every 3 years. Who is right? I don't know. Some of the 'water absoprtion' claims seem a bit weak. The only area exposed to air is the reservoir surface. Even if we believe moisture permeates in through the rubber hoses the exposed area is pretty small.
Anyway, I change my own fluid every two years, but then I'm not paying a dealer £50 to do it for me.
As regards the VW checklist etc. - well that is all very well, the technician can tick the box - but has he done the job?
My elderly mother has had three Polos from new. With the last one the dealer didn't do the 2-year brake fluid change properly. Sure, there was new fluid in the reservior and the front bleed nipples had been undone, but I checked the back and they were crusted with rust (presumably the 'technician' didn't want to risk snapping off the siezed nipples).
I rang the dealership and asked if VW had managed to develop technology to bleed brakes without undoing the nipples. The service guy admitted they hadn't. I took the car back and they finished the job properly.
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>> The original poster's question was whether or not this is necessary.>>
Yes, but he did add later >>>".... A 1 year service costs about £120 and the 2 year service about £200. The only difference is the brake fluid change - so how much does a VW brake fluid change cost? I'll leave back room members to work it out!...">>>
Which implies that he believes he is being overcharges for the fluid change.
>>... As regards the VW checklist etc. - well that is allvery well, the technician can tick the box - but has he done the job?.... >>
Well that applies to all technicians, and how much you trust them. Personally, I never trust anyone fully. If you are capable, the golden rule is always double-check and where new parts are fitted, always ask for your old parts back. Do a search for the "dishonest traders" tricks guide on this site for other scams.
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{P} = advertising my profile is ON. Add/View photos groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pictures
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Yes, but he did add later >>>".... A 1 year service costs about £120 and the 2 year service about £200. The only difference is the brake fluid change - so how much does a VW brake fluid change cost? I'll leave back room members to work it out!...">>> Which implies that he believes he is being overcharges for the fluid change.
Well, if it really is £80 just for a fluid change then that *is* rather a lot.
>> very well, the technician can tick the box - but has >> he done the job?.... >> Well that applies to all technicians, and how much you trust them. Personally, I never trust anyone fully. If you are capable, the golden rule is always double-check and where new parts are fitted, always ask for your old parts back.
I certainly agree with you there!
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Trouble with me is that I have a nasty suspicious mind. In reply to various comments:
I'm still not entirely convinced that a brake fluid change is necessary at 2 years or whatever. All brake fluid these days is to the same spec therefore you would expect all car manufacturers to agree on such fluid's service life.
I agree that the list of things to be checked in the second year service is bigger than the first year but I'm afraid that I now have such a jaundiced view that I seriously doubt whether they ever are 'checked'. Our family has run virtually nothing else but VW's since 1965 but experience of downright dishonesty and incompetence by VW dealers in the last 3 years have convinced us all never to buy another VW - but that's another story! And as for VW 'Customer Care' that is yet another story!
Thanks for all the comments.
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Here,here !! I certainly won't be buying another VW. Can't believe the poor build quality of the car......but that's ANOTHER story.
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But if you don't have the fluid changed, you have not had the full service, and cannot sell the vehicle "with full service history"
This should more than make up for the £80!
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bertj,
You claim "All brake fluid these days is to the same spec therefore you would expect all car manufacturers to agree on such fluid's service life."
How can you make such a statement?
DoT 3, 4, 5, 5.01, 5.1 etc.
Do you believe your statement is still correct?
Believe in brake fluid recommendations or do not, as you wish.
Eat a sandwich after it's "use by" date in similar vogue.
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Sean
VW specifies DOT 4. Are you suggesting that individual manufacturers specify different or higher DOT ratings? Therefore the change interval depends on the DOT rating? It would be interesting to hear from other Back Room members what DOT specifiction is required for their cars? By that token Citroen may specify DOT 5 and go for 3 year change intervals. However, with respect, I feel that this discussion has gone on long enough and is probably un-resolvable.
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Reading my mate's Driver's Handbook for his 96 Clio, it does not state the brake fluid spec ("use products approved by our Technical Dept.").
However, looking at the service "programme", all jobs are scheduled by mileage not by time. There is absolutely no reference to time interval whatsoever for any job including brake fluid change (every 20k miles) and timing belt (75k).
So if this was a central London car it might take 5 years or more to do 20k miles but an out-of-towner might rack this up in a year and a half. What is that all about? And the timing belt...
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