harddrivin1le1
Ready to race!
Mine's getting "fixed" under warranty. The dealer was clueless until I gave them the TSB number yesterday, which further confirms my low opinion of the dealership.
The service rep had the TSB procedure in front of him when he sat down with me after they "verified" the problem. I did not look through it directly, though he insists it does not require removal of the rear roof spoiler (as some have asserted). VW gives them 45 minutes worth of labor to perform the TSB.
The fix involves installing a spring loaded, ball check-valve into the existing line. This type of check valve is the most common and has been in use for more than a century. (I have a registered US patent on another type of check valve.) The internals of the valve are similar to this one and the VW valve uses a plastic housing (and probably a plastic ball with a stainless steel spring):
http://www.industrial-microhydraulics.co.uk/images/Ind_microhydraulics_images/check_valves2.jpg
Forum members have complained that their "fixed" cars still leak and I don't doubt that, although I think it's a fair bet that it's not the fault of the valve itself and is instead due to technician error (or a concocted "dealer fix" that differs from the TSB.)
Some on the forum have suggested that the new valve "might be installed the wrong way" and therefore still leaks. There's a simple way to check that. Simply activate the rear washer. No fluid will come out if the valve was installed "the wrong way" (i.e. reversed), since the fluid flow would CLOSE the valve (by forcing the ball into its seat) rather than opening it.
For all I know mine will still leak after it's fixed.:lol: Nevertheless, I though some might find this information interesting.
The service rep had the TSB procedure in front of him when he sat down with me after they "verified" the problem. I did not look through it directly, though he insists it does not require removal of the rear roof spoiler (as some have asserted). VW gives them 45 minutes worth of labor to perform the TSB.
The fix involves installing a spring loaded, ball check-valve into the existing line. This type of check valve is the most common and has been in use for more than a century. (I have a registered US patent on another type of check valve.) The internals of the valve are similar to this one and the VW valve uses a plastic housing (and probably a plastic ball with a stainless steel spring):
http://www.industrial-microhydraulics.co.uk/images/Ind_microhydraulics_images/check_valves2.jpg
Forum members have complained that their "fixed" cars still leak and I don't doubt that, although I think it's a fair bet that it's not the fault of the valve itself and is instead due to technician error (or a concocted "dealer fix" that differs from the TSB.)
Some on the forum have suggested that the new valve "might be installed the wrong way" and therefore still leaks. There's a simple way to check that. Simply activate the rear washer. No fluid will come out if the valve was installed "the wrong way" (i.e. reversed), since the fluid flow would CLOSE the valve (by forcing the ball into its seat) rather than opening it.
For all I know mine will still leak after it's fixed.:lol: Nevertheless, I though some might find this information interesting.