I'm a loyal jetta owner, driving my 3rd jetta. Having a problem with the brakes that the dealership can not identify. At time, the brake will "stick" and not depress to the floor and then the transmission will not shift. I have to pull over, put the car in park and press on the brake pedal until it will depress to the floor. Also, after freeway driving without using the brake for a while, the brake goes all the way to the floor and will not slow down the car. Is anyone experiencing these problems?

 

?? year?? sounds like maybe a ABS problem.. ? or a vacuum booster issue

 

the car is a 2002 diesel model

 

booster?

 

i have a 99 golf that had the same issue, abs was replaced by dealer back in 01.

 

it could also be a problem with the vacuum pump, or a line from it, it would affect both the brakes and automatic transmission.

 

Sounds like the push rod from the brake pedal to the
master cyl or booster is not adjusted correct, use your
fingers and push on the pedal slightly and see if you have
a small amout of free motion downward, about 1/16 inch
up to 1/4 inch. If not see if you can adjust the rod so you
will have a little play. If the rod doesn't have play it will
not let the master cyl return to rest position. then the
brake fluid will still be in the system instead of returning.
This keeps the brakes on,as if your foot was still on the
pedal. This inturn will make the brake pedal hard to push
down and seem to stick in the high position.
This will also cause the brake pads or shoes to get too
hot, while driving and that will cause the pedal to go to
the floor and not stop, after driving the interstate or any
other distance.
If the rod can't be adjusted under the dash, you may
have to remove the brake booster and see if it can be
adjusted from that side of the firewall. If the rod isn't
adjustable at all, then could be some one installed a incorrect booster.
Last of all the master cyl could be defective.
The hard stuck pedal wont allow the electrical switches
that control the gear shift lock to work, untill it will go
down enough to activate them.
A bad brake booster will cause a hard pedal, but usually
will always have the same feel and not go down with the
engine running, Turn off the engine and the pedal will work
it's way down. The vacuum pump will give the same effect
as a bad booster.
To test the booster and pump.... turn off the engine,
pump the brake pedal untill it gets hard to push and is high.
with you foot still on the brake pedal , while holding this position, start the
engine, if the booster and pump are working correct you
will feel the pedal go down on it's own just a small amount.
If it doesn't then look at those two items.

 

Had the same problem... Replacing the vacuum booster would fixed it.