StinkingSocks Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Evening all, new poster here Had to say goodbye to my previous Lupo a few months back and just got a new 2002 1.0 to replace it. It looks immaculate, has years MoT and 30k miles which look genuine, but all is not as it seems Brake light switch has failed twice in 10 days. I got it replaced at a local VW specialist who seems to have a good reputation so either he fitted it poorly or there is a short / bad earth somewhere. A dirty / burning smell sometimes seeps into the cabin. It's not overbearing but I can't tell if it's from brakes, exhaust, oil or something else. As it just passed an MoT I'm a bit concerned about this one. It does seem to happen mainly when braking or when stopped at lights. The engine runs like a dream but at idle I've noticed a rattle from around the gearbox. It goes in time with the revs, disappears if I depress the clutch and smooths out with more revs. A bit of searching suggests a noisy clutch bearing but plenty of people seem to have heard similar and ignored it with no issues. Apart from that the car drives great and feels brand new compared to my last Lupo. All electrics work perfectly, gear changes smooth etc etc. Any ideas? Apart from "don't buy a car on impulse again" - I've learned that already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 learn to be more precise with your smell diagnosis. brake light switches are buggers and cheap ones are crap. I left my last release bearing for 45k and it was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StinkingSocks Posted March 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Burning smell when brakes are depressed are about as precise as I can be. Years of Lambert & Butler haven't done much for my nostrils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sausage Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 (edited) When you have driven a few miles or you get the burning smell, pull in and feel the wheel centres to see if any are hot or warmer than the others, you might need to take the wheel trims off if you have them, probably got a brake sticking on a bit, you might feel it pulling one side if it's bad enough. Edited March 8, 2017 by Sausage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StinkingSocks Posted March 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Cheers sausage, I tried that today but wasn't sure if I was feeling in the right place. Centre of wheel just under the alloys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sausage Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Wheel nuts or the hub thru the wheel spokes then if it isnt so hot as to be obvious. For you to have a burning smell connected to braking then looking for a hot or very warm wheel is where to start. If there isnt any hot wheels then look for brake fluid leaking onto the brakes or hot exhaust and stinking the car up when it boils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I drove with a rattling release bearing and flywheel chatter for a very very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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