Used GT Vacuum pipes

[Zippyworld]

I am looking at buying a used 55 plate GT.

The only issue is there is no evidence that the common fault of failing vacuum pipes has been fixed.

I have been told its an engine out job and around £6k to do and it cannot be verified simply by looking at the engine, if this work has been done.

Is this information correct ?

Should I be walking away ?


I would really appreciate your advice.

Kind Regards

[ColourRestorer]

There is no easy way to tell ‘externally’ whether the vacuum pipes have been replaced, short of taking down the rear undertray and putting a borescope up around the transmission. Even then it’s a squeeze to look at all the pipe connections.

Also, beware that cars which have had the pipes replaced may have simply had them swapped like-for-like i.e. new but identical sub-standard VW parts fitted.

Yes it’s a £6k task to pay a dealer to do the swap, but depending on how handy you are with the spanners the job can be done by a DIYer. I know because I changed all my vacuum pipes when I had the engine out to swap the transmission.

If you want to know the current state of the pipes then just listen to the vacuum pump in the near side inner wing: if it runs constantly then the pipes are leaking, whereas if it switches in and out for a few seconds every few minutes, then that’s normal.