Oil Change

I started my car this morning, and backed off… and when I put my foot on the brake to slow down… my car didn’t… I squeezed harder and harder… the car kept going and going.

I couldn’t believe what was happening. I managed to stop without hitting anything. And after that I noticed somethings…

Usually before when I press the brake and the engine is not running, the brake is hard. And once I start the car, the brake paddle would soften and I’ll be able to press the brakes all the way down. But now, that wont happen. Its hard and stays hard. it feels like hydraulics or something are not working or maybe like trying to brake or steer when the car is off and the gear is on neutral.

It was a *****ty situation. I turn off the car and started it couple times with hours intervals. But all the same. Usually a problem would go away by it self. But this creepy problem is still there.

Its really scary especially that I drove it yesterday morning and there was nothing wrong with it.

So? Any thoughts?

Oil Change

forgot to say my car is 2002 C200 coupe. I had it serviced just couple months ago and everything was okay.

JamE55

Never heard of that problem before. Have it checked at your dealer. Sorry about the situation.

Outland

No offense, but why do people ask opinions about stuff like this? Just take it in, if the farking car doesn't stop, somethings broke. If the pedal was very hard, you may have lost the booster, in which case the brakes are still working, you just weren't pushing hard enough without the assist.

Oil Change

Yes the brakes were working and I had to step on them really hard that my back is still hurting me. But all that just to bring a 15km/h car to stop!

anyways, whats a booster? And why would it stop working just like that?

Outland

OK, so the thread topic shouldn't be "my car go no brakes anymore" right?

I'm not an ambulance chaser. Can't help you with your back. The booster amplifies braking pressure with the assistance of a vacuum tank. It could have been a bad seal, cold weather on a dodgy seal, hose came off, booster failure, etc. Its very hard for a car to lose ALL braking ability. The master cylinders are split, so a leak won't empty both circuits, and youve always got the E-brake.

Take it in. Get someone with strong legs to drive it to the dealer.

Capt Nemo o2

Its a vacuum brake booster, it works off the vacuum of the engine, thats why when the engine is off it gets harder to push the brake. Then once the engine starts the vacuum builds and it becomes easy to push the pedal down. It could just be the check valve on the booster or a leaking vacuum hose, causing you to have a constantly equalized booster, meaning it doesnt work. Good luck getting it fixed! I know what its like to have no brakes! My TR4a lost brakes once (actually more than once! DAMN ENGLISH CARS!!!), and thats serious cause its something hydraulic, no power brakes!!!

On a side note about English cars, I was reading an AUTOWEEK today and they were covering the NAIAS, and when Jag debuted the concept for the XK, it rolled out onto the stage with ONE working headlight!!! HAHAHA! Glad to see Lucas hasnt changed!!! "Lucas, Prince of darkness"

Rick

Check your brake fluid, Oil Change.... use only DOT4+ to top it off.

side note to the Captain....

hmmm....my MG's have never lost the brakes....but The Prince himself has made his presence known....

Picture this...

autumn, dusk, in the middle of nowhere...top down....light chill in the air....
and it starts to rain....not drizzle, but a hard driving downpour
I pull over under a bridge and put the top up
back in the car, turn the headlights on, turn the heater on....
turn on the wipers....heater slows, headlights dim
use the turn signal...wipers stop, headlights brighten, heater stops
signal off...headlights go out, heater fan blasts full speed
turn heater off...headlights come back, wipers do their job

Happy ending...the girlfriend was chilly and whining...but her t-shirt was wet :v

smartjay28

i have a theory, which kinda happend to me today on my acura.

if dot3(brake fluid),isnt perfectly sealed it can obsorb water. meaning the brake fluid is now 50 of water and 50 of dot3.(mixed) since its winter the water couldve froze in ure brake line.

this is wat happend to me. my steering fluid froze and i looked, and found solid ice in the resoviour tank. my steering felt heavy as hell.

good luck

Capt Nemo o2

HAHA!!! Must have had something to do with the radio!!!
One day this summer I was at work and decided to take my TR, it was a beautiful day... well half way through the day the sky turns dark, I run and put the cover on, just as I do it pours, like gallons per minute!!! The streets flooded in 10 minutes. The rain lets up so I decide to bring my car home. On the way home I thought to myself, "gee, these wipers acutally work pretty good"... Well just then they stoped working. Had to drive home with my head out the window!!! For a country where it rains a good portion of the time, you think the car makers would have at least made the best wiper system... NOPE!

Anyways, sorry to be off topic!!!

Goodnight all... Skiing in tomorrows blizzard... WEE...

Outland

The Booster failed in my 70Opel GT, it started drinking in the brake fluid. Hold your foot down long enough, and you'd get white smoke out the side pipes. Do this several times, and you'd start to lose enough fluid where the front brakes were losing grip. Parking break never did work in that car. Made a great arm rest!

Got a booster out of a Manta. Took about 2 hours to replace.

BlackC230Coupe

Is that honestly a smart move to drive a car to the dealer with brakes not working the way they should be, you have no idea what it really can be, sure it can be something simple, but who knows. Its not worth the risk to chance it. Is best to call the dealer or roadside and have it towed.

Outland

Obviously. I was making a joke.

BlackC230Coupe

I knew that!

Oil Change

Thanks guys for the input.
I'll wait until monday and then I might take the car to the repair shop. its been really cold in here lately and raining a lot. so i kinda lean to smartjay28's theory.

though I just hope its a really simply problem and can be fixed easly (and cheap too :p)
anyone know how much it might cost?

kokketiel

You know that you can buy an aftermarket bolt-on accessory for your Coupe if you hanker back to the days of the British import. It's a little device you bolt on to the bottom of your car and it drips oil on your driveway.

Q: Why don't the British make televisions?
A: They haven't found a way to make it leak oil yet.

[] - Just kidding, I love the Brits and steak & kidney pie []

Oil Change

okay since this topic is still alive...
I tried my car again this morning. the brake seems fine. I drove to a small car shop near the gas station, they checked the brakes fluid only. they said everything is fine.
i dont feel like taking my car to a mercedes garage.
so i'll just pray i wont get into accident.

MB-BOB

I would not gamble on this. I would take it to the dealer, on the chance that they could maybe recover some codes from the computer memory.

hobie

This thread seems close enough. My Problem: No power assist at first start of the day, fine otherwise. My '02 coupe has been at a dealer for 3 days, they have replicated the problem but not found the malfunction. The service writer keeps alluding to the mods (just a pulley and a K&N) with the implication they they are the source of the problem, I fear that this is a way to add diagnostic hours for the tech who is still sorting it out. Suggestions asap please, thanks.

aecasasus

My question is...Do you feel like being a part of an accident? I wouldn't play with this. If you had already lost your brakes...You WILL probably loose them again. It would be VERY unfortunate for innocent people to pay for your decision (in my opinion a BAD one).

It sounds like you are loosing vaccumm somehow or your booster is starting to give. You can pay a small amount now to have it fixed or you can pay big bucks later (if you don't kill anyone or yourself). Also, if vaccumm was your problem, you could end up hurting your engine since it will run leaner.

I don't want to sound like a smarta%#. I'm just trying to make a point. I honestly believe you should take it in to be checked. I would hate to know that you (or someone else) got hurt because of not having you the checked in time and or paying a little bit of money to get it fixed. It just isn't worth it. Hopefuly you realize that your vehicle has a legit problem and you should address it ASAP.

Good Luck. Keep us posted!!!

Sauceboy01

You are a god.

Buellwinkle

I wouldn't drive it to a dealer, get a tow. Does the parking/emergency brake work?

patrick_y

Most likely, I think you have a leak in the brake line or the power brake assist is broken.

Get it towed to the dealership. Hope you're still under warranty!

FrankW

are you asking about the brakes? sounds like a failing brake fluid pump. It might not failing, but not throwing any error. However if you do have the underdrive pulley it means that it's under driving certain parts to allow the engine to work more freely. They may or may not pin the problem to the pulley. good luck

TA-9FF

Outland, you always seem to help...........but in a very reluctant, irritated, "omg he's so stupid, why can't he figure it out" kinda attitude. The dealer shouldn't be the end all to all solutions. Many times before I absolutely have to call the stealership I come on here to find if there are solutions here to be found.

Chill!