No Brakes

lynns hubby · Mar 24th, 2020, 18:01

2002 V40 1.9 Deisel
As usual, I am away at work, away from home and my daughter emails to tell me she has NO BRAKES. Apparently the pedal goes all the way to the floor.
She said it had been getting increasingly difficult to stop over the last few days
I have asked her to check the fluid and she has reported that the level is fine.
I know that with out looking at it its difficult to be conclusive, but that would suggest to me that all the pipes etc are fine with no leaks and the problem lies with the master Cyl.
Any one got a spare for sale ? I don't mind if I find I don't need it as I will keep it as the car has plenty of life left (hopefully)

gatos · Mar 24th, 2020, 19:06

If there are no visible leaks anywhere, then most probably the master cylinder seals indeed. You will need to double check though to make sure that none of the rubber hoses or metal pipes have a small leak.

I have a spare one from a GDI, and I am 99% sure it is the same on all manual cars, but I will need to check first

CharlesStevenson · Mar 24th, 2020, 22:15

Have you asked her to try pumping the pedal to see if it gets harder, and then when she starts the engine, whether it sinks to the floor?

If she can build up the pressure that then goes, that's perhaps going to suggest a leaky servo.

I've driven a few vehicles that started doing that to me, scary, but at least I could get home before it was u/s.

It still won't be driveable for her, but it might be ok to be moved if you're going to do some work on it yourself.

Just a thought.

lynns hubby · Mar 25th, 2020, 09:54

Thanks for the replies, the servo was my second thought but she will have to wait till I get home (late tomorrow night hopefully) and I can get it round and have a look. She is using my car for now.
I will check it out and see what's happening. Will PM you GATOS if I need the master cylinder. have you by any chance got a servo?

loelly · Mar 27th, 2020, 13:25

For what I know a defect servo has nothing to do with the brake pedal going to the floor.The servo is a power help so you don't have to push very hard to activate the brakes.The only way for flooring the pedal is air in the circuit or master cylinder leaking inside.

CharlesStevenson · Mar 31st, 2020, 17:42

It might be misinterpreting things, but I understood that if I was able to pump on a car brake pedal until it was 'stiff' and would hold at that height, if I then started the engine and the pedal sank, but if I quickly then pumped the pedal I could get back that pressure ... which would then sink until I ... (repeat and repeat), then that would be indicative of a leak in the servo.

I thought that air in the actual brake pipes couldn't be 'pumped' away in the above fashion so it'd have to be a servo issue, not leaking pipes, but if I'm wrong then that's ok with me, just what I understood.

lynns hubby · Apr 1st, 2020, 09:41

I have tried pumping the brake pedal repeatedly. I can not build up any pressure, the pedal just goes to the floor.
I am confident it is the master cylinder seals as there is NO fluid loss or leaks anywhere.

lynns hubby · Apr 5th, 2020, 09:25

Just to keep you all up to speed, I fitted another Master Cylinder as supplied by Gatos and bled the whole system. Everything is back to normal now. SOLID PEDAL

Mar 24th, 2020, 18:01	#1
lynns hubby Master Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 09:25 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Great Yarmouth	No Brakes 2002 V40 1.9 Deisel As usual, I am away at work, away from home and my daughter emails to tell me she has NO BRAKES. Apparently the pedal goes all the way to the floor. She said it had been getting increasingly difficult to stop over the last few days I have asked her to check the fluid and she has reported that the level is fine. I know that with out looking at it its difficult to be conclusive, but that would suggest to me that all the pipes etc are fine with no leaks and the problem lies with the master Cyl. Any one got a spare for sale ? I don't mind if I find I don't need it as I will keep it as the car has plenty of life left (hopefully) Last edited by lynns hubby; Mar 24th, 2020 at 18:02. Reason: typo

Mar 24th, 2020, 19:06	#2
gatos Premier Member Last Online: Nov 15th, 2022 21:34 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London / Essex	If there are no visible leaks anywhere, then most probably the master cylinder seals indeed. You will need to double check though to make sure that none of the rubber hoses or metal pipes have a small leak. I have a spare one from a GDI, and I am 99% sure it is the same on all manual cars, but I will need to check first __________________ Current car: 2002 S40 1.9D, 1992 240SE Nullius in Verba

Mar 24th, 2020, 22:15	#3
CharlesStevenson Premier Member Last Online: Mar 24th, 2024 17:33 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Nottingham	Have you asked her to try pumping the pedal to see if it gets harder, and then when she starts the engine, whether it sinks to the floor? If she can build up the pressure that then goes, that's perhaps going to suggest a leaky servo. I've driven a few vehicles that started doing that to me, scary, but at least I could get home before it was u/s. It still won't be driveable for her, but it might be ok to be moved if you're going to do some work on it yourself. Just a thought. __________________ Now: 04 reg V70 2.4 SE 2.4 auto 177k Then: Volvo, Saab, BMW, MB, Ford, Vx, Opel, Fiat, Rover, Porsche, Alfa, Austin, Renault, etc

Mar 31st, 2020, 17:42	#6
CharlesStevenson Premier Member Last Online: Mar 24th, 2024 17:33 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Nottingham	It might be misinterpreting things, but I understood that if I was able to pump on a car brake pedal until it was 'stiff' and would hold at that height, if I then started the engine and the pedal sank, but if I quickly then pumped the pedal I could get back that pressure ... which would then sink until I ... (repeat and repeat), then that would be indicative of a leak in the servo. I thought that air in the actual brake pipes couldn't be 'pumped' away in the above fashion so it'd have to be a servo issue, not leaking pipes, but if I'm wrong then that's ok with me, just what I understood. __________________ Now: 04 reg V70 2.4 SE 2.4 auto 177k Then: Volvo, Saab, BMW, MB, Ford, Vx, Opel, Fiat, Rover, Porsche, Alfa, Austin, Renault, etc

Mar 25th, 2020, 09:54	#4
lynns hubby Master Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 09:25 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Great Yarmouth	Thanks for the replies, the servo was my second thought but she will have to wait till I get home (late tomorrow night hopefully) and I can get it round and have a look. She is using my car for now. I will check it out and see what's happening. Will PM you GATOS if I need the master cylinder. have you by any chance got a servo?

Mar 27th, 2020, 13:25	#5
loelly Junior Member Last Online: Apr 12th, 2024 12:12 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Heers	For what I know a defect servo has nothing to do with the brake pedal going to the floor.The servo is a power help so you don't have to push very hard to activate the brakes.The only way for flooring the pedal is air in the circuit or master cylinder leaking inside.

Apr 1st, 2020, 09:41	#7
lynns hubby Master Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 09:25 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Great Yarmouth	I have tried pumping the brake pedal repeatedly. I can not build up any pressure, the pedal just goes to the floor. I am confident it is the master cylinder seals as there is NO fluid loss or leaks anywhere.

Apr 5th, 2020, 09:25	#8
lynns hubby Master Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 09:25 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Great Yarmouth	Just to keep you all up to speed, I fitted another Master Cylinder as supplied by Gatos and bled the whole system. Everything is back to normal now. SOLID PEDAL

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