Strange issue with Astra J

[RDC12399]

Astra J automatic 2015

So this exact thing happened a few weeks ago and just happened again, girlfriend was on the phone panicking whilst it happened.

She was driving and then the gas and brakes just stopped working. She couldn’t stop or accelerate and had to use the handbrake to stop the car. Luckily she was only going 20mph and there were no cars around as it couldn’t have gone a lot differently. She used the handbrake to stop, restarted the engine and it’s now completely fine.

She said the exact same thing happened a few weeks ago. Pretty worrying as if this happens on the motorways then it could cause a major accident.

I just got off the phone to my mechanic mate who’s owned and worked on several Astra J and said he has never seen this issue before and has no idea what it could be.

Any ideas? I don’t even know where to start. The car failed the MOT a few weeks ago, apparently the handbrake had to be tightened. The first time it happened was when my Mrs went to collect the car from the garage so I’m wondering if it’s related to this.

[MrBen.911]

This might seem a daft question, but is there a mat catching in the pedals? I can't see how you would lose both accelerator and brake at the same time, other than something physically stopping the pedals moving.

[RDC12399]

I’m not sure, I’m only going off what my Mrs told me. Both times it has happened I haven’t been in the car with her.

Bit if an awkward one, I really need it to happen whilst I’m driving because she doesn’t have a clue. But I have a one year old son who is in the car all the time so need to get it sorted.

[MustangGT]

MrBen.911 said:

This might seem a daft question, but is there a mat catching in the pedals? I can't see how you would lose both accelerator and brake at the same time, other than something physically stopping the pedals moving.

I with you on this, most likely scenario.

[Pit Pony]

Petrol or Deiesel automatic ?

Petrol definitely has a throttle by electronics and no cable. 1.6 auto gearbox is made of cheese.

But brakes are very traditional.

[Smint]

Possible simple engine cut out whch she didn't realise at the time, after a couple of brake presses the servo/accumulator will be exhausted, brakes might still be working but with the servo assistance exhausted would feel really strange to any driver who hasn't experienced loss of servo before.

You mention her re-starting the engine which i assume means it had cut out.

[skywalker001]

Smint said:

Possible simple engine cut out whch she didn't realise at the time, after a couple of brake presses the servo/accumulator will be exhausted, brakes might still be working but with the servo assistance exhausted would feel really strange to any driver who hasn't experienced loss of servo before.

You mention her re-starting the engine which i assume means it had cut out.

Possibly servo but brakes go super hard to press.

Were the brakes, hard or soft when this happened ?

Can you pump the brakes and they stay hard ?

Car , make model, year ?

[RDC12399]

skywalker001 said:

Possibly servo but brakes go super hard to press.

Were the brakes, hard or soft when this happened ?

Can you pump the brakes and they stay hard ?

Car , make model, year ?

Sorry for the late reply. She said both the accelerator and brake pedals were rock solid when this happened and therefore I find it unlikely anything was stuck under them.

It hasn’t happened since.

[RDC12399]

Pit Pony said:

Petrol or Deiesel automatic ?

Petrol definitely has a throttle by electronics and no cable. 1.6 auto gearbox is made of cheese.

But brakes are very traditional.

Petrol automatic.

What do you mean the gearbox is made out of cheese?