Garage struggling to fix brakes
Discussion
Just bought Peugeot Partner 2015 model, done 65k.
I had dash cam and gps installed but as it was over Christmas it was left for a while. When I picked it up immediately I noticed the brakes didn't respond, the pedal was hard to push and a delay in the brakes response. I took to a local garage. They said servo fine, calipers and discs ok too. So they changed master cylinder. They asked me to come test drive it to see if I was happy, it was exactly the same about a seconds delay before anything happens after braking. I took it back straight away, they now say they'll try changing a valve but feel it shouldn't be the issue as its so low miles on clock. I asked what if it still didn't work after that and they said we'll cross that bridge then.
Had anyone else had similar issue? Seems to be trouble diagnosing it. He asked how I pushed the brake pedal down I said like I always do never had a problem in a van before. They also said one of them noticed the brake problem when driving and the other thought was fine but the only way they could get same result I described was to pump the brake which then goes rock solid on fourth push. Any ideas?
I had dash cam and gps installed but as it was over Christmas it was left for a while. When I picked it up immediately I noticed the brakes didn't respond, the pedal was hard to push and a delay in the brakes response. I took to a local garage. They said servo fine, calipers and discs ok too. So they changed master cylinder. They asked me to come test drive it to see if I was happy, it was exactly the same about a seconds delay before anything happens after braking. I took it back straight away, they now say they'll try changing a valve but feel it shouldn't be the issue as its so low miles on clock. I asked what if it still didn't work after that and they said we'll cross that bridge then.
Had anyone else had similar issue? Seems to be trouble diagnosing it. He asked how I pushed the brake pedal down I said like I always do never had a problem in a van before. They also said one of them noticed the brake problem when driving and the other thought was fine but the only way they could get same result I described was to pump the brake which then goes rock solid on fourth push. Any ideas?
I have found delays can be abs pump related, but hard pedal is usually servo related. You say they checked it, maybe ask them to double check that the diaphragm isn't perforated and works normally once but looses vaccum? Also checking the hard pipes for kinks or dents that could be acting as a flow restrictor.
Just replacing parts to find out the effect shouldn't really be necessary here, I diagnose problems like this weekly and given the cost of vehicle off road and pumps etc I avoid replacements until I'm pretty sure what the problem is.
Just replacing parts to find out the effect shouldn't really be necessary here, I diagnose problems like this weekly and given the cost of vehicle off road and pumps etc I avoid replacements until I'm pretty sure what the problem is.
If the pedal is going rock hard after 4 presses then the problem is loss of vacum, servo fault, vacum pump fault, servo valve or pipe from pump to servo.
The only odd problem Ive come across on a Partner was all the brakes sticking on. The master cylinder and servo on a Partner is on the nearside with pedals on the offside, to operate the brakes a rod inside a tube runs across the bulkhead from pedal to master cylinder, Ive seen this rod stick in the bush in the tube and cause the brakes to stick on. Its not inconceivable that this road could seize causing a delay in the brakes operating but cant imagine any scenario where it would cause the pedal to go solid.
The only odd problem Ive come across on a Partner was all the brakes sticking on. The master cylinder and servo on a Partner is on the nearside with pedals on the offside, to operate the brakes a rod inside a tube runs across the bulkhead from pedal to master cylinder, Ive seen this rod stick in the bush in the tube and cause the brakes to stick on. Its not inconceivable that this road could seize causing a delay in the brakes operating but cant imagine any scenario where it would cause the pedal to go solid.
I had a Freelander type thing a few weeks ago, and it was where the plastic engine cover had rubbed through the line between the vac pump, and the servo. Engine started, and it took a while to develop vacuum, then 3 or 4 brake presses dispersed the vacuum, leaving the pedal hard. Rev the engine and wait a bit, and it the brakes would be OK for a few presses.
Thanks for all replies! The diagnosis has revealed that the guy I used just before to fit a power cable from a leisure battery in the back of van to the front, had drilled through the servo and tried filling with kitchen silicon. The garage doing the diagnostic took pictures and showed it, he had also routed it over the steering column. I will be having to claim from him for damages, not good at legal letters.
Can't believe it.
Can't believe it.
GreenV8S said:
Did your garage explain how they came to the conclusion the servo was 'fine'?
My guess is they didn't so much as look at it let alone test it.
Seems par for the course though. Parts cannon is always shot first at the customers expense because of inept mechanics.My guess is they didn't so much as look at it let alone test it.
It's definitely an unusual case though, and the person who caused it should be fitting at least part of the bill. As well as the so called mechanic for not testing basic stuff like the ability to hold vacuum.
But also why it's so important to have all the background to a case.....like the problem occurring right after someone else worked on the vehicle.
Exactly right, the garage said same thing, that if they'd known I had had the work done just before they would have diagnosed straight a way. As it was they did the pressing on brake pedal test fire the servo health which showed up fine. So far it's cost me £180 for diagnostic, £129 for van hire. 2 weeks lost work. Etc. No idea the cost of servo replacement.
Asto said:
Exactly right, the garage said same thing, that if they'd known I had had the work done just before they would have diagnosed straight a way. As it was they did the pressing on brake pedal test fire the servo health which showed up fine. So far it's cost me £180 for diagnostic, £129 for van hire. 2 weeks lost work. Etc. No idea the cost of servo replacement.
That is not a proper test of a servo. And clearly from your own description driving and hitting the pedal with it going hard..is a clear indication of a problem relating to the servo.It'd take barely a few minutes or so to do a proper vacuum test on the servo. Clearly they did not.
stevieturbo said:
That is not a proper test of a servo. And clearly from your own description driving and hitting the pedal with it going hard..is a clear indication of a problem relating to the servo.
It'd take barely a few minutes or so to do a proper vacuum test on the servo. Clearly they did not.
Probably how it's listed to test while under diagnostics monitoring - load up the test, press the pedal once, move on.It'd take barely a few minutes or so to do a proper vacuum test on the servo. Clearly they did not.
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