Car breaks


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Old 02-28-13, 02:07 PM
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Car breaks

Was wondering if you could blow a break line by pushing on your breaks too hard? Slid into snow bank today, when i backed up and left my breaks would only work if the peddle is pushed as far back as it can possibly go. After leaving my car in my driveway for a minute or two i moved it, and in the snow under where the engine was there was green drops. Don't know if that has anything to do with it but just wondering what could of happened to make my breaks change like that.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:09 PM
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Welcome to the forums.

Yep, especially if they're old. Could be that you damaged something hitting the snow bank as well.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:12 PM
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I didn't hit it too hard. I was going maybe 5-10 mph. When i went to pull into the alley i slid and when i drove again i noticed that u can push them as much as u want and nothing will happen until the break peddle reaches the very back.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:15 PM
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I've had brake lines rust out on old vehicles before, the salt they spread on the roads doesn't help any.
A sudden jar can cause a marginal line to break. They aren't that hard to replace although normally you'll have to by one or more sections and bend them yourself.

Green drops sounds more like anti-freeze.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:17 PM
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Nice catch, Mark - I didn't notice the color, brake fluid is not green.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:18 PM
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How much do you think it is to replace a brake line if thats the case?
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:18 PM
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Ya, but he still has a brake problem if the pedal goes to the floor. Needs to check the fluid level and eye ball the entire system for sign of a leak.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:20 PM
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Brake lines aren't necessarily expensive but if one is compromised, it's possible all of them should be replaced. Could run several hundred for that.

What's the year, make and model?

And Mark is right - have you checked the fluid level? Have you looked underneath the car at all?
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:21 PM
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Should I buy brake fluid and put it in to see if it helps or should I just look at it first? I also wasn't thinking green was brake fluid because brake fluid is more clear, I just couldnt think of what was green or if for some reason brake fluid could be green.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:24 PM
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I have not looked under the hood yet. It just happened about an hour ago and Its a 2002 Pontiac Grand AM.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:24 PM
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You can probably learn more if you fill the system up with brake fluid. It should bring the pedal back if only temporarily. Look for wet areas anywhere along the brake lines, also the back drums if you have drum brakes - could be a wheel cylinder.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:27 PM
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Yeah, you certainly could have rusted a line by now. I'd check the fluid and top it off if it's low, which it probably is.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:33 PM
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Alright. Will go to buy some brake fluid now. Thank you for the help!
 
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Old 02-28-13, 02:54 PM
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Just for confirmation...yes..you can blow lines by pushing hard...if they are in bad shape.

Had an old truck that I let a buddy use while I was deployed. He had to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident and blew both front flex lines. Had to drive home using the parking brake....luckily it was only a short drive.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 04:06 PM
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How far have you driven the vehicle since hitting the snow bank? The reason I ask is that it sounds like it may have happened there at home, and that you then parked it? If that is the case, it could be that one or more of your brakes is still engaged, which would account for the system to be seemingly low on fluid. On disc brakes in particular, corroded pins can bind the pads in, and they may not readily release without some rolling resistance, which you obviously don't have a lot of at slow speeds on a slippery surface. If your road or driveway has snow on it, I would drive it a short distance, apply the brakes, then get out and look at the tracks, to see if they reveal any issues. Not necessarily an every day problem, but not out of the realm of possibility either. As for the green drops, yup, as previously mentioned, antifreeze. Note where it drips, so that you can pinpoint the problem. Not necessarily, but maybe you caught a lower radiator clamp, or something like that on a hard chunk in the snow bank.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 04:21 PM
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All the replies seem pretty sound to me.

Just reading the symptoms on your problem, here are similar issues I've dealt with that have the same symptoms:

1) Bad brake line

2) Brakes were not properly bled (which is probably unlikely unless you had some brake hardware replaced in the past week or so)

3) Brake booster failure

4) Master Cylinder failure (would suspect this if there are 0 signs of leakage)

5) none of the above

Although it sounds more like issue 1, issue 3 woudn't be unheard of after a minor accident. Happened to me on my s10; hit a snow bank, 4wd stopped working, had to re-attach vacuum tube.
 
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Old 02-28-13, 04:30 PM
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I was pretty close to home when it happened. Wheels turn fine none dragging. Got back home and checked fluid and its full. I drove it around the block and when i slam on the breaks it sounds like i hear fluid like u would threw a pipe when you turn a sink on. Sounds like it comes from my back wheel but if it was just one then why would the others be that bad too? Im going to take it in tomorrow and bleed the brakes to see if it helps.
 
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Old 03-01-13, 04:00 AM
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Zach124,

(You stated) I drove it around the block and when i slam on the breaks it sounds like i hear fluid like u would threw a pipe when you turn a sink on

Does your car have ABS Brakes? If it does and given your above statement, it means that the ABS Module” is failing. Is the ABS light on? Are there any codes?


Thank You

Amy
 
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Old 03-01-13, 01:01 PM
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I do have ABS and they kick it all the time. The check engine light has been on for a while. When i checked the codes there were many for a "Evaporative emissions system small leak detected" and "mass air flow sensor performance".
 
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Old 03-01-13, 01:03 PM
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Bad MAF sensor can affect mileage, I'd think about looking into that one.

Had the codes checked recently?
 
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Old 03-01-13, 01:46 PM
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When it was checked was about 4 months ago. What exactly is the MAF?
 
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Old 03-01-13, 01:51 PM
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Mass Air Flow sensor
 
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Old 03-01-13, 02:51 PM
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I mean what does it do? you said it could affect the mileage, what does the sensor do?
 
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Old 03-01-13, 02:53 PM
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Better explanation here than I could paraphrase:
Mass flow sensor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
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Old 03-01-13, 02:58 PM
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Oh I see now. Thank you! I will have that checked
 
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Old 03-02-13, 04:31 AM
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"Zach124" originally came here looking for help with a "Brake Problem".

He's already confirmed that he has "ABS Brakes", so I asked him if the "ABS Light" is on, and if there are any "ABS" codes?

His response was to state that an "MAF" engine code is set.

Can someone please jump in here and tell me what I'm missing?

Thank You
Amy
 
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Old 03-02-13, 06:13 AM
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No, the ABS light is not on. And i listed the only codes that i know of.
 
 

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