My brake warning light came on while my partner was using my townie this week. Brakes now feel very odd, they will work if I REALLY press the pedal as hard as I can. They feel spongy though ( trapped air?) I don't want to start bleeding the system as I don't see how air could have entered it! Brake fluid level is fine as are the front pads. She has confessed to leaving the handbrake on and driving for a couple of hundred yards, could that have caused the problem?
Any help welcome,
Thanks all
Richard
- (#14214) Richard Dolloway, 18 Nov 04 05:58
Correction, the vehicle was NOT driven with the brake on, she applied the handbrake and left it in gear while she hopped out to shoe a cat out of the way, hopped back in drove off, no brake problems at all at this point. Later the same day the problem began, so probably not associated to the 'cat incident'
Thanks
Richard
- (#14214) Richard Dolloway, 18 Nov 04 06:10
Check the rear brake cylinders by prising the boot over the lip and looking for any signs of brake fluid. If they are wet then this will be the cause. You can get an overhaul kit from Toyota without braking the bank.
- (#14214) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 18 Nov 04 07:17
Perhaps a problem with the vacuum pump is worn and weak so the power assist is not effective. The warning light could a sign of poor vacuum. It might be a vucuum leak in the system or the pump on the way out.
- (#14214) Jason Bamford, 18 Nov 04 09:07
True. Is the pedal long and soft or short and wooden? Press the pedal a number of times with the engine off, then start the engine whilst keeping your foot on the pedal. It should sink as the vacuum builds. If not, you're looking at a servo or vacuum pump problem. Does your idle up switch still work?
- (#14214) david miller, 18 Nov 04 10:37
I just popped out fired the townie up from cold with foot on brake pedal ( after a few preeses) held foot on pedal fired up and............nothing, pedal did not move. I was the only one with a sinking feeling!
Where do I go from here?
The idle up switch does not work, but it hasn't for the 5-6 months that i have owned it.
Thanks
Richard
- (#14214) Richard Dolloway, 18 Nov 04 11:21
Vacuum pump/ hoses...
- (#14214) david miller, 18 Nov 04 12:32